photography
Martina Newport
photography
Martina Newport
Childhood Portraits
Bloomington Normal & Central Illinois
Children Photographer
THE Childhood EXPERIENCe
Someday I will look back and say, “I blinked and they were grown.”
So I hope to also say, “But I saw it all. I soaked it in. Was there for it. And It was great.”
— YOU ARE LOVED/ EMILY ROUSSELL
THE Childhood EXPERIENCe
Kids will be kids. Every child is wonderfully different, with their own personality, emotions, quirks, and big feelings — and I am prepared for all of it.
Freezing this moment in time and capturing your little one exactly as they are right now is what these portrait sessions are all about. Not just the milestones, but the in-between details too. The missing teeth. The scraped knees. The dirt on their hands. The wild hair. The serious expressions. The silliness. It’s all part of this stage.
And as unbelievable as it might sound in the middle of it, these are the very things you’ll miss one day when you look back and wish they were little again.
My child portrait sessions are thoughtfully designed — long enough for your child to warm up and feel comfortable, yet short enough to keep their attention. When children have space to relax and be themselves, the smiles come naturally. And those natural smiles are the ones that truly matter.
I want everyone to walk away not only loving the images — but remembering that it was actually a good experience.
Here are a few gentle ways to prepare:
Talk it up.
Let your child know what to expect and why you’re doing this. Build excitement. Let them know they’ll get to play and have fun.
Involve them.
Brainstorm together. Is there something small they’d love to bring? A silly idea they want to try? When kids feel included, they feel confident.
Keep the day simple.
Try not to overschedule. Let the session be the main event so everyone arrives relaxed.
Rest matters.
A nap or quiet time beforehand goes a long way — especially for little ones.
Big emotions are okay.
If they happen, we’ll handle them. No pressure. No panic. It’s part of your story — and sometimes even part of the magic.
Don't worry about how you think your child "should" act during our photo session
Someday I will look back and say, “I blinked and they were grown.”
So I hope to also say, “But I saw it all. I soaked it in. Was there for it. And It was great.”
— YOU ARE LOVED/ EMILY ROUSSELL
Kids will be kids. Every child is wonderfully different, with their own personality, emotions, quirks, and big feelings — and I am prepared for all of it.
Freezing this moment in time and capturing your little one exactly as they are right now is what these portrait sessions are all about. Not just the milestones, but the in-between details too. The missing teeth. The scraped knees. The dirt on their hands. The wild hair. The serious expressions. The silliness. It’s all part of this stage.
And as unbelievable as it might sound in the middle of it, these are the very things you’ll miss one day when you look back and wish they were little again.
My child portrait sessions are thoughtfully designed — long enough for your child to warm up and feel comfortable, yet short enough to keep their attention. When children have space to relax and be themselves, the smiles come naturally. And those natural smiles are the ones that truly matter.
I want everyone to walk away not only loving the images — but remembering that it was actually a good experience.
Don't worry about how you think your child "should" act during our photo session
Helping Make the Session a Success —
Here are a few gentle ways to prepare:
Talk it up.
Let your child know what to expect and why you’re doing this. Build excitement. Let them know they’ll get to play and have fun.
Involve them.
Brainstorm together. Is there something small they’d love to bring? A silly idea they want to try? When kids feel included, they feel confident.
Keep the day simple.
Try not to overschedule. Let the session be the main event so everyone arrives relaxed.
Rest matters.
A nap or quiet time beforehand goes a long way — especially for little ones.
Big emotions are okay.
If they happen, we’ll handle them. No pressure. No panic. It’s part of your story — and sometimes even part of the magic.
THE MIRACLE OF BIRTH AND NEW BEGINNINGS
Remember the moment you held them for the very first time — the way they smelled, those tiny fingers and toes, how they seemed to change with each passing day?
This season is fleeting in the gentlest, quietest way. Freezing those early baby moments — while also capturing the emotions, the excitement, and the new bonds forming within your family — is what these sessions are all about.
Because it’s not only about documenting how small they were. It’s about preserving how it felt to become a parent, to grow into a family, and to fall in love in a whole new way.
Next: Adolescence and Identity
CHILDHOOD ADVENTURES AND MILESTONES
As they grow, their personalities begin to shine. They enter a season of curiosity, spirit, and discovery — a time filled with so many firsts. The first steps. The first day of Kindergarten. Soccer games and dance recitals.
Remember when the front teeth seemed to fall out all at once? The scraped knees and bruises from playing hard? The tears that only you could dry?
These photographs become more than a record of milestones. They are reminders of growth, resilience, and the love that carried them through it all. They celebrate not only what your children have accomplished — but the steady presence you’ve been in every step along the way.
Next: Birth and New Beginnings
Adolescence is a season of exploration — marked by both challenges and beautiful triumphs. Your teenager is changing in so many ways: in appearance, in interests, in the way they see themselves and the world around them. It can feel turbulent at times, but it is also a powerful season of self-discovery and growth.
Portraits during this stage matter more than we often realize. Seeing themselves — and seeing their place within your family — can quietly strengthen their sense of belonging and remind them that they are deeply loved.
And one day, far in the future, these images may serve as a gentle reminder to both of you of who they were… and why they absolutely deserve the children they will one day call their own. ;)
ADOLESCENCE AND IDENTITY
their Portrait Sessions
what we will capture with
Their Portrait Session
What we will capture with
Child and Family Photography
I love a great story and you have an amazing one to share.
Let’s make some Magic.
Inquire about your session
Central Illinois
01.
The Early Years
The tiny fingers wrapped around yours, the wobbly steps, the way they rest their head on your shoulder — this stage is less about perfect smiles and more about closeness, comfort, and the overwhelming tenderness of new life.
(Baby & Toddler Wonder)
02.
The Preschool
This is when imagination explodes — big feelings, big laughter, dramatic storytelling, and the quirks that make you say, “That is so them.” It’s a beautiful season to capture personality before it shifts again.
(Ages 3–5)
Personality Bloom
03.
The First School Years
Missing teeth, growing independence, backpacks that seem too big at first — they’re stepping into the world while still reaching back for your hand. It’s a milestone of confidence and connection at the same time.
(Kindergarten–2nd Grade)
04.
The Confident
Sports, scouts, music lessons, friendships — they’re discovering strengths and passions. They may not cuddle as automatically, but when they do, it feels even more meaningful. This stage deserves to be documented before adolescence changes everything.
(Ages 7–10)
Childhood Years
05.
The Pre-Teen
On the edge between little and grown — thoughtful expressions, emerging independence, and glimpses of the adult they’re becoming. These portraits often become treasures because they capture that fleeting in-between season.
(Ages 11- 13)
Transition
Before They Outgrow Your Arms
Childhood Portrait Sessions
For more detailed informtion please reach out.
One day, the house will be quieter. The shoes by the door will be bigger. The little hands that reach for yours so easily now will slowly grow independent. Photographs become the bridge between who your family is today and the memories you’ll hold onto tomorrow. They remind you of the way your child’s laugh sounded, how they fit perfectly under your chin, how your family felt in this season of life. These images are not just for holiday cards or social media — they are for your walls, your albums, and one day, for your children to look back on and feel deeply loved. If preserving this chapter matters to you, I would be honored to help you tell your family’s story.
Before They Outgrow Your Arms
Childhood Portrait
For more detailed informtion please reach out
Let's connect
One day, the house will be quieter. The shoes by the door will be bigger. The little hands that reach for yours so easily now will slowly grow independent. Photographs become the bridge between who your family is today and the memories you’ll hold onto tomorrow. They remind you of the way your child’s laugh sounded, how they fit perfectly under your chin, how your family felt in this season of life. These images are not just for holiday cards or social media — they are for your walls, your albums, and one day, for your children to look back on and feel deeply loved. If preserving this chapter matters to you, I would be honored to help you tell your family’s story.
