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!!!
From the moment you see your newborn, your life changes. Your tiny baby will quickly grow, from rolling over to walking. It's important to capture these precious early moments with timeless newborn photography. At Matt & Shea Photography, we specialize in beautiful newborn portraits. Our studio has all the props and accessories needed for unique baby photos.
Both Shea and I are members of the Professional Photographers Association (PPA) and are trained to safely photograph your baby. Our fully insured studio allows you and your family to relax and enjoy this special time.
We know every family and budget is different, so we offer four types of newborn sessions. Our "simplistic newborn session" features a blanket background and various poses, providing you with 15-20 images. The "signature newborn session" includes different scenes, wraps, and family portraits. We are sure you’ll love the photos from either session. Check below for more details on each type and to book a session for your little one.
Session Options
Tiny Kisses Experience
$100 deposit to book
The Tiny Kisses Experience takes your little one and wraps them up nice and snuggley keeping them completely happy and extremely easy to work with and maneuver into various swaddled poses. The session usually takes around an hour. During the session, your baby will be wrapped. This session gives you 10-20 images to choose from when making your selections. This session does not include naked baby or family portraits.
Here is what is included in this collective experience:
1 hour session in our dedicated newborn studio with two setups.
You'll have access to our beautiful newborn wraps and bows
Ordering and viewing consult in our studio’s viewing room, about a week later, to choose your digital and order any additional prints or products you may want
Little Wonders Experience
$150 deposit to book
The Little Wonders Newborn Experience at Matt & Shea Photography begins with a classic newborn wrap and blanket arrangement, after which Shea begins her artistry. She will craft two to three scenes that reflect your vision for the session. This experience includes both wrapped and naked poses, furniture props for capturing adorable images, and concludes with a family portrait celebrating your new addition. This session gives you 20-30 images to choose from when making your selections. (This session includes one family portrait.)
Here is what is included in this collective experience:
up to a 2-hour session that takes place in our dedicated newborn studio with various scenes created by Shea. Then we move over to the big studio for your first family portrait. (this session does not include family breakouts.)
2-3 scenes created by Shea with full access to our large array of wraps, blankets, furniture, and bows
a family portrait in our big studio
Ordering and Viewing Consult in our studio’s viewing room, about a week later, to choose your digital and order any additional prints or products you may want
First Cuddles Experience
$200 deposit to book
Our Newborn Signature Session provides a longer experience in our studio for your baby. This timeframe allows for feeding and different setups, including sibling and parent photos and wrapped and naked shots. This ensures we capture beautiful, memorable images of your little one by themselves, in a beautiful family portrait and with siblings loving on them. This session gives you 30-40 images to choose from when making your selections.
Here is what is included in this collective experience:
up to a 3-hour session that takes place in our dedicated newborn studio with various scenes created by Shea.
wrapped and naked poses, custom scenes and family with family breakout poses
4-5 scenes created by Shea with full access to our large array of wraps, blankets, furniture, and bows
Ordering and Viewing Consult in our studio’s viewing room, about a week later, to choose your digital and order any additional prints or products you may want
Fresh 48 Experience
$695 with a $150 deposit to book
The journey begins. Let us come out and document when it started. These memorable portraits capture those magical moments within the first 48 hours of your baby’s life, right in the comfort of your hospital room or home! Imagine cozy, candid photos celebrating your new arrival and all the emotions that come with it. You’ll cherish these timeless memories forever! And be ready have the entire family involved in this classic session with a new twist. This session gives you 30-40 images to choose from when making your selections.
Here is what is included in this collective experience:
60-minute session in your hospital room
Priority scheduling, so you won’t have to worry about us being available
Free storybook album design on any album. purchase
All your images in high resolution on one of our infinity galleries, which gives you and anyone you want to download and re-download your images
Ordering and viewing Consult in our studio’s viewing room, about a week later, to choose your digital and order any additional prints or products you may want
Home is Where the Heart is Experience
$695 with a $150 deposit to book
Introducing our “Home is Where the Heart is Experience!” This special experience brings the magic of photography right to your doorstep, allowing your little one to be photographed in the comfort of their own space. Imagine cozy, candid moments that reflect your family’s love and connection while you enjoy your home's familiarity. This session gives you 30-40 images to choose from when making your selections.
Here is what is included in this collective experience:
90-minute session that takes place in the comfort of your own home
a small mobile array of wraps and bows to help accent your home’s aesthetic.
15 high-resolution digital images of your choice (with the option to purchase more)
Ordering and Viewing Consult in our studio’s viewing room, about a week later, to choose your digital and order any additional prints or products you may want
when booking your session
Here are some things to consider when booking your session
When booking your session, it’s imperative to take into account your baby’s feeding and nap schedule. That can easily be the difference between a “rough” session and a great one.
If your child falls asleep in the car, try to arrive at your session a little early to give them ample time to wake up and be in a playful mood. Babies who just wake up traditionally do not like someone in their face playing peek-a-boo and making funny noises.
Newborn Sizes are never true to size, so we recommend not bringing outfits to the session, and stick to bows and wraps that you can provide, or you can select wraps and bows from our selection
If you are booking a studio session, feel free to contact the studio and ask about scenes and outfit options that would work with our sets. Having our little ones’ outfits work with the color schemes and scenes we design will improve your images.
BRING FOOD, hungry babies ARE NOT happy babies. Pack an emergency bag of snacks, diapers, and even a blanket that they are used to to make them feel right at home.
Following these simple steps will help us tremendously in capturing a happy and beautiful portrait for your children or family.
session booking policies
Session fees are non-refundable. If, for some reason, you need to cancel your session, the session fee that was paid is forfeited, along with any promotional credit or items. If a model session is booked, upon payment, it is agreed that images from your session will be used for promotional, portfolio, and advertisement purposes. Should you not want your Child’s picture on Social Media, please do not book a model session.
Due to our strict scheduling, your session will be rescheduled if you are 15 minutes late for your session. Please contact us with any unforeseen scheduling conflicts. This ensures we have adequate time to capture a successful session. Primarily dealing with babies and toddlers, it’s good for them to get here a little earlier to acclimate to the surroundings. It provides much better smiles!!!
If you need to reschedule your session, please give us 48 hours’ notice to attempt to fill your spot. You can reschedule your session two times (not including weather reschedules). On the third time, your session fee and any promotional credit or items are forfeited. If an emergency arises and you can’t make your appointment or call, please let the studio know by email, Facebook Message, or call us at (423)521-7427. We will evaluate the reschedule on a case-by-case basis.
If you are a no-call, no-show for your session, your session fee and any promotional credit or items are forfeited automatically
If, for some reason, your child isn’t in the picture-taking mood, Matt or Shea will decide whether to keep going or reschedule the session to another time or day that fits the little one’s nap schedule or feeding schedule better. This reschedule does NOT count toward you at all; we just want the best pictures possible of your little one.
Please note that once you purchase your experience, downgrading your experience isn’t an option once it’s scheduled, and upgrading is on a case-by-case basis and contingent on our schedule’s availability that day.
The remainder of the session fee is due when you arrive at the studio. No images will be created until the session fee is paid in full.
No digital files are included with the session, the session covers the time and talent of the photographer, and use of studio supplies and services such as cleanings and props. Digital Download and prints are available for purcahse at your ordering session with prints starting at $15 and digital downloads with unlimited print release starting at $40 per image.