Congratulations on your new baby! Thank you so much for allowing me the amazing and rewarding job of photographing your new little mini in his/her first few days of life. Newborns are my passion and I consider myself truly blessed to be around these little miracles so much.
What to expect
I may spend up to 3 hours photographing your baby. I account time for your baby to eat, for me to clean up messes and maybe settle your baby. Additionally, I consider time for changing setups for different poses.
I do keep my studio nice and toasty. The temperature can range from 78 to 85 degrees so you will want to dress appropriately. I will photograph your baby in the buff, so not required to bring outfits. Most clothing items will hide your baby anyway.
I believe in capturing the innocence of a nude baby to make the images artful. However, if you have knitted items that you would like to bring, please feel free to do so. If you do have knitted items for the session, please send a photograph (email or text) to me. This will help me coordinate backdrops to your items. Also, you can bring any special hats, hairbands, bracelets etc..
What to do before your scheduled session:
Give your baby a sponge bath and don’t forget the lotion.
Put clothing and diaper on loosely to avoid red marks. A onesie that zips in the front is easiest to take off and less disturbing to your baby.
Grab a pacifier even if you do not plan on letting your baby use one. Pacifiers help soothe babies and will make the session go much smoother.
Let me know ahead of time if you (or siblings) plan on being photographed with your newborn so that I can plan your session accordingly.
With the way the poses are setup, a sleeping baby is required. You can feed your baby before you leave home if needed. Most babies will fall asleep in the car. If your little one wakes up hungry, you can feed them to get a nice full belly to help them sleep better.
As soon as your baby falls asleep, I will ask that you (mom) allow me to take over. Babies can smell mommy and may not sleep deep enough to allow for a pose. You can, at this point, make yourself comfortable and enjoy as you watch your babies session!
Please do not bring your digital camera or use your cell phone to take photographs during this session. Also, I understand the need to comfort your baby when they become unsettled or start crying. I will help your little one back to sleep. I have comforting techniques that will settle them.
Mom & Dad, you are a big part of the show. Photographing the connection between you and your newborn is significant and lasting. Just as they encourage in the hospital, skin to skin contact creates the most beautiful images.
Dad: If you prefer not to be shirtless, I ask that you bring a tight-fitting v-neck t-shirt to wear with a good, snug pair of jeans.
Mom: Keep the color neutral and design simple. Please be sure that you have no nail polish, as your hands will make their way into the images. Also, rest assured, I aim to photograph using flattering angles and light to bring out the natural beauty in your family.
Including older brother(s)/sister(s) in your newborn’s portraits is the perfect way to document this fleeting time in your lives.
Sister(s): I ask that girls hair be natural (or in braids) and free of bows, headbands, etc. Just as with mom, no nail polishes, please.
Brother(s): A snug pair of jeans and shirtless are preferred. Please take a few moments to chat with your son about this, so he feels prepared for the session. If he prefers not, a tight-fitting white t-shirt is fine.
After Your Session
-Now you can go home and relax and dream about all the beautiful images that will soon be yours.
-I go through the images from your session and select the best. I am looking for the cream of the crop. I usually narrow the gallery down to 20-30 images.
-You can choose your images one week after the session. Once they are completed, I will send you an email with the new link to download your gallery.
The pictures I have processed will be perfect as they are. If you forget to tell your lab to NOT “auto-correct” (often times it is a box on the order form that is automatically selected), then they will add saturation and contrast to your images. Be careful about which lab you chose. Walmart is horrible, Costco is tolerable, but a professional lab will give you professional quality. You can try Mpix online.
At the end of this session, my goal leaves you with images you will cherish forever. Thank you for trusting me to capture one of the most wonderful moments in your life.
