How to Prepare for your Newborn Photoshoot
How to Prepare for your Newborn Photoshoot
H E L L O
WHETHER YOU’VE JUST BROUGHT NEW LIFE INTO THE WORLD AND ARE READING THIS NEWBORN GUIDE THROUGH THE BLEARY EYES OF SLEEP-DEPRIVATION, OR YOU’RE EXCITEDLY ANTICIPATING THE ARRIVAL OF A NEW TINY FAMILY MEMBER, I JUST WANTED TO SAY CONGRATULATIONS!
I AM BEYOND HONORED TO BE ABLE TO CAPTURE THIS INCREDIBLE TIME IN YOUR LIVES.
CARVING OUT THE TIME TO DOCUMENT AND RECOGNIZE THIS TRANSITION IS ONE OF THE BEST THINGS YOU CAN DO. AND, AS YOUR PHOTOGRAPHER, I AM HERE TO SUPPORT YOU IN ANY WAY I CAN. THIS GUIDE IS MY WAY OF SAYING, “I’VE GOT YOU.” I’VE CRAFTED IT TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS, CALM YOUR FEARS, AND ADDRESS YOUR UNCERTAINTY.
I CAN’T WAIT TO MEET YOUR LITTLE ONE.
TIMING
Week one and two of your baby’s life is magic. Of course all of the weeks are magic, but during these first two weeks, newborns are squishy, flexible, sleep more, and are still adjusting to the world outside of the womb. Often, their skin is still clear, and their bodies are shaped as if they’re still in utero – making it easier to get them into position. In order for us to get organized for a shoot this soon after their birthday, I’ll need your due date. In a lot of cases, babies will arrive whenever they want to and I couldn’t possibly expect them to abide by our schedule. What I usually ask is for you to go ahead and book your due date for baby. This gets you on my calendar, gets me looking ahead, and I also check in if I haven’t heard from you. But, once your baby is born, shoot me a text as soon as you can and we can lock in the exact time and date.
If you, understandably, have been spinning too many plates on the roller coaster ride of pre- and post- birth to lock in a date before the second week of your baby’s life, don’t worry. We can still make it work. Older babies might be a little more resistant to swaddling, or naps, or definitely be more alert and not know where to look, but the success of older newborn shoots are completely dependent on the personality of your little individual. However, If your baby is nine weeks or older, I might tell you to come back to me at four months. Nine weeks – four months is a pretty complicated time for a baby’s development, as they’re still not able to hold their head or sit up by themself, making it hard to get professional photographs of them in that time frame. I would suggest capturing lots of photographs of them at home with a camera and trying your hand at catching them while they’re not looking. 😉
HOW TO
Prepare
Ahhh! The joy of baby’s first pictures or first family pictures. It can be a really great experience, or it can be very stressful.
With years of experience, I cannot stress enough the tips on the next few pages that I have created for newborns. And while “mother knows best”, if you follow my tips – this usually ensures we will get some great looking peaceful baby looking photos.
Tips to Ensuring
Peaceful Photos
Tip #1:
FEED BABY RIGHT BEFORE SESSION
I know that as new moms, you try to get your new baby on a schedule. However, I definitely suggest feeding baby 15 minutes before session. A baby with a full tummy truly seems like a happy and peaceful baby. When parents don’t follow this advice, we are spending our session time feeding the unhappy baby and that’s not the best use of our time.
Tip #2:
KEEP YOUR BABY AWAKE 90 MINUTES BEFORE YOUR SESSION
This will be hard, they will be tired, but it will be worth it. It works! When I arrive for your session, your baby is fed and tired. As soon as I arrive and start setting up, you want to be trying to get baby to sleep. This usually gives them that time to get in a deep sleep before I actually start photographing, giving us peaceful portraits and it makes it to where I can easily pose baby.
- Also, during this time consider a lavender bath for your baby to relax him toward the end of the 90 minutes
- Once I have arrived and am setting up, have baby covered and warm and lying on a heating pad to help soothe him to sleep faster.
HOW TO
Dress
- You may choose to do a comfy outfit of your own for baby or one of my swaddles. Whatever you choose, make sure it’s comfy for the baby. You don’t want anything itchy.
- I bring an assortment of neutral, textured swaddles. Simply put, a swaddle is absolute KING for your newborn session. Swaddling is a joy for most infants, contributing to their happiness during your lifestyle newborn session. If you are choosing to do a swaddle for your session, just put baby in a comfortable outfit that is very easy to get off until I arrive to your home. Don’t worry, I will do all the swaddling for you!
- Listen, I get it—it’s a bit of a challenge for moms, but hear me out. Changing clothes for newborns is like diving into “If You Give a Mouse a Cookie.” You know the drill. Swap their outfit, and suddenly, they’re wide awake. Awake means grumpy, and grumpy leads to another feeding session, and so on. Feeding your baby is all good, no worries there! We just want to ensure we’ve got ample time for those precious photos as well!
- If you, like me, are a sucker for those little belly rolls, chipmunk cheeks, and tiny toes, it might be fun to get a few shots of baby in the nude if they cooperate, however, please note that sometimes as soon as we unwrap or undress a baby – they can squirm and not be so happy. So really I usually save those type of photos for the end to see if we can even make them happen.
- Gravitate towards gentle colors: pastels, light colors, or neutrals. Bright colors often look garish and intense on the delicate complexion of newborns.
- When it comes to dressing the family, try to complement, not match the colors baby is wearing. Wear neutrals with texture, like knits, linen, or cotton.
- Also, think about your hands. Most likely your hands will get put into the photos by holding baby’s head or even their tiny feet. So if you have chipped away finger nail polish, that will be distracting. So just be prepared to make your hands look good.
In-Home
Let’s talk light! Being a natural light enthusiast, it’s the heartbeat of my photography. Once we’ve locked in your session, I’d love you to pinpoint the prime time your home basks in natural light when we actually schedule the exact time for your session. That’s our session sweet spot. Feel free to snap some pics of your favorite rooms during this magical time and shoot them my way. It gives me a sneak peek before I dive into the creative process.
Since I roll with natural light only, consider flicking off any artificial lights during the day. See how that beautiful sunlight paints your Master Bedroom, Nursery, and Living Room. Keep these spaces picture-perfect – stash away anything you wouldn’t want immortalized in the photos (bye-bye water bottles, tissues, laundry baskets!).
Now, about the furniture shuffle – I might ask if it’s cool to move things around a bit to catch that perfect light. And when I step into your world, a quick home tour is gold. I might spot photo-worthy spots like staircases, bay windows, or unique walls that you might’ve missed. It’s all about crafting a plan and discovering the little gems that will turn into stunning images! Opening all the blinds and curtains in your home prior to the session will help in this process of me figuring out the best space on my arrival to your home.
Now, if we’re talking master bedroom, the vibe is all about light and airy. So, if you’ve got white, cream, or light-colored bedding, that’s the ticket!
And here’s the deal – no need to stress about turning your home into a showroom. I’m not expecting perfection. We’re talking two or three spots, not a house-wide inspection. So, relax, no pro-level cleaning required!
Here’s a crucial detail we don’t want to miss. As you gear up for your session, whether it’s the day before or the morning of, take a moment to survey the space. Tuck away anything and everything that you wouldn’t want featuring in your final images. I get it, we often think, “Oh, that can be photoshopped,” (guilty as charged!) but the reality is, it’s a time-consuming process and can add up in costs! Let’s keep it smooth and cost-effective.
Things to declutter:
-nightstands
-cords
-dressers
-countertops
-end tables
-anything that shows underneath your bed
If you are wanting any blank background space like in the photos to the left, then yes, clear me a wall. As long as it’s naturally lit well! Remember, I come and make use of the space of your home. I don’t bring any type of backgrounds or anything like that.
DADS
As your wife carries and nurtures your baby for nine magical months, the real bonding adventure begins when your little one is born. This is your chance to forge unique moments and build a trust and connection just as profound as your wife’s. I find pure joy in capturing those heartwarming scenes of dads cradling their newborns in their hands or against their chests. These images not only showcase the birth of a beautiful bond but also highlight the precious tininess of your newborn.
MOMS
After nine months of anticipation, the moment to meet your precious one has finally arrived, and I’m dedicated to capturing your connection. I’ll seize those intimate moments as you cuddle close, freezing the bond you’ve beautifully crafted. Your loving gaze and the sheer love emanating from your eyes will be immortalized through my lens. In the whirlwind of new motherhood, these moments often blur into fleeting memories. While you may feel immeasurable love for your newborn, I understand that sometimes you can’t fully see what you’re feeling. My goal is to ensure you witness and cherish that profound love through the lens of my camera.
SIBLINGS
I always follow their queue. However, I also step in with a bit of guidance in the prompting department, nudging things in a way that lets those beautiful moments reveal themselves effortlessly. It’s a dance between spontaneity and a gentle nudge to capture the essence just right. No need for apologies because this season and these photos are for you. So you can bottle up this very precious time with joy and storytelling.
If you are worried about big siblings running free or being hard to handle, just know I love that part of the lifestyle newborn photography and we will roll with it. There is no need to stress the other kids out, it’s more about connection as a family and we will capture that no matter what way it happens.
Feel free to have some toys on hand that the whole family can do together if need be, such as a toy train set, toy musical instruments, books, etc. for any smaller siblings just in case we need it to occupy them but still capture moments.
Solo Baby Moments
As we wind down our time together, I carve out a space for those solo baby moments. Picture this – a cozy setup with a basket I bring along to put baby into. It’s all about simplicity and natural charm. Placing the baby by the window, we capture those sweet moments effortlessly in just a few minutes.
My mantra? “Keep it simple and natural.” A comfy blanket and a gentle swaddle – that’s the magic recipe for timeless snapshots of your precious newborn and all those tiny details.
And hey, if you’ve got special handmade treasures or gifts, give me the heads up. I’m all for weaving them into the creative mix. Grandma’s blankets and Grandpa’s crafted cribs? Count me in for those heartwarming touches!
AFTER THE SESSION
I’ll send you the full gallery within two weeks via a downloadable web gallery.
You’ll be able to create favorites lists, share online, or print and download your images to use for baby announcements, family newsletters, and cute framed images for your mantel.
Thank you so much for taking the time to read this guide! I imagine you’ll have a few questions bouncing around your head, so give me a call and let’s talk through all the things.
These photographs are going to be incredibly sweet.
I can’t wait.