Newborn Prep Guide for Parents
Congratulations on your new baby! Thank you so much for allowing me the amazing and rewarding job of photographing your new little human in his/her first few days of life. Newborns are my passion and I consider myself truly blessed to be around these little miracles so often.
What To Expect:
For Baby:
Before the session please feed your baby just before leaving home. If you are traveling more than 45 mins, plan on feeding your baby again once you arrive. Please do not let your baby sleep soundly before hand, instead try giving him a bath, letting him kick with only a diaper, or tickle his toes. This will hopefully help ensure those squishy, sleepy newborn portraits.
Having a brief (even an hour) awake period is essential to my workflow. A baby who has just slept solidly for 2 or 3 hours prior to photos is not a good candidate for being a sound sleeper and transitioning from pose to pose, prop to prop.
It will be at least 80 degrees in my studio space, newborns are simply not able to regulate body temperature and will become chilled very quickly without body heat transfer. For this reason I suggest dressing in removable layers.
Most sessions last around 2 hours, sometimes a little longer if baby is a light sleeper or hungry! Please bring a few extra bottles/formula in case session runs over.
If you can, please bring the soothie pacifier the hospital sent you home with. It's the bendable green one that won't leave suction marks. Even if you have not used one, just for the two hours that I am posing him/her really helps. If you don't happen to have one I usually keep unopened soothies here at the studio, however, if you preferred we not use one at all I completely respect your decision.
If you have selected the Heirloom your package will include parent and sibling portraits. Photographing the connection between you and your baby is one of my all time favorite things. Just as they encourage in the hospital skin to skin contact creates the most beautiful images.
For Dads: A tight fitting white t-shirt to wear with a snug good pair of jeans is a great choice. Keep it neutral and simple. Feeling super confident? Shirtless is an option as well.
For Moms: Nursing tanks work wonders, you can slip the straps off and on. A white or cream top works well too, just keep the color neutral and design simple. Please make sure you have no chipped nail polish as your hands will make thier way into the images.
For Siblings: For girls I have a client wardrobe full of cream vintage inspired dresses sized from 24 months to 8. Brothers are encouraged to go shirtless, however, a snug white tee will work too. The goal is to keep things neutral and simple with the focus being on the connection and beauty of your baby.
If siblings will be joining you for the session I will start with them first. It is a long session and may not be suitable for young children to stay the duration of the session. Some things that have worked well for my clients have been starting with sibling and family portraits first and then having dad leave with siblings and enjoying some special big brother/sister time at sweet frog, chuck-e-cheese, or Dunncroft Castel Point Park (all with in 2 miles from studio) and then returning to pick mom and baby up at the end of session. If you decide to have siblings stay please bring a favorite movie, toy, or snack to help them pass the time.
Newborn photography requires a good deal of planning and patience. The majority of time spent during a session is soothing baby to sleep, posing, and repositioning. The key to getting those squishy newborn photos you have been dreaming about is keeping baby awake/active before hand, willingness to nurse/feed off and on, and patience upon patience.
Newborns are best photographed between 5-14 days earthside.
It is my hope you arrive at your session feeling comfortable and at home. I am truly honored to document this incredible time in your lives and look forward to getting to know you and your sweet little one.
