So you’re baby is just a few days old and you’re having a professional photos taken of your new little bundle.
Here are some tips to go through before your session. These tips are here to make it a great experience for you, your baby, and your photographer!
**The biggest thing to consider beforehand is to book your baby’s newborn session for it to take place within its first 4-14 days of life. That way, baby is still sleepy and easy to move around for the cutest photos possible.
**I’m also available for hospital photos if you are interested in booking a session before, during, or directly after the magic happens!
**I shoot all newborn photo sessions on location. This makes it best for mommy and baby during this special time. All I need is a window with bright light and a 5ft x 5 ft area to work with.
Newborn Session Preparation
1. If you’re nursing, you should avoid spicy foods or drinking/eating acid citrus juices and fruits. It can upset the baby’s tummy and they may feel uncomfortable and not sleep.
2. For bottle fed babies I’ll advise you to have extra formula ready to last our long session.
3. I ask that you interact with your baby to try to keep him/her awake 1-2 hours before we start the session. It’s also ideal to schedule the baby’s feeding about 2-3 hours before arriving so you can feed him/her again just before the session starts. A tired baby with a full tummy results in a very sleepy baby and cooperative model. I also advise you to feed your baby as much as you can 12 hours before the session, that way baby will be really full and sleepier.
4. The baby should be dressed in loose and comfortable clothing to prevent marks on the skin. Buttoned up pajamas or rompers work well.
5. Parents with baby boys that will be circumcised are advised to schedule the session before the circumcision or 5 days after the procedure, because baby will be very sensitive and uncomfortable for some poses.
6. A pacifier is a lifesaver, so I remind parents to have one ready for the session.
7. Lighting: If you can, 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 my “mini studio” in the best possible location. Nothing flatters like natural light, so I prefer to use it whenever possible. For this reason, sessions are normally done mid-morning to late-afternoon when window lighting is as its best. When I arrive, I’ll walk through your home looking for the best light and that is where I’ll do a majority of the shoot. Sometimes the best location ends up being a foyer, by the backdoor or kitchen- usually wherever there is a large window.
8. Temperature: The room will be very warm. Babies are very sensitive because normally I will be photographing them in the nude. It’s best to keep them comfortable. I suggest that parents be at the session dressed in layers so that they can comfortably remove some clothing if they feel the room is too warm. CRANK THE HEAT! I recommend that you keep your home a bit warmer than normal during the session (a toasty 80 degrees or so). Newborns are used to being all bundled up, warm & cozy- and then I come in and yank off all their clothes for those adorable naked baby shots. They tend not to like that too much! A warmer environment 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! Crank the heat 30 minutes before our session to ensure that it’s warm enough in time and I’ll bring along a space heater to help keep baby in a steady warmth.
9. 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 away from the home for a few hours. If you have a noisy pet, you may want to do the same.
10. Parent & Sibling Pictures: If you have children and would like them to be included in some photos, I recommend bringing them in at the beginning of the session. Photos with parents and baby will be taken at the beginning as well.
11. Time & 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 I can predict. I ask that everyone remain calm, should he/she not want to sleep, since your baby will pick up on any frustration in the room. If sleep doesn’t happen, that’s okay! Wide-eyed newborn photos are beautiful too.
12. Poop Happens! Expect baby to poop/pee at times in the session, on the blankets and on me. I am used to this so please don’t worry or feel embarrassed. Also know that I wash & clean all props used before & after each session with hypoallergenic & dye-free detergent for baby’s sensitive skin.
13. Parents should be comfortable during the session. If you want to you can sit and relax with a book or magazine. If you ever feel uncomfortable, SPEAK UP! Your baby’s safety comes first. 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 is nearby to lend support if needed.
*I promise that I will exercise extreme caution with your baby and I’ll treat him/her as if they were mine. I’m totally comfortable holding and posing newborns- and I’ve had two of my own! Your baby is in safe hands, I promise! Feel free to rest and leave the room for a bit if you’d like. I’ve had parents who’ve used this time to take a nap, shower, and even finally have a bite to eat. All totally acceptable to me! If I have a question or need you for feeding, I’ll come and track you down.
These steps are for us to have the best possible newborn session that we can all enjoy. 🙂
If you have more questions about your upcoming newborn session, feel free to contact me.