Newborn Photo Prep Tips

Good to Know Before the Photoshoot

·         Best photos for newborns are within the first 5-15 days of birth—the baby sleeps the most and is much more flexible! Baby’s past 15 days tend to be much more awake and fussier. Newborn shoots can be done up to 21-24 days and then the posing becomes more limited. *PLEASE LET ME KNOW IN 1-2 DAYS OF BIRTH SO WE CAN SCHEDULE YOU IN THE FIRST 15 DAYS OR BABY MAY NOT BE ABLE TO DO THE POSES BECAUSE THEY WILL BE MORE AWAKE AND THEIR CARTILAGE SETS SO THEY MAY BE UNABLE TO DO POSES*

·         Newborn sssions take place in your own home—don’t worry, I bring props, stuffies, hats, wraps, and lighting!

·        Newborn sessions take place on weekdays— if you are aiming for family photos, plan accordingly and please reach out to me ahead of time— often I have sessions in the morning and afternoon, so sessions likely take place in the middle of the day and can take anywhere from 1.5-3.5 hours depending on baby.

• Feed the baby before the shoot. Avoid eating anything spicy 24 hours prior to keep baby’s tummy from being upset.

·         Keep the baby awake prior to the shoot so it settles right to sleep. Newborn photography is best done when baby is sleeping especially for safety. Keep the little one awake as long as you can!

·         Feel free to feed the baby as necessary—and don’t forget to burp the babe so it is calm and happy.

·         Keep the room warm! Babies like warmth! Baby will likely be posed in the nude, so a balmy 26 tends to work well and keeps them from fussing. We should be sweating so baby will be comfy!

·         Loosen your baby’s diaper and clothing twenty minutes before the session. This will let the clothing imprints disappear.

·         Keep the noise down to keep baby sleeping and settled. If you have other children, see if someone else can take care of them for the photoshoot. If you have a noisy pet, consider closing it in a room for the time being. Please try to avoid noisy activities— this can include making food and slamming cupboards :)

·         I bring everything you need but— props are encouraged! Items with texture are best, like knit blankets and I can incorporate this into one of the set ups I provide. Bowls and baskets are excellent for putting baby in and I have a wide array I bring based on your wrap color selection. For an individual look, have your own toys and props for the session also—keep in mind they need to be smaller than baby’s head and we may not get to all of them. The smaller the better! For planning purposes, please discuss any ideas and props with me prior so I can plan accordingly! 😊

·         Have a pacifier handy—even if it’s just for the photoshoot, this can often make or break 15-30 seconds for photos with some fussier babies. If you choose not to do this, that’s fine, but it’s highly recommended to have one on hand just for the few hours.

Safety

·         Photos will likely include your baby tastefully naked—I will take care to ensure private parts are not exposed in any photos.

·         Posing: we can attempt the traditional photos, however, some babies are simply not comfortable in these positions which means certain shots may not be possible. The baby’s safety is first priority at all times. I will attempt poses, but if I feel that we are jeopardizing baby’s safety and their bodies are not able to adapt to the pose, I will inform you and move to the next pose.

·         Don’t worry—baby’s cry, fuss, poop, pee, and spit up! I’m used to it! It’s okay if my blankets and wraps get messy—that’s what a washing machine is for! I wash everything after each session regardless 😊

·         Going slow and steady—Some poses can take a lot of time getting hands in the right position and for baby to relax to look peaceful in the photographs. Often, it’s quite a few minutes of effort for one minute of shooting! That’s okay 😊 I would rather do quality of quantity—I will ensure you receive the agreed amount in your package, but I want each image for you to receive to exceptional, and sometimes this requires more patience.

·         Sessions can range anywhere from 2-4 hours depending on the mood and behavior of the babe. There can also be breaks for feeding, changing, and soothing as necessary.

·         Siblings—we will try our best for sibling photos if you choose this option. Sometimes, siblings aren’t old enough to understand baby’s safety. We can talk about it the day of and see how both baby and sibling are doing. If you wish to have any photos besides newborn portraits, please let me know so this can be planned for.