Newborn Photo Session Prep Guide

Newborn Session Tips Guidelines

Keep Baby Awake:
I recommend keeping your baby for as long as you can before the session. If the baby has slept all morning and then arrives to my studio, they just might be ready for a long awake period, which makes the job of getting them sleepy all that much harder.

Keep Baby Full:
Make sure baby has full tummy before you leave the house and come to my studio. This way, assuming your drive isn’t too long, the baby should l still be full and will probably have a little snooze in the car. When you arrive I will remove baby from the carseat and I can immediately get started on the session when you arrive. Hopefully get as much photos done before baby needs a feeding break. Also, feeding them as often as you can for about 10-12 hours before yours session will ensure that baby is really full and will be more likely to have a long, sleepy stretch.

DO NOT forget the pacifier:
If the baby takes a pacifier, you can trust me that you’ll want it there during the session! If baby doesn’t take a pacifier, I would highly encourage you to bring one anyways, just for the session. They tend to want to nurse the entire session so the soother helps us stretch out those feeds within the 3 hour session.

Babies Clothing:
Bring baby in a button-up or zip-up sleeper. Preferably a loose fitting one. One of the worst things is when baby arrives sleepy in his/her car seat and then I have to remove shoes and socks, pants, and take a shirt off over their heads – which almost always wakes them up. Instead, it’s so, so simple to zip down and slip off pajamas while baby remains asleep! And if the pajamas are loose-fitting, then ideally there won’t be many lines left behind on the baby’s skin.

My studio is WARM
So it’s really important to me to warn parents of this before their arrival. Babies are happier when its toasty warm!! I keep my studio very warm to help keep them comfortable and sleepy. I always suggest you dress lightly. Feel free to pop outside if you need a break from the heat!

My Studio will be dark.
Ambient light from windows, and light fixtures can affect the colour of your images. To achieve the highest quality work, my strobe needs to be the only source of light on your baby. For this reason, the windows are blacked out in the studio. While I am shooting the only light on will be the model light and studio strobe light.

Bring something to do!
Newborn sessions can be really long. Most of the times I won’t need your help. So bring your laptop, a book and something to do while you sit for 2-3, sometimes 4 hours. Feel free to take a nap 😉 If you have other children coming, I advise that one parent occupies the kids until we are ready for family portraits and then takes the older kids after the family portraits have been taken. We have a great park about a block away from the studio.

What should I Wear?

If you are wanting to be in the photos with your sweet little baby, I find that solid colors generally look best. Neutrals like Black, white, blue or earth tones keep the focus on where it should be, your baby. (I will note that moms do tend to look great in floral as well, just make sure your colors co-ordinate). V-neck type shirts for mom and a t-shirt or collard shirt for dad. Make sure you bring an extra outfit, incase poop happens! (it happens more times than not). Please keep in mind, these are professional photos, therefore treat them like professional photos. Avoid hoodies, ball caps, logos on shirts.
Also, consider where you want to display your photos and coordinate with your home decor.

What should Siblings Wear?

If you have girls bring one neutral colored outfit of your own.
If you have boys, please bring them in jeans or khakis and a shirt – Neutral colors, no Logos.
I find the boys usually look best shirtless with jeans and the girls in either a dress or a romper.

Covid and Sickness Policy

As of now, masks are not required to be worn for any portion of the time in the studio. I, however will continue to be masked when handling your babies. Regardless of health regulations, babies still do have immature immune systems and I want everyone to stay comfortable and healthy!

Please reschedule if anyone in your family is feeling sick.

Closed Set

Just a reminder that the studio is a closed set. This means no personal photos, no cell phone photos. You’re welcome to take behind the scenes videos, or FaceTime with a family member if you want to share the process.

I can’t wait for our session!