Congratulations! I'm so excited and looking forward to working with you. 

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. 

​So here are a few tips...


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.

OUTFITS?

• If you would like photos 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.
• Accessorize!  Hats, headbands, jewelry, bow ties and small stuffed animals are all great items to have during your session. Accessorizing will make your images pop.

PROPS!

• I have a collection of baskets, suitcases, crates and blankets that we can use for your session.
• Have your own props? Great! We’d love to incorporate them to make the session more personal.
• Family heirlooms, toys, hats, etc, are all great too!
• *I STRONGLY recommend that you discuss any ideas, props or poses you have in mind prior to your session. So talk to me early on and let me know what you have in mind!

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. (Your baby will be naked in most of the shots, but I pose them so that all the “important bits” are not on display.)

PATIENCE IS KEY!

• Newborn sessions can last anywhere from 2-3 hours. It all depends on baby’s mood and willingness to sleep. Unfortunately…this isn’t something I can predict!

WHERE?

• The majority of  newborn sessions take place in your home. (It’s just simply more personal to you, and you’ll appreciate it later. ) If the weather is warm enough and you’re comfortable with the idea, I would LOVE to take the session outdoors.  Doing it in the “studio” is an option, too.  
• Worried because your house is a mess? Don’t even stress out! You just had a BABY! Clutter and dirty dishes are definitely expected! I really don’t need much space. What I am really looking for is light.  

LIGHT!

• I ask that you open all of the blinds and curtains in your home prior to my arrival. This enables me to find the best source of natural light in your home, so that I can set up the “mini studio” in the best possible location. Nothing flatters like natural light, so I prefer to use it whenever possible.

CRANK THE HEAT!

• It's recommend that you keep your home a bit warmer than normal during the session. (Like a toasty 80 degrees or so.)
• Newborns are used to being all bundled up, warm + cozy…and then I yank off all their clothes for those adorable naked baby shots. They tend not to like that too much!
• Pushing up the thermostat is guaranteed to make the session flow more smoothly and help them sleep better. I may be sweating, but baby will be nice and warm…and that’s really all that matters!
• Turn up the heat 30 minutes before the session to ensure that it’s warm enough in time for the clothes yanking…and I’ll bring along a space heater to help keep baby in a steady warmth.

RELAX!

• Let me say it again… Relaxxx!
• So yes! Feel free to rest and leave the room for a bit if you’d like. It’s ok to take a nap, shower, or eat.  This is totally acceptable! If I have a question or need you for feeding, I’ll come and track you down.

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.

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 my blankets (or me) as his/her own personal potty.
• This is natural and expected! Please don’t feel embarrassed or worry when this happens, because they all do it.
• It would definitely be helpful if you had a stack of old towels, extra wipes and blankets available for when things get messy though.

BUT WHAT DO *I* WEAR?

• 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! And we know that’s not you!)
• Bring a dark-colored shirt to wear in the photos; I may photograph your baby in your arms and solid/dark colors look great in both color and black-and-white prints.

FOR THE MEN!

• 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. Your hands and face are most likely to be in the pictures.   
• 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.