This precious little girl came into my studio at just one week old with her first-time parents – and she had the sweetest smiles for us throughout the entire session!
I know everyone says newborn smiles are “just gas,” but I’m convinced this little one was already showing off her personality. Every time we’d get her settled for a pose, she’d give us these adorable little grins that just melted everyone’s hearts.
Her parents were absolutely smitten, of course. There’s something so magical about watching first-time parents during their newborn session – the way they look at their baby like she’s the most incredible thing they’ve ever seen (which, let’s be honest, she probably is!).
The natural light in my studio was perfect that day, creating the most beautiful, soft glow around this sweet family. Between her genuine smiles and her parents’ pure joy, we captured some truly magical moments.
As always, I love mixing those classic newborn poses with the candid moments of connection – and with a baby this expressive, we had plenty of both!
Here are some favorites from this smile-filled session. Sometimes the youngest clients give you the biggest personalities!









Heather Parrish is a lifestyle maternity and newborn photographer based in Cedar Rapids and Iowa City, Iowa. She specializes in capturing the intimate and fleeting moments of early parenthood with a focus on natural light and authentic connections. Heather is a member of Professional Photographers of Iowa and strives to create images that reflect the unique beauty of each family.
@heatherparrishphotographyiowa
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