It is so important to capture the memories of your newborn in the first couple of weeks while they are still so small and precious: tiny hands, feet, and lips that will be a fleeting memory if not documented. This is when they are able to be positioned easily, sleep for longer periods, and have fewer skin blemishes such as baby acne. It is advisable to contact me when you are currently pregnant to secure a date for your session, as I take a limited amount of newborn sessions each month.

Preparing Yourself

Try to get a good night's rest. Bring extra clothes for the baby and yourself in case of spit up or accidents. I will require that the baby be fed about half an hour before I arrive so that he/she will be sleepy and ready for the photo-shoot. If you want to be in the picture with your baby, make sure your hands and nails are clean, as well as your feet, for I may be incorporating these in your photographs. Please wear coordinating clothes or neutral tone colors, Mom and Dad, and avoid clothing with lettering and logos.

Preparing Your Baby

If your baby is sleeping when I arrive, please do not wake the baby. Don’t worry if your baby wakes up during the session. I will be able to capture some waking moments and it will give you time to feed, change, and cuddle your new little bundle. This is why you should expect between a 2-3 hour session, to allow for feedings and diaper changes, etc. At least an hour before I arrive, please remove any clothing that may cause lines on your baby’s skin, such as socks, outfits with elastics, etc. Also, please loosen the diaper as well, so it is not too tight on the baby. I will begin by attempting to photograph the baby in the nude, but if he/she does not cooperate, then we will wrap the baby in cheesecloth or knit wrap. Do not worry about my props getting soiled; they are washable. The baby’s safety is the number one priority, so I will require either Mom or Dad to be present and close by the baby in between poses.

Preparing Your Home

Please adjust your thermostat to 80 degrees before I arrive (it should take me about 15 minutes to set up). I know that's warm, but when removing blankets and clothing from babies, they will get fussy if it's not warm in the room. You can turn it back down when we're finished. It would also be good if you have a portable heater to put close to the set up as well. I may walk through your home looking for the best light and the best settings. It may also be helpful if you can locate a space in your home with the most natural light (that way I don’t have to wander through your house) – a large north-facing window is usually best. It would also help to take pictures of the space, or area, you think has the most light, and email them to me. Then we can better prepare the optimum place to stage your session. When using your phone or camera to take pictures, disable the flash and turn off all lights in your home. I need to see just the natural light from the window space available for set up.

One Last Thing

You may have a baby that ends up being quite fussy and just will not fall asleep. We will still manage to capture some pictures of the baby awake if all else fails. Please do not stress out about the pictures. This session is supposed to be a special experience for you, and I don’t want you to be preoccupied if the baby starts to cry. We have plenty of time allotted for your session. I want you to enjoy the experience of your session. This should be a special bonding moment for your family that you can cherish for the rest of your lives.

Again, congratulations and I hope to be able to share this once in a lifetime event with you!