If you’re reading this post, chances are you have seen some of my newborn photos. But unless you have had professional newborn photos taken, you probably don’t know what is involved at a newborn session, so I wanted to give you some behind-the-scenes info at what goes into getting those beautiful images.
The best time to photograph a newborn is within the first 2 weeks. When you book your session, I will mark your due date on my schedule and then when the baby arrives you can email me and we will get your session scheduled. The best time to book your session is when you are still pregnant, however since I have to keep my schedule flexible since I never know when my newborns will arrive, I often have some availability and am able to take on last minute appointments from clients who didn’t schedule in advance.
I do all of my newborn sessions in my clients’ homes. Some people might find that strange at first, but my clients love that I come to them. Whether you are a first time parent or have other children, getting out of the house with a new baby can be hard. I bring the studio to you- so you don’t have to worry about going anywhere. This allows parents to relax and take their time getting themselves ready and older siblings can play and go about their day until it’s time for the sibling and family shots, which I usually do at the end of the session. Newborn sessions take about 3 hours, so it is convenient to be able to be in your own home and have a little time to do what you need to do. Side note- I do NOT expect you to clean for me! I have 3 little ones and have been traveling to my clients’ homes for 7 years. I have seen it all, and I will not judge your mess!
I really do pack up a whole studio and bring it to you- including backdrops, lighting, outfits, wraps, headbands, hats, and props. It usually takes me 4 trips back and forth to my car to bring everything inside, and about 15 minutes to set everything up. I will ask you to feed the baby either right before I arrive or as I am setting up, because I want the baby to be sleeping for most of the session so that I am able to pose the baby. The baby will be either mostly or completely naked, so I use a space heater to keep the baby warm. I also use white noise to help keep the baby in a deep sleep.
I always ask my clients if they have something sentimental that they would like to incorporate into their sessions. Often it is a baby blanket that someone made for their baby. I’ve also used sentimental stuffed animals and wedding dresses and veils.
For family photos, I recommend that parents wear solid, neutral colors. I usually use a wall in my clients’ homes as a backdrop but you would never know- they look like they were taken in a studio!
I hope you enjoyed a behind-the-scenes look at what happens at a newborn session! Please check out some more of my newborn work here. If you have any questions that I haven’t addressed or if you would like to schedule a session with me, contact me and let’s get your session scheduled!
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