Congratulations on the newest addition to your sweet family!

NEWBORN SESSION PREP GUIDE

​

Scheduling:

• It’s never too early to book! Newborn portraits are ideally captured within the first 4-14 days of life, when your baby will be sleeping deeply and curling up naturally for those precious newborn poses. The exact timing depends on a number of factors that we will take into consideration once your baby has been born. We understand that these first few weeks are unpredictable, and although we can no longer capture some of the flexible poses from those early days, we still welcome babies at a few weeks old for lifestyle newborn sessions.

​

On the Day of the Session:

• Stimulate & keep baby awake for an hour or so before the session. This helps make baby extra sleepy for the session & when babies can get in a deeper sleep, it makes posing & going from one set to another easier. A warm bath is a great way to do this as well as talking & interacting with baby while keeping he or she in just their diaper.

• Feed baby right before the session. A full belly makes for a happy, sleepy baby. Feel free to come a little early to the studio to feed baby right before, especially if you have a longer car ride. Also, feeding baby as much as possible in the 12 hours leading up to the session will allow for baby to sleep as deeply and as long as possible.

• If you are okay with baby using one, bring a pacifier, even if baby doesn’t seem to take to it. Sucking is a soothing mechanism & can really help with settling baby once I have them in place for photos, even if I have to hold the pacifier for a bit to help.

• The studio will be warm. Baby’s like being warm and having the heat cranked up (no matter the time of year), helps babe stay settled and sleepy. You are more than welcome to bring drinks and a change of clothes to change out of if you think you’ll get hot.

• There is no need to bring anything for baby to wear. I provide all the wraps, headbands, hats, clothes & props. Unless there is something special you want to bring for your newborn’s photos, don’t worry about outfits.  Our posing workflow allows us to transition smoothly and avoid disturbing baby from their deep sleep. While we are happy to incorporate a favorite outfit or heirloom, please understand that clothes tend to add bulk and detract from baby’s petite features.​

• When baby needs a break, we’ll take a break. Don’t stress if baby gets fussy. If baby needs to stop to eat or have their diaper changed, we most definitely will. Most babies need to eat at least once during their session. It’s hard work looking that cute.​

• Safety! Is my utmost number one top priority when handling your baby, so either mom or dad will be my spotter/assistant. All eyes and hands are to be kept around baby during posing. During the session I will be handling and posing baby, but don’t worry I have plenty of experience handling a newborn (don’t know if I mentioned I have three children of my own!) I will hold and care for him or her as if they were my own, I promise!

​

      What to Wear:

• Go simple for family’s wardrobe. When planning your outfits for the family & sibling shots, stick with soft, neutral colors like grey or cream as the dominate colors. This keeps the focus on baby and the family connection.

• Avoid neon colors. Vibrant, neon colors cast onto skin changing the color and tint of your skin.

• For siblings, I recommend a classic, timeless outfit. Steer clear of logos and shirts with writing. Those can be distracting in photos as the eye immediately goes to the words or picture on the shirt instead of the sweet sibling moment.

• Another consideration is how these color will fit into your décor at home too, once the results from the photography session are hanging proudly on your wall.

• If dad feels comfortable, a shirtless pose can be very powerful. Please do let me know if this is something you would like to consider and I will work this into the shoot plan.