Newborn sessions are recommended to be done before 2 weeks of age while they are still in that sleepy
and bendy stage.
Why under 14 days?
I know this sounds so young, and like you, (before I began photographing newborns) considered babies to be newborns for their first 8 weeks. But for newborn photography this window is so much smaller. As soon as your baby is born, they will start to uncurl and with each passing day they will become more awake and stimulated by the world around them. Within the first 14 days, they are at their sleepiest, which is the ultimate and most perfect time to capture these wonderful poses and images. So much is possible within this time frame, and so little after. A Sleepy, curly baby is the goal!
Newborn photo sessions include:
· Careful baby posing
· Soft, natural-looking lighting
· Superhero levels of patience
· Props, hats, blankets, and wraps
. You receive your professionally edited digital images approximately 10 days after the session. You can purchase print products from your personalized store at the sizes you wish.
Here are a few useful things to know about my process for newborn photo sessions:
1. I do all newborn portrait sessions in my home studio in Ashburn, VA. It’s super cozy, peaceful, and quiet. This allows me to have complete control over the lighting, temperature and it allows you access to all of my newborn props!
2. All of my newborn photo sessions are done on weekday mornings.
3. Including siblings & other participants requires a “POSED NEWBORN SESSION + PORTRAIT SESSION (up to 5 total participants)” package. It is the perfect package for including siblings and grandparents, or adding more images to your package.
4. We do those first so you can relax the rest of the time, or you can send your spouse or other children to work/school if necessary.
Here are 10 simple tips to help your newborn session go smoothly:
1. Before your session, send me a couple of colors to coordinate the props, hats, and blankets so that the photos look cohesive when you put them together later for an album, announcement, or wall display. Usually clients match to the nursery, or if you’ll be putting the photos in your living area, we can also match to that furniture or keep everything neutral or even all-white. I’ll pull some things together before you arrive to help save �me, but you’ll have options even with the things I pick out. We can always abandon the color coordination during your session to use other props that catch your eye. Cuteness abounds in the studio!! Check newborn Pinterest Boards for inspiration.
2. Moms who are nursing – refrain from eating spicy foods for 24 hours prior to your session.
3. Dress yourselves for the warm studio. It’s going to be in the low-80s. Only the smaller studio room will be heated, and you will be able to duck out into the great room to cool down. I suggest that parents and siblings wear a solid-colored top in neutral colors such as white, cream, gray, black or tan or matching the colors you choose for your baby’s photos.
4. Dress your baby in something that snaps, zips or ties in the front so that we can easily remove the clothes while he/she is in the car seat if already asleep. Your baby will be in a diaper or swaddled the entire session, so you do not need to pack a photo outfit for him/her.
5. If possible, try to schedule your baby to eat when you arrive. If this will make for a stressful car trip, though, feed your baby before you leave and top him/her off here. This is not the �me to try to rush your baby through a feeding. A full baby is a peaceful baby.
6. As much as possible, try to keep your baby from getting a deep sleep in the morning before you arrive. Give a bath, play with hands and feet, and give litle arm and leg stretches while he/she snoozes and on the car ride over. Just having you touch them while they are sleeping will get them used to having me move them around in their sleep during their session.
7. I have plenty of cuteness here for us to use as well! If you are planning on bringing anything, please email or text me a picture prior to your session so I can plan out where it will be best to use it.
8. Bring a pacifier if he/she takes one and an extra bottle if he/she is bottle-fed. If your baby has not yet
used a pacifier, I have a few we can use if necessary.
9. Plan on being here around 2 hours. You are welcome to bring in food.
10. You are welcome to take a nap, catch up on emails, or write thank you notes from your baby shower.