what is the ideal age for a newborn session?
I ask our newborns to be between 7-14 days old for their session. This keeps them in that super sleepy phase and allows me to wrap and pose them without startling them, but we have captured successful newborn sessions up until 2 months old.
What days do you photograph newborns?
We photograph newborn sessions from Tuesday to Friday, starting at 9am, and I set aside 3-4 hours for each session. This helps keep your baby awake before coming to the studio so they can sleep during the session. If available, we can also schedule a newborn session on Saturdays. If you're unable to book on a Saturday and it's full, we will open up Sundays for newborns.
How do we pick my session day?
When you first arrive home and are comfortably situated give us a call and let us know that they have arrived, heck send us a message at the hospital, just don’t worry about contacting us between contractions, you have bette, more important things to do…(like meeting your new little raisin!!)
What can I expect at my session?
Arrival
When you arrive at the studio, please come on in, the entire studio is yours for that time. Our home is your home. We ask that you get the baby down to a diaper and cover them up with a blanket from home to make them nice and relaxed. Once this is done, I ask for an immediate feeding to get the fun started. Holding the baby’s feeding until right before the session is a vital component to a successful session.
How long will my session last?
We schedule a newborn session for 1-3 hours, some take the entire time to get to sleep and get working, some barely take anytime. But we want to make sure that we get the shots that you are going to love from your session. I’m extremely patient and will wait any feeding, diaper change, cuddle calm down, or my personal favorite, wide awake newborn…Mainly because I get the best snuggles when they are awake😉.
On the Day of Your Shoot & a Few Days Before
Please try to keep your baby awake and active for an hour before your session. A bath often helps with this. Also, wait to feed your baby until you get to the studio; remember this when planning your session time. Make sure to file your baby's nails since they can be sharp and may scratch their face during pictures. Avoid using clippers as their nails are thin and fragile.
Breast Feeding Mom Info
Breastfed baby warning: if you are breastfeeding, you have already learned that gas is an issue. You might have already discovered that what you eat directly affects your little one. With that said, if you can stay away from the following 72 hours before your newborn session, it will go that much smoother:
Dairy Products—Dairy products can cause acid reflux in newborns. It’s completely common, but babies with reflux move slower because once a baby has a reflux episode, it can be very difficult to soothe them again. So, anything we can do to reduce the chance is great!
Caffeine- Please DO NOT drink caffeine 72 hours before your session if you are breastfeeding. Starbucks comes later in life. I have been photographing newborns for over 18 years and have seen firsthand how alert and awake a newborn can be once it steals some of mommy’s caffeine through her breast milk.
Where do you photograph newborns?
We are very proud of our dedicated studio for newborn photography. It has a variety of headbands and knitted props, a changing table for outfit changes, a rocking chair and bottle warmer for feeding, and a comfy couch for parents to take a quick nap. You deserve the rest! We also offer first 48 sessions in the hospital before you leave with your baby, as well as in-home sessions to capture your family's first moments together.
What do my baby and I need to wear to our session?
You often ask us, and it's simple: bring your baby and a diaper, and leave the outfits to us. You're welcome to bring cute items from Etsy, family heirlooms, or anything meaningful for the photos. We have many outfits, hats, bows, and wraps.
While we love newborn outfits, they usually don't fit well since babies come in various sizes. Most likely, any outfit will be too big for your little one. If you have a specific outfit in mind, especially one with sentimental value, we will try to incorporate it beautifully. Otherwise, we will mostly keep your baby wrapped up for comfort and sleep, or do naked baby.
The Newborn Studio
The studio will be kept at 80-85 degrees using a heater and heating pad to create a womb-like environment. We’ll play a heartbeat sound similar to what your baby heard for the last 39-40 weeks. Babies will be on a heating pad with 3-4 blankets at low to medium heat to help them sleep, but we don't let them sleep on it overnight for safety. We offer water bottles, coffee, snacks, and a game for dads in the theater room. This session takes time, focusing on your baby's comfort and safety. In the newborn studio, you can relax in a glider, chair, or couch while watching. There’s also a lobby chair for cooler temperatures and a theater room for movies, a perfect space for parents, especially dads, to nap. Feel free to bring your laptop or iPad for entertainment. We provide a TV with Netflix for kids and have Wi-Fi available. Once you arrive, we’ll handle everything so you can relax until it’s time to feed or soothe the baby.
What if my baby has Jaundice?
If your baby has Jaundice, it’s best to wait until the Jaundice has completely left their system. The orange in their skin is extremely hard to Photoshop out, along with the red splotches as the jaundice is leaving. So it’s much better to wait. We have photographed newborn sessions up to 8 weeks old, so waiting isn’t the worst thing ever. Just leave them in the sunlight, and when it’s all cleared up, we can make your session happen.
What to Bring to Your Session
Diapers and Wipes
Accidents happen. Always be prepared. Come with a backup of multiple diapers. Multiple as in way more than you think you may need. (That goes for wipes, too!)
Clothing for the whole family
Please dress the baby in loose, comfortable clothing to avoid any imprints on their delicate skin. It’s also advisable to not secure the diaper tightly for the same reason. Did I mention accidents? Bring a change of clothes for you, your spouse and your baby. There are always moments of little accidents when parents are posing with their naked baby so an extra outfit will come in handy. Note, too, that the studio is set to a toasty 80 degree temperature to keep the baby nice and warm. Plan to wear layers so you are comfortable.
Pacifiers
During the session, I am moving your baby around, tucking things under them, and picking them up and wrapping them, etc. That is why I always recommend and encourage a pacifier – even if it is the only time you use a pacifier EVER. It will help make the shoot go more smoothly.
Feeding- Supplies
Bring bottles, formula, breast milk etc. for your shoot, enough to go through two or three feedings. We have a refrigerator that you have access to for storing should you need. If you arrive to the studio and baby is awake, I will most likely ask you to feed them before we start. A full bellied baby sleeps so much better.
If you’re nursing bring extra bottles for your session. We I dont want any empty bellies during the session, and I live by this motto…”You can NEVER have too much milk!!!