a guide to feeling prepared for your newborn session
Your little love is here!
I cannot wait to capture all the unique little details of your sweet and squishy newborn! To help you feel prepared for your session, read through the following tips and please let me know if you have any questions!
₁. Preparing your space
We will most likely use the living room, nursery and master bedroom to take photos in. If possible, put white or neutral colored bedding/sheets on your bed for a clean look and allow the focus to remain on your baby. I know your hands are full in these first few weeks, but if possible try to clear any clutter away from these areas that we will use to shoot in. Feel free to send me photos of your home if you want my opinion on the spaces I am mostly likely to use ahead of time.
I am confident that we will be able to achieve a beautiful set of newborn photos, regardless of what your home space looks like. But if you would like an alternative to having the session in your own home I can retain a rental space to use for the session for an additional fee, please let me know if you are interested in this and I can give you more information.
₂. Planning your outfits
I bring outfits, wraps, blankets, etc. for baby, so you don't need to worry about preparing any outfits for babe unless there is something special you have that you want them photographed in!
For parents and sibling's clothing, light-neutral options are your best bet as they photograph beautifully against fresh baby skin. If you need some more ideas, you can check out my pintrest board for more outfit inspo for newborn sessions.
Mom's are welcome to borrow a few dresses from my client closet that I can bring along with me to your session. If you want to go for a cozy and casual look, you can try a cute matching lounge set like this or this. Jeans and a simple blouses like this or this are also cute options! You can even switch half way and wear your own outfit for some photos and a dress in others.
I also suggest modest jewelry (stick with pieces you tend to wear it everyday) and simple/natural looking make-up looks best next to your newborn. Also be sure both parents have clean hands/fingernails, or if you choose to wear nail polish, make sure nails are free of chips and select a modest/neutral colour.
For planning Dad's outfit, you can take a look at my Style Guide, but generally I recommend going with a white/cream/beige plain t-shirt, knit sweater etc.; something simple like this or this would work great.
I also have a modest collection of children clothing, so let me know your older sibling's clothing size if you need an outfit option for them too ☺
₃. Day-of preparation with baby
▸If possible, try to keep baby awake for an hour or so before I am set to arrive (I know they are the boss of us at this young age, but try your best!) a sleeping baby is ideal for newborn photos and achieving those adorable snuggled snoozy shots. If you are struggling to keep baby awake, you can try giving them a nice long sponge bath (start about an hour before the session) so that when I arrive they are ready for a long nap!
▸About 30 minutes before I'm set to arrive, change your baby’s diaper, remove their onesie, and lightly swaddle them. Having them undressed beforehand can help keep them awake if you are struggling with having them nod off before I get there. Plus getting stripped down to change outfits can sometimes cause a bit of fussing, so doing this ahead of time can be helpful.
▸Plan to be feeding the baby for the time I am set to arrive, having a nice full belly will help sooth them and hopefully encourage them to nod off for our session. You can finish feeding your babe as I bring in my gear and take a look around your space. And if you'd like I can take some shots of babe being fed too☺
▸Have a pacifier handy if you plan to use one with your baby
₄. Older siblings
▸If you have an older sibling, prepare them for the session by letting them know "a friend of yours" will be coming over (mention it the day before the session), talk to them about how your friend "is so excited to come see Older Sibling and Baby and take pictures of you" let them know your "friend" is silly and goofy and wants to have fun with them.
▸If you have been leaning on a family member/friend to lend a hand with your toddler during the first week home with your newborn, you are welcome to invite them over during your newborn session.
AGE AT TIME OF SESSION
When should we have our session?
traditional vs. older
When should we have our session?
traditional vs. older
You may choose to have your newborn session anytime in the first 2 months of life. I have very similar workflows for both Sessions, and the final gallery, regardless of choice, will be diverse and beautiful!
Traditional
under 3 weeks
Traditional
under 3 weeks
Traditionally, newborn sessions are held in the first 3 weeks of life and focus on babe's newness. The goal is to soothe babe to sleep and pose them.
Older
1-2 months
Older
1-2 months
Older newborn are equally as adorable, but we tend to focus on connection and eye contact. The goal is to have babe awake. settled and engaged.
Remember, these are just suggestions!
Please, do not stress if the morning of your session things don't quite go as outlined above! Let me know if you have any questions about preparing for your session :)