Sleeping Beauties: Newborns in Dreamland [Hardcover]

Tracy Raver (Author), Kelley Ryden (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 5, 2010

Look for Tracy and Kelly on The Today Show, April 8th, 2010 in the eight o'clock hour. PEOPLE Magazine is reviewing Sleeping Beauties in their April 16th issue, on sale April 8th and 9th. Tracy Raver and Kelley Ryden's photographs of babies at rest, nestled in soft surroundings, are pure magic. After airing on the Today Show in September 2009, the photographer's portraits of sleeping babies caused a national sensation - people cannot get enough of these slumbering babes! In Sleeping Beauties: Newborns in Dreamland, their lens has captured newborns as they inhabit that magical place - a world where past and future dreams come together in an ethereal realm. In most instances, the babies portrayed are brand new and on their way home for the very first time. It is in this state of newness, of transition from their warm cocoon of the past nine months to their journey of a new life, that they capture the newborns as they slumber, dream, and awaken to their new surroundings.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Sleeping Beauties: Newborns in Dreamland - The new coffee table book Sleeping Beauties: Newborns in Dreamland is a treasure trove of sweetness and light. Twin photographers Tracy Raver and Kelley Ryden provide an up close look at infants in their first days. Some are wrapped in cocoons, curled on blankets, draped from hammocks - all wearing not more than their birthday suits. The photos evoke Anne Geddes (an inspiration for the women) with their lighting and focus on expression, but use fewer props. They gradually narrowed their focus to babies under two weeks old. Why? The challenge they both say. As they get older, they are harder to keep in that sleepy state. Capturing the images means keeping the studio at a toasty 90 degrees, keeping the babies sleepy and full, and spending three to four hours at a time for six or seven set-ups. The two rules in the studio: No crying and no waking up. Some of the images are composites, holding the babies in position and then taking a shot without them. The results look natural. All are carefully posed, but the variety is evident. Some are shots with twins. Some with that half-drowsy smile at some secret dream, and other with lips pursed as if pondering deep, philosophical theories. Both are mothers: Raver has a 10-month-old and Ryden has a 5-year-old and a 3-year-old. With their first book released last month (Sellers Publishing, $29.95) and an appearance on the Today show on April 8, they are already working on their second book project. For expecting mothers hoping to get their own newborn shots from Raver and Ryden, they have to act quickly. The studio is already booked through August. There is such a short window for capturing newborns. We love that age, said Raver. And capturing that for parents is truly rewarding. --Austin American-Statesman-By Tara A. Trower, Wednesday, March 31, 2010

Product Details

• Hardcover: 128 pages
• Publisher: Sellers Publishing (March 5, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1416205772
• ISBN-13: 978-1416205777
• Product Dimensions: 10 x 11.8 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.5 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #153,628 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #25 in Books > Arts & Photography > Photography > Children

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Move over Anne Geddes - these are babies sweeter!, March 19, 2010

By 

Bookphreak (Arlington, TX) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sleeping Beauties: Newborns in Dreamland (Hardcover)

What book could be better for Mother's Day, baby showers, or anyone who loves babies? These portraits are a unique look at snoozing angels - the kind of faces you only see on those just arrived in the world. Complemented by inspiring and thoughtful quotes about the joys and wonder of children, this is one of the best gift books I've seen in a long time.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Inspiring & Beautiful Indeed!, April 26, 2010

By 

Erica L. Mcphee (SW Florida - United States) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Sleeping Beauties: Newborns in Dreamland (Hardcover)

While literally thousands of photographers attempt to make a career of photographing babies, only a small percentage have the combined talent and skills needed to style, light, and capture just the right moment. Tracy Raver and Kelley Ryden are clearly two creative photographers who have not only mastered natural light photography but also the difficult task of photographing newborns.

Although each image is carefully styled, the babies look very relaxed and natural. The simple, tasteful design of the book draws you into the loveliness of each and every one. The quotes are poignant and not at all overused. As a professional photographer and designer, I was truly inspired and will admire the images again and again for their purity, creativity, and beauty.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars jrk, May 17, 2010

By 

Janet Killian - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Sleeping Beauties: Newborns in Dreamland (Hardcover)

This is a great book, perfect for first time parents and for anyone that likes baby pictures which are really great and for sayings pertaining to babies and parents. I love this book!!!