Your Newborn Session Tips + Tricks

In order to make your experience as smooth and pleasant as possible, consider these tips! I know being a new parent is exhausting, overwhelming and emotional, so it is a huge honor to have you want me in those first fresh moments of your new family’s life. Thank you! It is an absolute joy.

• First, make sure baby is full full full! A full tummy will make for a sleepy baby. Many breaks will be taken and are expected since newborns eat so frequently, but please feed them about 20 minutes before our session.

• Keep baby in a loose diaper and swaddled before the session. Diapers leave unsightly marks on babies’ skin, and since they will be naked for many photos, it is ideal to avoid those. I do however, edit the photos to smooth skin and remove major flaking and redness.

• Keep the house warm. Warmer than 80 degrees is ideal. Turn a/c off in summer and bump heat up to 75 in winter. This also helps baby to sleep. I bring a heating pad and a space heater to help warm the room.

• Please open blinds to let in natural sunlight. I like to set up my stuff in an open room (doesn’t need to be too big) with lots of natural light.
  This may be in the living room, nursery, or anywhere with a good window letting in light.

• For family photos, usually the couch or master bedroom or nursery is best. Make sure those rooms have blinds open as well. I use a lot of neutral colors, so I recommend doing the same for your outfits. Think whites, creams, greys or lighter colors.

• I usually start with family photos. I will set up the little “studio” for baby first, let that get warm, and then while baby is swaddled we will do family and siblings photos. This helps baby fall deeper asleep, and is a good time to take breaks for milk if necessary. Also, for little siblings this helps get them done and back to playing :)

Here are many examples of different rooms in homes that are used for newborn sessions. Living room sofa, master bedroom, nursery, and even blank walls:

• Pacifiers help baby sleep and keep still in certain poses. If you are ok with using them, have one ready.

• Like said above, I use neutral colored blankets for swaddling and backdrops. I use cream and white swaddling blankets, white backdrop blanket, and cream furs for textures. For girls I have bows and boys I use hats. If you have anything special you want me to use, please feel free and have it ready. Here are some examples of personal props, from moms wedding veil to a letter board.

• The only cleaning I ask is to clear night stands if we are using the master bedroom. Other than that, don’t worry about a thing!

• Sibling photos are also done where family portraits are shot. I also try to do a “lay down” of baby and older siblings. If you have a bed pillow I can borrow for this, I would appreciate it!

My top priority has always been the safety of you and your family, especially the new baby. I sanitize everything I bring into your home before and after I am there. My camera equipment is disinfected after I use it. I will always wash my hands and use hand sanitizer frequently. Thank you for trusting me! I am vaccinated and will wear a mask at the session due to the intimate nature and how I get.