Digital Dynamics Photography

Louis and Marie Anna Theiss

10 years ago my Grandma Theiss fell over a railing. She landed on her head on concrete two flights of stairs down. After many surgeries and close calls, she's doing pretty well now 10 years later. She lives in a nursing home and is wheelchair bound, but is still incredibly smart... she actually tested off the charts in an IQ test at one point in her life!!!

Anyways, it's time for their churchbook in Farrar to come out. It doesn't really work well to take her to get her pictures taken, and it would be difficult to get a good one in the rush of all the churchbook photos. So, we brought her over to the studio and took a few of her and my Grandpa. The 'sneaky' thing is.. Samm is standing behind Grandma and holding her up! Anyways... here's one of them!

Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep

   Recently, I was accepted as a Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep (NILMDTS) Volunteer Photographer. It's a group of photographers who take portraits of  very special groups of people... all at no charge. The groups that fall under the guidelines to receive free sessions and the files of the portraits (with a copyright release to them) of the foundation are:

~Pre-mature babies (usually very pre-mature... under 5 lbs)
~Babies who are born with a terminal illness
~Children and Teens on Hospice (under 18 years of age)
~Babies who have passed before, during or shortly after birth
 *Foundation guidelines state a 25 week gestation or later. Most photographers (including myself) will take portraits of any baby earlier than 25 weeks who has developed fairly well.
~Mothers who would like maternity portraits after they have received the news that their babies will not survive after birth.

   This is a relatively new type of photography, the foundation itself is only 4 years old. While the passed baby type of photography may seem unusual to some people, those who have lost a baby  may only have those few precious memories of their little one. After my recent loss, I realized just how important this would have been to me had I been able to see my baby.

   Anyone may go to the foundation website and see exactly what we do. NILMDTS 

   Everything that we do for these babies and their families is free of charge. Each family will also receive a CD of high-res files that they may do what they wish with. Volunteer Photographers may be contacted by individual families, or hospitals, either is fine.  I will be serving the Perryville, Cape, Chester and Ste. Gen areas.

  Now that the 'technical' information is out of the way, allow me to just talk about it. This foundation was introduced to me over a year ago. I debated back and forth about whether or not to apply to be a photographer for the foundation. While this is a growing charity, with more that 1,000 volunteer photographers, the foundation does stress that this is not the right thing for every photographer to do. It is very difficult for members to photograph these babies, and many photographers have had to quit the foundation because it was too emotionally difficult for them.

   That is the reason that I debated for so long. I finally decided to apply at the end of 2008. I was accepted, and have been in touch with Perry County Memorial Hospital to inform them of the charity, and that it is now available in our area. The hospital itself is not contracted or advertising me in any way, simply helping to inform parents that this service is available. I will also be contacting other area hospitals. But, hospitals are not the only ones who may contact me. Anyone who knows someone who may be in need of these services may contact the studio and we will set up a time with them for whatever session they are in need of! Hospitals will have my cell phone # to contact me should a need arise at 3am (yes, that does happen to many photographers!)

   If anyone has any questions about this foundation, I'm more than happy to answer questions. I feel as though I'm just rambling now, but I feel so strongly about this, that I wanted to share the basics of NILMDTS. As I said before, you may look at the website and see a large handful of babies who have been photographed. But, please be warned, you may need a kleenex, and have your children, especially younger ones, in a different room, the website is quite sad.

Recent Article in Republic Monitor WOW

Mommy Moments
by Kate Martin

   We record our children's lives with photos, from the first snapshot in the delivery room to the first day of kindergarten to high school graduation through the time they become parents of their own.
   But there's no reason to wait for baby to arrive to take the first photos, and got are the days of simple Polaroid photos of mom's growing belly.
   In August 1991, a very pregnant - and nude - Demi Moore appeared on the cover of Vanity Fair magazine. The photos, then considered sensational by mainstream media, struck a chord among women, who wanted to preserve the memory of their own pregnancies with such beautiful images.
  Today, professional photographers bring that movie-start treatment to mothers in Perry County, including Amy Pitts.
   "I was expecting my second child, Kellan, and my husband Brad and I had always regretted not having professional photos made when I was pregnant with our daughter Emersyn," Amy said.
   "I've seen so many beautiful pregnancy portraits and had a good idea of what kinds of poses I'd like, so I called Kristi Thole at Digital Dynamics and set an appointment. I was thinking that I'd like to try some of the nude poses and knew I'd feel the most comfortable with a woman photographer."
   Kristi said Amy was smart for doing her homework and examining her own feelings when selecting a photographer.
   " I think that being comfortable with the photographer can make or break the session," she said. "No matter what, a mom-to-be shouldn't feel like she is being put in a situation that she would never pick for herself. Letting her photographer know right up front what she is looking for is the best thing she can do. Bringing magazine pages of examples she likes will give the photographer a heads up as to her style and comfort level about how much skin she shows."
   Amy and Kristi both wanted Emersyn included in the photo session.
   "Some of my favorite maternity portraits are with children," Kristi said. "There is something so sweet and innocent about having a young child snuggle up to Mommy's bare tummy. The main thing that moms need to keep in mind for this, is that their child may not be into it as much as mom would like them to be."
   Amy laughingly agreed. Daughter Emersyn was 15 months old when Amy's maternity portraits were taken.
   "Emersyn cooperated for a while and then she was ready to go," Amy said. "Kristi was able to get some great shots of us together though."
   Kristi suggests trying a number of different poses to personalize pregnancy portraits. Lighting can be used to expose Mommy's belly through sheer clothing or fabric if a woman is not comfortable nude. Another option is an outdoor pose in a stream with Mommy's clothing wet and clinging to her figure.
   Daddy can be pictured cradling Mommy's belly or kissing it, and some couples choose to pose nude together or with just their stomachs shown against a black backdrop.
   "I also think that doing something fun and crazy is worth thinking about," Kristi said. "For example, Daddy can paint his hands and then press them onto Mommy's stomach! Mothers-to-be should never think that something is too weird to try... this time in their lives is a celebration!"
   Timing is an important factor in pregnancy portraits; an early arrival can mean missed photo ops.
   "In my opinion, the best time to take maternity portraits is sometime during the seventh month," Kristi said. "This varies for each mom, depending on whether or not their stomach 'pops' early of not. I've done them as early as early as five months and as late as the middle of the eighth month.
   "The main thing that moms should keep in mind is their comfort. If it's becoming too difficult to get down on the floor - and back up again - they should try to get in as soon as possible."
   Professional photographers will enhance pregnancy photos with special lighting and effects.
   "Using soft focus, black and white, sepia and other artistic effects really do help to personalize the portraits," Kristi said.
   "They also turn each into a work of art, rather than just another picture of an expecting woman. Certain effects can really give off the an impression of delicacy, something every woman wants to feel."
   And the question mosts moms ask... Can her photographer "erase" stretch marks from the finished photos?
   "Ah yes, the stratch marks," Kristi laughed. "This is definitely fixable. It takes a little bit of time for a photographer to get the technique down, and each photographer has their own way of doing it. If a woman does have stretch marks, and wants to make sure that the retouching looks natural, she should ask photographers to see an example of stretch mark retouching before booking her session. Photographers have seen it all, so she has nothing to be ashamed of!"
   Amy said she was thrilled with her finished portraits.
   "I loved the poses," she said. "Kristi made me relax and that shows in each of the pictures. She used a lot of soft finishes that make the portraits feel romantic and warm.
   "I think all pregnant women should give themselves the gift of pregnancy portraits. They are a wonderful gift for you and your child."

So... That was it! The only thing that it implies that may not be the fullest truth, is that I take pictures of mommy and daddy both completely nude... never done that! Just had dad take his shirt off! Here are the other pictures that were printed with this article: