If you have made it this far, I hope to think that you like my photography style and are considering to hire me for your newborn photographs.
Let me walk you through the process, but of course, there is no set way things will unfold.... ever!
Anyways: Preferably you are still expecting. I will chalk down your expected due date in my calendar and we will stay in touch throughout your pregnancy. That way, I don't fully book and have time for you and baby once it arrives. Ideally, newborn photographs should be taken around 7-10 days of age. This is simply because your baby is still a better sleeper and much more moldable. After all, not too long ago their home did not leave a lot of room for moving around, so baby had to curl up! They are also still very comfortable naked. Again, these are just guidelines and if you have an older newborn doesn't mean you can't still take gorgeous pictures! Just know that after about two weeks of age, your baby will have discovered the joys of stretching and will be more comfortable clothed. So your photographs will just turn out a little differently that the ones of super new babies.
If you already had your baby that's fine as well, let's get together quickly!
Once we have agreed on a day, I will stop by your home. It is important to me to not stress out the baby and you by having to pack up and drive somewhere. I want the baby somewhere it's comfortable.... your home! Do not sweat it!!! I have NOT met anybody, whose lives can adjust *snap* like that to having a new little person in their home. Do you sacrifice sleep over getting housework done or do you sacrifice housework over sleep? After the first few days of playing Super Woman, you will probably scream the following sentence... I need to SLEEP!! Dishes can wait! So, now that that's out of the way, the reason I mention it, is because most of us go on a cleaning spree when they expect guests. Do not stress yourself out, I do not care about clothes on the floor, dishes piling up and whatever other chores you might have put second after sleep and taking care of your baby. I seriously only require a little room, so I might ask you to show me around your house, so I can look for the best lighting. Once we know where that is, we will scoot whatever mess might exist out of the way to make room for my compact setup.
I prefer taking newborn photographs in the morning, one of the many reasons is the lighting, as I prefer to shoot using natural light. Typical newborn sessions take anywhere from one (1) to three (3) hours. As they are still so used to your body temperature, turn up the thermostat in your house to around 80. You and I will be wearing shorts and a tank top! BUT the baby will be comfortable!
I like props and have a few of my own I will bring with me , but what I really like are those little cheeks, fingers and toes. However, that does not mean you cannot incorporate your ideas into the photo shoot. So if you do want to use some of your own props, please let me know and I will be happy to incorporate them.
Your baby will also be most happy with a super full tummy. If possible, try to time the feeding around 30 minutes prior to our appointment and make sure they eat as much as they can or want. Loosen the diaper, so we can keep the diaper marks to a minimum. In order for your baby to sleep through most of the photo shoot, it would be great if you tried to keep them up a little after their feeding or while I scout for great lighting.
You probably already know that your baby is and will be all about Mommy, so if you are stressed, your baby will sense the tension and will get upset. The majority of the time will be spent tending to baby, feeding, burping, cuddling and holding them in position until they are asleep. That's why I schedule 3 hours for newborn session, because some babies might take longer than others to get comfortable. Therefore please don't feel like it should go any other way if your baby is hesitant to go to sleep or wants to be held by you at all times. Sometimes it is even more beneficial for you to leave the room, as your baby can sense you are nearby. Maybe send Dad in for comfort and have you step outside until your baby stops crying and falls asleep. Believe it or not, I know how to hold and handle babies, so it is ok to let me take the lead and have you stand by and enjoy. My pace is dictated by your baby and whatever baby gives me, I can turn into gorgeous pictures for you to enjoy for years! So relax! Relax! Relax!
Oh am I glad I got to give you a few pointers to make the photo shoot more fun! Hopefully, I have helped answer some of the questions you might have. If you still have some, let's discuss them before our session.
From the bottom of my heart, thank you for considering me!