A great session takes some planning! It’s time to capture your newborn’s photos before they get bigger! After about 2 weeks (sometimes less!) they open their eyes and start to wiggle a lot more! We want to get these photos while they are still in their sleepy posable phase. Which literally lasts only a week or two tops!
Mothers should plan to book their newborn session for two weeks after their expected due date. But don’t worry! I expect things to not go as planned and will be ready to change this as needed. I will be patiently waiting for you to call me to let me know that your little bundle has arrived and we will go from there. Please plan to have someone to help you if you end up having a C-Section. I do have a set of stairs to my studio and it would be best to have someone help you carry baby in the carrier up the stairs.
#1 Timing your newborn portrait session
All babies are different with their schedules and I like to work with the baby rather than against it. As we think about time of day take into consideration when you feed your new baby, as well as when they sleep the deepest during the day. We will want to schedule your session when baby is super sleepy. I know the first days can be confusing and difficult! So if you don’t notice a defined sleep-eat pattern, don’t worry! Just use your best judgment.
#2 No sleeping!
You want to keep your bundle awake as much as possible for two hours before the shoot and on the way over to the studio. Once you get to the studio you can feed your baby to make them sleepy!! If you are breastfeeding and are able to pump a little into a bottle for the session that’s helpful to sooth during poses. A pacifier is also a good idea. If you are choosing not to use a pacifier and are not pumping that’s fine we will make it work anyway!
#3 Outfit planning
The fun part! Do you have an heirloom outfit, shoes, toys or a blanket you want to incorporate? Please feel free to bring them and we will use them for some of the poses. I love to get pictures of these items texted to me so I can pull out backdrops and wraps that will go with them in advance. I try to limit the number of times baby is changed because it wakes them up and makes them angry!! lol. Do you have a certain look in mind you want to create? I recommend making a Pinterest page and sharing it with me so I can let you know if I have any of the props already that we will need.
#4 Poses
Once again its best to not repose or rewrap the baby too many times in order to keep them asleep! When going through Pinterest or my website portfolio look at poses and wraps that you love. Make sure to let me know in advance which are your favorites so I can plan to have my studio set up for them and not have to move things around a lot while baby is sleeping.
Some things to consider:
Do you want nursing photos?
Do you want sibling or family pictures too?
Choose one or two posed prop style themes to go with
What colors do you want to use for your session
Will you be coordinating family outfits too?
What backdrop colors do you love most?
Answer these questions and let me know as you go so I can make the experience as smooth and seamless as possible.
#5 Be prepared
I usually do naked photos with the baby so bring an extra set of clothing for everyone who will be photographed. We can often end up being peed or pooped on! Bring an extra blanket and diapers. Are you bringing little siblings? Bring snacks and toys for them to keep them busy when we are not having them participate.
I usually do posed and beanbag photos first while the baby is super sleepy. I ask that Dad or Grandma take the rest of the family across the street to the park until it’s their turn with the baby. Or schedule to have them arrive an hour after the session starts. It’s very important that we keep the studio extremely quiet during the session. Siblings are not allowed in the studio during posed newborn photos.
Contact a Northern California Photographer
These precious photos of your new little one will be pictures you look at for years to come! You’ll hang them on your wall and show them to friends and family when they visit. My favorite part? You’ll likely tell them all about the experience! My goal as your Northern California Photographer is to make the experience just as fun, enjoyable, and memorable as the photos themselves!
