newborn Prep guide

How to prepare and what to expect for your newborn session!

 
 

Planning for your newborn session:

If you are breastfeeding- please avoid foods that can make baby gassy for a few days before. An uncomfortable baby won’t settle or sleep well during their session. Caffeine should also be avoided for the same reason. A sleepy baby allows better and safer posing options for your photos! Please plan to arrive on time, I often have back-to-back sessions and will have to cut your session short if you are late. Do not make any appointments for after your session. Rushing baby through poses typically does not work well. If we are doing sibling photos, please make arrangements for your children to leave the studio after sibling and family photos. Newborn photos can take a couple hours and we cannot expect toddlers to sit for that long while being still or quiet. Bring a family member with you or if both parents are coming, one parent can take siblings to eat or to a park to pass the time. Thank you so much for understanding!

the morning of:

Try to keep baby awake for a few hours before your session. Give baby a nice bath and apply some baby lotion as well. This will help to keep them awake. Try to remove all eye mucus and skin flakes so that baby looks nice and clean for their photos. If you live more than 45 minutes away, try to feed baby 2 hours before you leave your house so that baby will eat as soon as you arrive. If you live less than 45 minutes away, feed baby directly before you leave the house. Please make sure you give baby a FULL feeding. We are not in a rush when feeding baby and a milk drunk baby will allow for the best posing.

For family photos, I suggest neutral colors as I typically use a beige or white colored backdrop. Make sure you don’t have chipped or bright nail polish as your hands will be front and center in your photos. Family photos are usually photographed from the waist up.

what to bring:

Please dress baby in loose clothing that does not have to be pulled over baby’s head. This will help to keep baby asleep when we get them undressed and swaddled. I have all the props, swaddles, bows, hats, blankets (and more!) needed for your session. If you have something special or meaningful that you would like included in your session, please send me a message and let me know so that I can work these items into a pose. I do have a few outfits, but generally pose baby swaddled. I do not offer naked photos of baby. If you have a certain outfit that you’re interested in baby wearing, please ensure the sizing is correct. Baggy clothing for newborn photos doesn’t photograph well. If you are nursing, bring an extra bottle of milk with you or bring plenty of formula if you aren’t nursing. A pacifier can be super helpful during your newborn session, please bring one with you.

during your session:

Temperature - The studio will have a space heater going to keep baby nice and warm. The studio will stay at around 72+ degrees. This warm temperature will keep baby’s skin color nice and even, as well as help them stay warm and comfy.

Noise - I love to chat and will as long as it doesn’t seem to bother baby. However, most baby’s do well with a baby shusher going and an otherwise quiet environment. Feel free to scroll social media, read a book or busy yourself however you’d like to during the session. With the heater and shusher going, parents have mentioned that they get sleepy too!

FOMO- Some babies have a serious Fear Of Missing Out. I generally start the session with family photos, then sibling photos, then swaddled posing for baby. If baby is not falling asleep, your baby may not allow me to get as many poses in. Each baby is different and your baby is in charge of the session. I will do what keeps your baby safe, happy and comfortable.

newborn retouching:

Newborn Retouching: Don’t stress if your baby has acne or peeling skin. Giving baby a bath the morning of and applying some lotion can help, but I will retouch all of this at no extra charge. This is a service included for all newborn sessions. If you prefer to leave peeling skin or stork eye marks, please let me know!

Family Retouching: I will automatically provide soft skin retouching.

I do not edit:

  • Nail polish color changes/ heavy peeling removal

  • Hair color change or root cover up

  • Self-tanner blotches/streaks and tan lines

  • Braces removal or tooth repairs/replacement

  • Tattoo removal requests

  • Wrinkled clothing

  • Makeup color changes

  • Poorly fitting undergarment lines/folds, and brightly colored undergarments that show through clothing. Neutral tones are best.