Sage — A Newborn Session in Every Shade of Green

Some babies arrive and their session palette chooses itself. I first met Sage before she was born, photographing her mama's maternity session — and for baby Sage, with her full head of dark hair and the calmest little presence, we built her whole studio session around the colours in her name: deep emerald, olive, and soft mint, with ferns, eucalyptus, and white flowers woven through the sets.

She slept through almost her entire session. Almost — because her very first portrait is the one exception, and it might be my favourite of the day.

Chicago Newborn Photographer Alina Renert - Sage-78 copy

The nest

Sage's main set was a soft fabric nest in mint and aqua, layered over a deep green backdrop with fern fronds and white blooms. Wrapped in olive green with her bare feet peeking out and a pale mint bow on her head, she curled onto her side and slept like she'd been posed a hundred times.

Chicago Newborn Photographer Alina Renert - Sage-82 copy 2

My favourite detail in this set isn't a prop at all — it's her parents' hands. In two portraits, Sage rests in the nest while her mom's hand (with her ring) and her dad's hand stay close, holding her world together. No faces, just hands — and somehow it says everything about a first baby.

Chicago Newborn Photographer Alina Renert - Sage-99 copy 2

Chicago Newborn Photographer Alina Renert - Sage-96 copy 2

The details you'll want to remember

Newborn days blur together, so I always make time for the tiny things: the curve of an ear, fingers resting against a cheek, lashes on a sleeping face. Sage's macro portraits — her face filling the frame, wrapped in emerald — are the ones I know her parents will look back on when she's suddenly five, then fifteen.

Chicago Newborn Photographer Alina Renert - Sage-105 copy

Chicago Newborn Photographer Alina Renert - Sage-54 copy 2

Chicago Newborn Photographer Alina Renert - Sage-51 copy 2

Chicago Newborn Photographer Alina Renert - Sage-52 copy 2

One sunny set, and the baskets

Every gallery needs one surprise. Sage's is a pale yellow outfit with white lace, a yellow flower headband, and a textured blue backdrop — a little burst of sunshine in the middle of all that green, her dark hair standing adorably on end.

Chicago Newborn Photographer Alina Renert - Sage-75 copy 2

Then it was back to the garden mood: Sage asleep in wicker baskets on chunky knits, surrounded by eucalyptus — including one set with the most joyful magenta dahlias behind her, the only pink in her whole session and the perfect exclamation point.

Chicago Newborn Photographer Alina Renert - Sage-29 copy 2

Chicago Newborn Photographer Alina Renert - Sage-48 copy 2

First portraits as a family of three

And of course, Sage in her parents' arms. Mom in a deep green sweater, Dad in olive — even their outfits matched her palette — first looking down at her together, and then cheek to cheek, smiling straight at the camera with their daughter asleep across their arms. A plain grey backdrop, nothing to distract from the three of them.

Chicago Newborn Photographer Alina Renert - Sage-18 copy

Chicago Newborn Photographer Alina Renert - Sage-17 copy-Recovered copy

And Sage's story with my camera didn't end in the nest — a year later she was back in the studio for her first birthday, which is still one of my favourite full-circle moments: the same sweet girl, from sleeping newborn to one year old.

Welcome to the world, Sage. You were worth every shade of green. 💚

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Celebrate Your Newborn

Alina Renert Photography is a Chicago, IL photographer, with national and international publications.

Are you looking for a Chicago, IL newborn photographer? I would love to work with you! I offer a fun, unique experience in the Northwest Suburbs of Chicago, including Wheeling, IL. I also serve surrounding areas, including Buffalo Grove, Deerfield, Northbrook, Vernon Hills, Mount Prospect, Mundelein, Lincolnshire, Libertyville, Glenview, Des Plaines, and other surrounding Chicago suburbs. Newborn sessions are best booked during pregnancy, as I take a limited number of sessions each month. To book your session, use this contact page.

To book your session, use this form.