Newborn Photography Session Preparation Guide
It is very important that we schedule the session within 7 to 10 days after birth. Newborns change dramatically just a week after birth and the sooner the better to capture the baby’s newness and delicate features.
Babies are very sleepy and easier to pose during these first days. 12 to 14 days after birth is doable, but the longer we wait, the harder it is will be achieve the "womb-like" poses. After the 14-day mark, babies spend more time awake and are not comfortable in those poses.
I will provide props, wraps, backdrops, etc. for the session.
I often recommend that my clients designate someone (like a husband, mother, sister, ect.) to get in touch with me as soon as the baby arrives so that I can start the process of scheduling the studio during that delicate window of time.
Preparation Suggestions:
- Please be prompt with your arrival to the studio. Time is booked in three hour blocks and we can not go over on time. To get the most out of your session, I like to use as much of that time shooting as possible.
- Mothers who are nursing should try to avoid eating anything spicy (i.e., pizza, hot sauce, etc.) that might upset the baby’s tummy for 24 hours preceding the scheduled session.
- Keep the baby awake for 1 to 2 hours before the session to ensure he or she is sleepy for the session. This is very important: without this, too much time will be spent getting them to sleep and there won’t be as much time for photographing them.
- I ask that the baby has a full belly for the session. Parents should feed the baby immediately before they leave for the studio.
- Dress the baby in loose clothes to avoid any lines on their skin. A simple sleeper is best. Avoid “onesies” or anything else that must be pulled off over the baby’s head.
- Bring a pacifier – they can be very helpful during the session.
- The studio will be kept at 85 degrees Fahrenheit to keep the baby warm while in their birthday suit. Parents also should dress in layers that can be removed easily if it’s too warm.
- Please let me know ahead of time if you would like family or sibling portraits taken during the newborn session. After sibling portraits are finished, I ask that the spouse take the older sibling out of the studio for the remainder of the session. Having antsy toddlers in the room can make it difficult to finish up the individual newborn portraits.
Please follow these instructions as closely as possible to ensure a successful photo shoot. Otherwise, we will spend too much time trying to soothe the baby to sleep and not enough time taking their portraits.