Newborns are so precious and sweet during these first
I LOVE photographing newborns!
Newborn photography is incredibly challenging, but it’s so amazing to be a part of baby’s life when they are just days old. There’s a bit of prep and planning that needs to go into these sessions to make them more successful though. I've compiled a few tips below to help us get the very best out of your upcoming newborn session.
LOOSEN UP
Please loosen your baby’s diaper and clothing at least 30 minutes before the session. This gives those little imprint marks time to disappear. (You baby will be naked in most of the shots, but we pose them so that all the “important bits” are not on display.
SLEEPY
Most of the images we’ll be shooting work best if the baby is in a deep sleep. To encourage this, we recommend that you do whatever it takes to make sure baby is nice and exhausted. Keeping your little one awake on top of your own sleep deprivation might feel like torture, but we think it will be worth it in the end!
HUNGRY
A well fed baby is a happy baby! Please feed and burp baby right before our session to ensure a happy, sleepy (“milk drunk”) baby. We’ll also be more than happy to take as many breaks as needed to help him/her re-fuel. It’s tough work being a model!
VOLUME CONTROL
Please do whatever you can to keep the noise level to a minimum during our session. If you have other children that might create noise, try to find a sitter or family member to take them.
* If you have children and would like them to be included in some photos, we recommend bringing them in at the beginning or end of a session and then having someone take them. Only those being photographed should be present to help maintain a calm environment. Feel free to bring a fried or a mom to help.
PATIENCE IS KEY
Newborn sessions can last anywhere from 2-4 hours. It all depends on baby’s mood and willingness to sleep. Unfortunately…this isn’t something we can predict! We ask that everyone remain calm, should he/she not want to sleep, since your baby will pick up on any frustration in the room. And if sleep doesn’t happen, that’s okay! Wide-eyed newborn photos are beautiful too.
RELAX
I am very comfortable holding and posing newborns. Your baby is in safety is kept as a very high priority at all times!
So yes! Feel free to rest and leave the room for a bit if you’d like.
IN CASE YOU MISSED THAT: RELAX
Moms tend to stress out because this is a new experience…and they aren’t used to the waiting game that is newborn photography.
They see their baby being fussy or having a difficult time getting settled and panic.
“This is a disaster! They aren’t going to get ANY good photos!”
It isn’t, and I will!
I take the baby’s lead; getting them to sleep before posing takes time and they may need to be fed or cuddled a few times first. In fact, I'd say that a good 50% of your session will involve feeding, diaper changes, and cuddling to get baby comfortable. If that doesn’t work, we’ll take a break or we’ll work with what baby is giving us. Sometimes that best photos happen when baby isn’t doesn’t what we want.
Just remember: Babies can sense stress and anxiety (especially from their mommy’s!) It’s super important that EVERYONE remain calm and relaxed during this session. Keeping the environment as mellow as possible is pretty much the only way we are going to get the shots you and I are looking for.
POOP HAPPENS
Your baby is going to be in the buff for the majority of this shoot. Please don’t panic if your baby decides to use the blankets (or me) as his/her own personal potty.
This is natural and I expect it! Please don’t feel embarrassed or worry when this happens, because they all do it. I have never had a session I wasn't peed or pooped on!
I wash all of our baby props and blankets between each session with non-scented baby detergent.
It would definitely be helpful if you had extra wipes and blankets available for when things get messy though.
*If you would like shots in a diaper, it’s a good idea to have a cloth diaper, diaper cover in a solid color, bloomers, or something to put over the diaper. Diapers on their own tend to look a little messy and distracting in photos, but throwing a cover over it cleans things up.
PROPS
I don't use a ton of props as my style is focusing on the baby. I use a variety of basic solid colors wraps, blankets, headbands etc. Etsy is a great place to buy something for your little one for their session! They have the cutest bonnets, overalls and headbands available. If you decide to purchase something for your session, please send me a link first to make sure I don't have it already or so I can plan ahead for that look and feel. Looks for items with texture and color to help make your images unique.
If you have any family heirlooms, toys, hats, props, etc. that you would like me to use in your session, please gather them before the session and let me know. We may not get the chance to use ALL of the items, but I willlook through them with you to determine what will work best.
*I also STRONGLY recommend that you discuss any ideas, props or poses you have in mind at least a week prior to your session.
I start planning out your session weeks in advance, so knowing ahead of time will help the flow of the session. Most newborns tolerate at least 2 different poses and looks, as well as sibling/ mom & dad shots.
THE NOSE KNOWS
As a mother, your smell is so recognizable to your baby, that it may be necessary for mom to step out of the room for a portion of the session. This is not meant to hurt your feelings, only to allow me to help the get baby thinking sweet, sleepy thoughts…instead of “where’s my milk?!”
SPEAK UP
Your baby’s safety comes first! If there is ever a point where you become uncomfortable, just let me know! I take every measure to ensure that your baby is never in any danger. For that reason, I will always make sure that a parent or assistant is nearby to lend support if needed. I do not do any poses that I feel may harm the baby or that I am not comfortable with. Newborn photography takes training and proper posing techniques to keep baby safe. I've taken newborn workshops to help me in this area. I tend to lean toward more basic lifestyle poses that your baby would naturally be in. This is where you need to make sure that my style is your style and you are envisioning the images I can create for you. If I am not the style of photographer for you, I can definitely recommend some of my fellow photographers that are great!
WHAT DO *I* WEAR
I know! You just had a baby and aren’t feeling your best. But I think this is the perfect time to pamper yourself!
Go have your hair + makeup done (or better yet, have someone come to the studio pre-session)! I have a couple awesome professional hair and makeup artists that will come to my studio to work with you and create the look that makes you feel the best! Maybe even schedule a massage or have your nails done a couple days prior. Looking super relaxed and at your best will make you feel more comfortable during the session. This is an exciting time in your life and I want to capture all of that…so take care of yourself first!
As far as clothing, keep it simple. Throw in a little color if you’d like, but skip the busy patterns. (And please don’t feel the need to match everyone in white shirts and jeans – there’s simple…and then there’s boring!) White or cream flowing dresses are beautiful and whimsical.
For moms, we suggest cotton knit camis and knit tops.
I also a fans of skin-on-skin portraits with you holding your baby against you. They’re so simple + timeless!
So if you want some portraits like this with your newborn, consider a strapless top or tank as an alternative.I am also very comfortable taking classy breastfeeding photos if you want to document that. I have a rocking chair in the studio or a cute bed or couch that we can use for these.
FOR THE DADS
Your hands, and possibly even your feet, will play a major role in this session, so it’s important that you tend to them too!
Even if you aren’t planning on participating much in the session, you’ll still be handling your baby a bit, so it’s a good idea to touch up on your grooming.
Trim and tidy your nails and apply lotion to any dry skin. (It also never hurts to dab a little moisturizer on your face to help you look more refreshed. Those late nights can take a toll on your skin!)
A little clothing advice? Long or short sleeved knits are best. (Make sure there isn’t too much bagginess in the sleeve.) Undershirts also work well.
We suggest you NOT wear button down shorts, and make sure your t-shirts are free of logos or too much writing.*Wrinkles do show up in photos, so please make sure all clothing is ironed or steamed. The retouching involved is extensive and will incur an extra fee.
I LOVE photographing newborns!
Newborn photography is incredibly challenging, but it’s so amazing to be a part of baby’s life when they are just days old. There’s a bit of prep and planning that needs to go into these sessions to make them more successful though. I've compiled a few tips below to help us get the very best out of your upcoming newborn session.
LOOSEN UP
Please loosen your baby’s diaper and clothing at least 30 minutes before the session. This gives those little imprint marks time to disappear. (You baby will be naked in most of the shots, but we pose them so that all the “important bits” are not on display.
SLEEPY
Most of the images we’ll be shooting work best if the baby is in a deep sleep. To encourage this, we recommend that you do whatever it takes to make sure baby is nice and exhausted. Keeping your little one awake on top of your own sleep deprivation might feel like torture, but we think it will be worth it in the end!
HUNGRY
A well fed baby is a happy baby! Please feed and burp baby right before our session to ensure a happy, sleepy (“milk drunk”) baby. We’ll also be more than happy to take as many breaks as needed to help him/her re-fuel. It’s tough work being a model!
VOLUME CONTROL
Please do whatever you can to keep the noise level to a minimum during our session. If you have other children that might create noise, try to find a sitter or family member to take them.
* If you have children and would like them to be included in some photos, we recommend bringing them in at the beginning or end of a session and then having someone take them. Only those being photographed should be present to help maintain a calm environment. Feel free to bring a fried or a mom to help.
PATIENCE IS KEY
Newborn sessions can last anywhere from 2-4 hours. It all depends on baby’s mood and willingness to sleep. Unfortunately…this isn’t something we can predict! We ask that everyone remain calm, should he/she not want to sleep, since your baby will pick up on any frustration in the room. And if sleep doesn’t happen, that’s okay! Wide-eyed newborn photos are beautiful too.
RELAX
I am very comfortable holding and posing newborns. Your baby is in safety is kept as a very high priority at all times!
So yes! Feel free to rest and leave the room for a bit if you’d like.
IN CASE YOU MISSED THAT: RELAX
Moms tend to stress out because this is a new experience…and they aren’t used to the waiting game that is newborn photography.
They see their baby being fussy or having a difficult time getting settled and panic.
“This is a disaster! They aren’t going to get ANY good photos!”
It isn’t, and I will!
I take the baby’s lead; getting them to sleep before posing takes time and they may need to be fed or cuddled a few times first. In fact, I'd say that a good 50% of your session will involve feeding, diaper changes, and cuddling to get baby comfortable. If that doesn’t work, we’ll take a break or we’ll work with what baby is giving us. Sometimes that best photos happen when baby isn’t doesn’t what we want.
Just remember: Babies can sense stress and anxiety (especially from their mommy’s!) It’s super important that EVERYONE remain calm and relaxed during this session. Keeping the environment as mellow as possible is pretty much the only way we are going to get the shots you and I are looking for.
POOP HAPPENS
Your baby is going to be in the buff for the majority of this shoot. Please don’t panic if your baby decides to use the blankets (or me) as his/her own personal potty.
This is natural and I expect it! Please don’t feel embarrassed or worry when this happens, because they all do it. I have never had a session I wasn't peed or pooped on!
I wash all of our baby props and blankets between each session with non-scented baby detergent.
It would definitely be helpful if you had extra wipes and blankets available for when things get messy though.
*If you would like shots in a diaper, it’s a good idea to have a cloth diaper, diaper cover in a solid color, bloomers, or something to put over the diaper. Diapers on their own tend to look a little messy and distracting in photos, but throwing a cover over it cleans things up.
PROPS
I don't use a ton of props as my style is focusing on the baby. I use a variety of basic solid colors wraps, blankets, headbands etc. Etsy is a great place to buy something for your little one for their session! They have the cutest bonnets, overalls and headbands available. If you decide to purchase something for your session, please send me a link first to make sure I don't have it already or so I can plan ahead for that look and feel. Looks for items with texture and color to help make your images unique.
If you have any family heirlooms, toys, hats, props, etc. that you would like me to use in your session, please gather them before the session and let me know. We may not get the chance to use ALL of the items, but I willlook through them with you to determine what will work best.
*I also STRONGLY recommend that you discuss any ideas, props or poses you have in mind at least a week prior to your session.
I start planning out your session weeks in advance, so knowing ahead of time will help the flow of the session. Most newborns tolerate at least 2 different poses and looks, as well as sibling/ mom & dad shots.
THE NOSE KNOWS
As a mother, your smell is so recognizable to your baby, that it may be necessary for mom to step out of the room for a portion of the session. This is not meant to hurt your feelings, only to allow me to help the get baby thinking sweet, sleepy thoughts…instead of “where’s my milk?!”
SPEAK UP
Your baby’s safety comes first! If there is ever a point where you become uncomfortable, just let me know! I take every measure to ensure that your baby is never in any danger. For that reason, I will always make sure that a parent or assistant is nearby to lend support if needed. I do not do any poses that I feel may harm the baby or that I am not comfortable with. Newborn photography takes training and proper posing techniques to keep baby safe. I've taken newborn workshops to help me in this area. I tend to lean toward more basic lifestyle poses that your baby would naturally be in. This is where you need to make sure that my style is your style and you are envisioning the images I can create for you. If I am not the style of photographer for you, I can definitely recommend some of my fellow photographers that are great!
WHAT DO *I* WEAR
I know! You just had a baby and aren’t feeling your best. But I think this is the perfect time to pamper yourself!
Go have your hair + makeup done (or better yet, have someone come to the studio pre-session)! I have a couple awesome professional hair and makeup artists that will come to my studio to work with you and create the look that makes you feel the best! Maybe even schedule a massage or have your nails done a couple days prior. Looking super relaxed and at your best will make you feel more comfortable during the session. This is an exciting time in your life and I want to capture all of that…so take care of yourself first!
As far as clothing, keep it simple. Throw in a little color if you’d like, but skip the busy patterns. (And please don’t feel the need to match everyone in white shirts and jeans – there’s simple…and then there’s boring!) White or cream flowing dresses are beautiful and whimsical.
For moms, we suggest cotton knit camis and knit tops.
I also a fans of skin-on-skin portraits with you holding your baby against you. They’re so simple + timeless!
So if you want some portraits like this with your newborn, consider a strapless top or tank as an alternative.I am also very comfortable taking classy breastfeeding photos if you want to document that. I have a rocking chair in the studio or a cute bed or couch that we can use for these.
FOR THE DADS
Your hands, and possibly even your feet, will play a major role in this session, so it’s important that you tend to them too!
Even if you aren’t planning on participating much in the session, you’ll still be handling your baby a bit, so it’s a good idea to touch up on your grooming.
Trim and tidy your nails and apply lotion to any dry skin. (It also never hurts to dab a little moisturizer on your face to help you look more refreshed. Those late nights can take a toll on your skin!)
A little clothing advice? Long or short sleeved knits are best. (Make sure there isn’t too much bagginess in the sleeve.) Undershirts also work well.
We suggest you NOT wear button down shorts, and make sure your t-shirts are free of logos or too much writing.*Wrinkles do show up in photos, so please make sure all clothing is ironed or steamed. The retouching involved is extensive and will incur an extra fee.
