Taking newborn photos requires a little extra time and attention. I've consolidated a few things to consider prior to your newborn session that will help enhance your experience.
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Book as early as possible. Newborn sessions are done within the first couple weeks of being born for several reasons. Remember all of those unique littles details that will only be there in the beginning- you want to capture those! Newborns are also more likely to stay asleep and cooperate for poses.
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I am a home studio and on-location, natural light photographer. That means you benefit from the convenience of choosing whether you come to me or I come to you. Being an unplanned C-section Mom with complications, I know first-hand how uncomfortable and slow the recovery process can seem during those first few weeks. If you're fortunate enough to have an easier delivery experience, being a new Momma is still pretty demanding. My goal is to make this experience as pleasant and convenient as possible for you and your growing Family. This also means the more sunlight and space I have for our time together, the better. I have set conditions in my studio to provide optimal light and temperature. If you would prefer an on-location session, think about places in your home near an open window or sliding glass door with space large enough for me to set up in.
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Optimal session time is when the baby is sleepiest, usually mid-morning. I arrive 30mins to 1hr early in order to set up and take a few practice shots.
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Babies sleep best when the room is nice and warm. My set-up includes a space heater that will provide enough warmth for your little one to feel nice and cozy so there's no need to make the entire house unbearably hot.
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Ensure any room you select for the session has the most amount of light possible and is free and clear from any obstacles, other children and pets.
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It's imperative that the baby is as full and sleepy as possible when we begin the session. Keeping the baby awake 2-3 hours before the session and waiting to feed until right before we begin can help ensure the baby settles nicely.
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Make sure your nursery or bedroom is clean so we can take photos in their new room.
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If your baby takes a pacifier, be sure to keep it handy to help keep the baby calm and soothed for the 2-4 hour session.
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Be prepared with extra diapers, wipes, burp cloths/rags, as babies will have accidents during their session which are often in the nude. Messes are normal! All of my blankets are pre-washed and I'll also have some accident pads and wipes handy.
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Lots of love, encouragement and extra hands for your little model are key to having a great experience!
A typical newborn session is about 2 hours. After 2 hours, we all may need to take a break and cool off. We can get a lot of poses in 2 hours so after that we can evaluate how many photos we have and you can decide if you're prepared to continue. As a mother myself, I know how exhausted you are while nursing and taking care of your new baby.
I look forward to meeting you and your Family!