Getting Ready for your session
So you paid your sitting fee and now baby is born. Post partum can be a crazy time, so it it is nice to know what to expect when you arrive at my home studio for your session. The first step in preparing, is to fill out the questionaire that I have provided at the time a booking. Every newborn session is carefully created individually to provide a custom experience. I need to know all of the important information. I recently had a client whose newborn sustained an injury in the birth process. I wasn't made aware of the injury until the day of the session when I was dealing with a distraught baby in pain who did not feel comfortable in certain positions. An injury is not a reason to cancel your session, but I can cater the poses to the baby and make sure that everyone is safe, happy, and pain free.
Everyone has their own tastes and expectations when it comes to newborn portraits. Some people prefer to stay of camera and have the entire session dedicated to capturing all of the sweetness and wrinkles and newness of their baby. Other people would like family portraits. I am very flexible when it comes to the client's preference. I like to plan out my poses and props ahead of time. I am able to pivot if I need to, but I like to have a rough idea of what I need to capture in the session.
Please make it personal. I love adding little personal touches that mean something to the families. My last session I photographed a rainbow baby. Their parents had an embroidered signed made for their little girl and wanted to incorporate it into the photos. I added some rainbow felted hearts and they photos turned out amazing. This is such a brief special time for new families and it is my goal to make memories that will last a lifetime. If you have any requests for props, backdrops or themes, I love to bring my clients vision into reality. My favorite clients give me an idea and I run with it.
One thing I want my clients to understand is that newborn sessions take a long time. The wrapping, the soothing, the props. Be prepared to be patient and come with the supplies you need. If the baby take a pacifier, bring multiples in case one gets dirty. Try to time the feeds for when you arrive so the baby is nice and sleepy. If you are a nursing mother, be prepared to nurse the baby when you arrive. Clean diapers and full bellies make for poseable babies. I keep the studio warm and have piano and white noise playing during the session. I like to keep the lights dim and use only my strobes to light the babies.
Once the session starts, I like the parents to stay hands off. Once you hand the baby over to me, I would like to start. Babies tend to wake if they smell their mother nearby. It is just easier on everyone.
Another thing to remember is that the baby may not be cooperative that day. I do offer second shoots if we are unable to provide enough quality images for your session. There is no need to worry and be anxious when the baby is having trouble settling. I try to keep the environment as quiet and soothing as possible, but sometimes babies have different ideas.
All in all, newborn sessions require planning in advance to set the stage for a quick flowing session. I try to keep the sessions around 2 hours but occasionally go longer. My motto is to follow the babies cues.
If you are ready to book your session, please fill out the booking requests form on the booking page. I have limited availability for newborn sessions so make sure to book before you due date. To create the most magical experience, I need time to curate your session to fit your needs.
