Newborn Preparation Guide

 

Hi!!

You are about to have your baby! OR you just had him/her and you are looking to get ready for your upcoming newborn session with me!

Your Home

In-home sessions are one of my favorite things to capture. It’s your space and you and your loved ones feel the most comfortable here! I will pick the best rooms/doorways/areas for photos based on the natural light in your home. If you have a spot that you want to use, please tell me but also know that I will honestly tell you if it won’t work well. Given the nature of how I shoot, we will move around a lot during the session so it is best to have done a clean sweep of the entire house before I arrive. It doesn’t need to be spotless but major clutter or messes should be picked up and tucked away. Don’t panic if things aren’t perfect, after all, you have a new baby to care for and a lot going on!

Natural light and artificial light do not mix. We will turn all the interior lights off and open up all the blinds/curtains. It is helpful if this is done before I arrive to save time. Also a reminder that since I am a natural light photographer, I do depend on the weather. Should there be dark overcast or storms that cause the inside of your home to lose natural light, we will reschedule.

Remember, kids and even babies feed off of our emotions. The absolute best thing to do to ensure a smooth session is to stay calm. Wake up earlier than you need to so that you are not rushed. Spend your morning focusing on your spouse, baby and all your blessings. Keep your mood light and joyful.

Clothing

Wear something that you can move comfortably in and will feel okay sitting on the ground in. If it doesn't stay put or is too tight or short to get up and down in, please don't wear it. I would hate for any wardrobe malfunctions to take away from an amazing moment with your child.

As for colors and patterns, I can offer the following suggestions:

  • Casual clothes with bare feet look the most natural at home.

  • Dress mom first. Put yourself in your favorite thing that makes you feel beautiful and coordinate everyone else around you.

  • Make sure everyone’s clothes fit properly and are comfortable. If your child isn’t comfy, they will totally let us know.

  • Newborns look best in something simple- a white or pastel color onesie that is well fitting or a cute swaddle blanket generally work best. I bring a few with me in the event you don’t have one you love. Zara has a great selection of knitwear for newborns as well.

  • I love mixing color and pattern, so don't be afraid of that.

  • Super bright red/pink/orange create a weird reflection on skin so best to avoid those colors in shirts. (for pants, skirts and accessories it is fine)

  • Make sure temporary tattoos, stickers, markers and such have been cleaned from siblings' skin. If they are left on, they will be in the final pictures (which is fine by me if you are cool with it). Don’t forget to clean up chipped nail polish too!

  • If your daughter is wearing a dress or skirt, please make sure she has on bloomers or shorts underneath!

Flow

Please plan to have everyone dressed and ready before I arrive so that we can maximize our time together. A full newborn session normally lasts between 45-60 minutes for the first child and 90-120 minutes with siblings.. I’ll start shooting once I’ve had a chance to look at your available rooms and the light.

Try to feed the baby just before or as I arrive. This feeding works best in just a diaper and wrapped in a blanket. Newborns like to be warm, please have any ceiling fans turned off before I arrive so baby is comfortable.

Baby (and siblings) dictate the session. If baby is calm and/or asleep when I arrive then I will do baby shots first. If baby is awake then we will do family first. Have music playing! This is one of the absolute best ways to lighten the mood at home.

If there is anything that you want to try to incorporate (handmade items, special gifts, childhood items, etc) just have those set out for me..

I let your child(ren) dictate the session. If this is your first child, please disregard the next little bit as it mainly pertains to siblings...

Yes, I will attempt to do certain things with your children but in the end, they are in charge. If they are happy and smiley then great. If they are quiet and serious that is great too. If they want to be held the entire time and refuse to look at me, that is also perfect. The goal is to capture them and your relationship with them just as they are and I will definitely follow their lead. I have some tricks. I will be looking at getting both posed and candid images in my time with you!

More Helpful Info: Siblings

The rest of this section pertains to siblings so if this is your first baby, you can skip it.

  • If your little one needs a snack right before we start, by all means feed them! Just try to avoid messy stuff- chocolate, candies or juices that stain the face or mouth, etc.

  • Please turn off tv’s and electronics at least 15 minutes prior to my arrival...trying to pry an iPad from a kid is never fun and will almost always end in tears.

In the time leading up to your session, keep things light and fun. Kids feed off of our vibe and if you are angry or stressed, they will be cranky too. Please don’t fuss at your kids for not being perfect. The thing that makes the biggest difference in a session is that YOU have fun. Play music, be silly, tell your kids how awesome they are, etc. Just plan on rolling with it during a session. Sometimes things can get pretty wild and fun and silly and nothing spoils the fun faster than an adult yelling at a kid to smile at the camera. :)