I recommend that newborn photos be taken within the first two weeks--it can be done with older babies, but they're more likely to have their own opinions about how they do and don't want to be posed. If you can, please book your session before baby is even born. I will mark your due date on the calendar then once he or she arrives, we'll schedule the exact time and date of the session.
Newborn sessions typically take a little longer than other types of sessions (plan for 2-4 hours) because we take lots of breaks to feed/rock the baby and get him or her really happy and sleepy.
If the session takes place in your home, I will probably look around to see which rooms have the best light/space. Don't worry--I know that adjusting to a new baby is exhausting and I won't judge you if your house isn't spotless.
There are a few things you can do to help the session go as smoothly as possible.
- First and foremost, crank up the heat! I can't stress this enough. Warm babies tend to be happier and settle more easily. I recommend setting your thermostat around 80 degrees, if you can. If you have a small space heater, we can use that as well.
- Try to keep the baby awake for awhile before the session, then feed him or her right before I get there. I realize that babies often have their own ideas about when they want to eat and sleep--just do the best you can and we'll work with what we get.
- If you have any special hats/headbands/blankets, etc that you want to use, please have them out and ready to go. Or, if you've seen anything on my website that you especially like, let me know so I can bring it along. We may not use everything, but I'll do the best I can.
- When I arrive, please have baby dressed in just a diaper and/or wrapped in a blanket so we don't have to undress/wake him or her. Clothing tends to fit new babies awkwardly and distract from their natural sweetness, so I prefer to do most newborn photos with the baby either naked or in a diaper and simple diaper cover/wrap. Simple onesies can also work well as long as they are a true newborn or preemie size (not 0-3).
- Ideally, I'd like to get a few shots of you and your baby together. Dress in something that makes you feel as pretty and comfortable as possible (light neutral colors work well, try to avoid bold colors/patterns and big logos) and don't forget to brush your hair and put on a little makeup if you're so inclined--I know these things usually get overlooked when you have a new baby, but you'll be glad to have the photos later on.