I’m so excited to work with you and your family to capture photos of your new baby that you will cherish for a lifetime! Here are a few Q&A’s and tips to help make your photo session go as smoothly as possible. 

FAQs

How long will the session last?
Newborn sessions typically last between 2 and 3 hours. Sessions with just baby are about 2 hours long. Sessions that include family members are closer to 3 hours long. I only spend about 20-30 minutes actually photographing—the rest of the time is spent changing diapers, feeding, soothing, etc.

What do I need to bring?
You only need to bring diaper bag essentials—things like diapers, wipes, burp cloths, and bottles and formula if you are formula-feeding/supplementing. Please also bring a pacifier or two, even if you think your baby won’t take one. I will only use a pacifier for a couple of minutes at a time, but it can make a big difference in the variety of poses I’m able to get your baby in as well as the overall length of the session. If you have chosen not to offer your newborn a pacifier, I may have to hand baby back to you for frequent soothing and comfort nursing, but I will gladly respect your choice.

What can I expect at the session as far as how many props and poses there are?
I go into every newborn session with a workflow in mind. A typical session with family members looks like this:

  • Photos with entire family

  • Photos with baby and each parent

  • Photos with baby and just sibling(s) - (Dad or other caregiver takes siblings home or out for lunch at this point)

  • Photos of just baby on a fluffy rug

  • Photos of just baby in 2 or 3 props (basket, tiny bed, etc.)

  • Photos of just baby on a blanket sweep (at this point baby can be naked if requested)

A typical gallery includes 20-40 photos.

Examples of family poses

Examples of sibling poses

Examples of fluffy rug poses

Examples of prop poses

Examples of blanket sweep poses

All babies have different levels of sleepiness for their sessions, and babies who are awake for a majority of their session might have more non-posed blanket sweep photos or fully wrapped photos than prop photos in their gallery. However, I always strive for a good variety of setups in every session.

What colors should family members wear in photos?
I always recommend neutrals, earth tones, rich jewel tones, or soft shades of pink and blue for parents and siblings. Avoid bold patterns, bright colors, and clashing patterns. You will likely want your baby to be the center of attention, not the family’s clothing.

Can I bring something from home to use in the photos?
Yes! I have a wide variety of wraps, outfits, headbands, hats, etc. in a lot of colors to use, but I love incorporating a sentimental item such as a special blanket made by a loved one or a stuffed animal from a parent’s childhood, for example.

Tips

• Dress your baby in an easy to remove zippered sleeper (no onesies, please) so I don’t have to disturb him or her much at the beginning of the session.

• Don’t stress about feeding your baby on a schedule the day of your session. We will want to make sure your baby is fully satiated for the best session outcome, but I will 100% work around baby’s feeding needs during the session, so don’t stress about making sure baby is fed before you leave your house. One thing to keep in mind during the session is that your baby will likely eat more than usual (they can be quite a workout for newborns)—it’s totally normal!

• Plan on helping out with cuddles for your baby during the session. I will hand baby back to you any time I am not able to soothe him or her myself. It’s not uncommon for babies to need the comfort and familiarity of their parents to help them fall back asleep after setup/pose changes. 

• Consider dressing yourself in layers. My home studio will be about 78 degrees for baby’s comfort, so you might want to be able to remove a layer or two. 

• Bring only your children to the photo session. My studio is in a small room in my home, and I don’t have space to accommodate more than 2 adults. An exception on immediate family is made for a helper if only one parent is able to come. If you are bringing baby’s siblings to the session, I ask that you make arrangements for them to leave with a parent or other caregiver after their portion of the session is done. If this will not be possible, please let me know.

And last but not least....Enjoy your time during the session marveling over your baby in all of the adorable poses and setups!