Do you struggle to get your twinkle lights to show up in your cakesmash designs? I’m going to give you a few tips about aperture and focal length and distance from subject that will give you all of the knowledge you need to get this adorable lighting effect in camera. I love adding bokeh/twinkle lights to my backgrounds for cakesmash sessions. It adds the perfect little sparkle to the celebration. And it’s super simple once you understand the basic principles behind getting that bokeh-y (not really a word ?) effect. bo·keh | \ ˈbō-kā , -kə \ Definition of bokeh as defined by Merriam-Webs ..read more

There are a ton of lighting options available for portrait photography but after a bit of research it seems many professional newborn photographers prefer the 86” PLM from Paul C Buff. Those who use the PLMs tend to differ when it comes to choosing a white or silver lining, whether they ‘shoot through’ the PLM or ‘bounce back’ off the PLM, and if they are using one or two diffusers, but we aren’t going to get into those variables today. We are just going to compare sizes. When I started out I used the 64” PLM because I traveled to people’s home with my equipment so it was much easier to transp ..read more

Cake smash sessions are my JAM! It took me awhile to get on the bandwagon but once I found Baby Dream Backdrops there was no turning back. Now I’m borderline obsessed with these super themed sessions. These backdrops are very high quality fleece fabric so they are easy to store, don’t take up a lot of room, and are pretty much wrinkle-free. They have just about any theme you could imagine and are constantly adding new drops. The best thing about them is how life-like they are when photographed. With the majority of the props being on the actual drop, I only need to add a few extra props to ble ..read more

Many of my new clients come to their session and say ‘I had no idea what to expect’ so I wanted to write a little post so you can be totally prepared and have one less thing to worry about when you are sleep deprived with a new baby. You will have lots of other things to focus on so I try to make the entire experience as easy and enjoyable as possible. Let’s start from the beginning, shall we? View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize  What You Need to Know About BEFORE You Book Your Session ? There are many wonderful photographers in the Austin area and it’s probably very confusing wh ..read more

Sign up for a scheduled class, workshop or party at my Austin, TX photography studio or check out my one-on-one mentorship options HERE.   Newborn Headband-Making Workshop/Party July 23, 2021 from 5pm -9pm at Jessica Doffing Photography Studio (2213 Poquito St, Unit 102, Austin, TX 78722). Sign up here - Newborn Headband-Making Workshop Signup Newborn photographers can never have enough props, am I right? Let's get together, have a drink or two, and make our own headbands. You'll leave with some new friends and 5-10 completed headbands. All supplies included. You only need to bring your ..read more

The best advice is make it fun! If y’all are actually having fun I promise I’ll get shots you’ll treasure forever. Kids. ? Am I right? You know them, you love them, your life is ruled by them. They are little time bombs running around looking all cute and wreaking havoc on your sanity. And getting them to do what you want them to do is not an easy task. Multiply that level of difficulty by 100 and you know what it’s like trying to get them to sit still and smile for the camera. Multiply it by 1000 and that’s what it’s like trying to get them to do it when you’ve paid for a session with a phot ..read more

I would like to introduce you to Noah, my latest heartthrob…I mean heart warrior. One look at those baby blues and you’ll be smitten too. ? Noah was diagnosed at 20 weeks in utero with HLHS- Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome. Basically only half of his heart had developed. His parents were given the option to terminate, and told that he likely wouldn’t make it past 1 year old. This amazing little fighter is now 16 months old, playing peek-a-boo, blowing kisses and stealing hearts. I met Noah and his family a couple of weeks ago to do a family photo session at Old Settlers Park in Round Rock, TX ..read more

Let’s work together to make unique portraits of your newborn baby even though we’re all stuck in our homes. We are all experiencing an upheaval of our normal lives. We are worried about getting sick, losing our income, going stir-crazy, and more. We have lost a lot of our ‘non-essential’ activities. Our gray hairs are coming back, we need a pedicure BAD, and we really just want to sit at a restaurant and eat some queso. Yes, these things are trivial and I’m being silly, but these things are important for our overall well-being. New moms are missing out on getting their newborn photos done and ..read more

Unless you live under a rock, I’m sure you are aware of the concern (and growing panic) caused by Covid-19. I figured now is the perfect time to go over how I keep my studio safe and clean for my precious little clients and their families. These safety and cleaning procedures have always been in place…not just added due to the recent scare. I hope this helps ease the worry for my new moms and dads. I feel it’s important to note that I have an appointment-only studio so the number of people that actually come into the space is very limited (typically only 1-2 families per day). I hate math ..read more

Oh, Baby C was such a chubby little dream baby! Check out the highlights from his newborn session. He just keeps getting cuter in every image! Big brother was a happy little guy. He didn’t really want his picture taken but he was easily bribed. ? Mom brought a little fox outfit that his big brother wore during his newborn photoshoot. Look at that little booty! Black and white images are definitely some of my favorites. Don’t get me wrong, I love the fun poses and silly props but these classic and timeless shots really pull at the heartstrings. I pretty much have to get a bucket shot in eve ..read more