Prepare for Your Newborn Session
Prepare Your Baby
A lot of parents think their baby will sleep through anything… and while this may be true at home or while dining at a restaurant, that’s not always the case with photo shoots. There is something crazy about the energy that manifests during these sessions… the anxiety or stress of wanting great photos or being worried if the baby will cooperate may rub off on your baby. So, it’s best to maintain a calm setting and keep your energy at a low level in order to make the baby relaxed.
Your baby will do their best solo work while in a very deep sleep. To encourage this, I highly recommend two important tips…
1. Keep them awake for the two hours before I arrive.
2. Don’t feed them until I get there.
3. Schedule nap time and the photo shoot for the exact same time.
Those are the most important things to remember! In my experience, babies that have been asleep prior to my arrival are more difficult to pose because as soon as the blanket comes off they get startled again and it’s back to trying to put them to sleep. That alone can take up to an hour (if not more) and unfortunately doesn’t allow time to get the most images possible from your session time. So, if your baby is on a schedule and they go down for their nap at 12:00p, let’s schedule your session for 11:45a so we can keep him/her on schedule and get them in their most snoozy moments. Also, an extra bonus tip… give them a bath before I arrive. This will be an activity that will stimulate them and make them even more tired!
Babies pick up on a new person super quick! They are little energy absorbers and can sense when things are different or off… so, when I arrive and your baby is still awake, I will hold them. While you show me around your home and walk me through the outfit options, I will interact with your baby so they get familiar with my energy. Once we have walked through the house and your baby has been introduced to me, it’s time to feed them. Once burped, we will change into their photo outfit or remove their clothing if you want snuggly shots of them naked wrapped in a blanket. I recommend we start with whatever is most important to you as the outfit change can usually stir them and may make it impossible to get them back to sleep for the next round of photos. We will start with any family portraits while we are waiting for your bundle to fall asleep. We will snuggle you up in bed with them, have you hold him/her and do shots with each parent and possibly siblings if applicable. It’s ok if your baby is awake for these photos as most of the images will be not close up to their faces.
After capturing the whole family, we will focus on getting your baby into the deepest sleep possible. I recommend a white noise machine if you have one (if not, I do) during the session to ensure no sounds will startle your baby. Getting your baby into a deep sleep takes longer than usual in this scenario… so, however long it usually takes for you to get them down… double it.
Be Prepared for Chaos
Murphys Law has never been more true than while in a Newborn Session. Your baby will defy every assumption you have about them during this session, and that’s ok. I go into every session with a flow energy… whatever happens, happens. So, it’s best you have that perspective as well. There is no controlling them as you know. They will spit up on me and every blanket/prop… they will pee or poo when they aren’t supposed to. (I can’t tell you how many times I have been peed/pooped/spit up on - and it’s no biggie at all!) They won’t sleep how they usually do… if you have other children, they will have a melt down. So, if you just accept that it will be chaos… it will make it so much more of a great experience because you’re already planning for it. And, if everything goes smoothly… then even more amazing.
Shhh!
Please do whatever you can to keep the noise to a minimum during our session. Maintaining a calm environment is also a big key to a successful newborn shoot. If you have a white noise machine, I recommend having that going the whole shoot. If you don’t have one, I will be sure to use my white noise app… it’s amazing how helpful that is since babies love strong and rhythmic sound.
Regulate the Temp
Since babies are sometimes photographed naked, I recommend keeping your thermostat as close to 80 degrees as possible. 76 degrees at the absolute coldest. This way, when we change their clothes or try to get naked shots, they won’t be startled by the cool air on their skin. You can turn the thermostat to that temp once we begin shooting since we will do the family shots first… I don’t want the parents to look melted in the photos!
Safety
Safety is my utmost priority when handling your baby. All eyes and hands are to be kept around your baby during their solo portion of the shoot. I will have either parent assist me as needed, but I will do most of the hands-on moving while shooting their solo portraits. I have a ton of experience with newborns as I have been capturing them for over a decade and I am the second oldest of nine children… I have been handling newborns since I was seven years old.
Parents
Please be prepared to spend a few hours with me. It’s ok if your baby takes a long time to settle… just relax into this. I recommend having snacks to nibble on through the shoot. Mimosas are always a good treat to celebrate the shoot and calm the nerves. Just be present, calm and enjoy the process. Know that I have got this and will create beautiful images of your family!
Siblings
If this is your first baby, you can skip this section. If this is your THIRD or more baby, you can probably skip this section because you know the drill already, but feel free to read just in case.
Going from one baby to two is the biggest leap. The first born is used to having ALL the attention, so this new little snuggle bug may throw a wrench into the whole system and may cause your eldest child to act out or throw a tantrum. Be ready for it. I will do everything to make sure the eldest feels so special and included… so you can trust that I will be ready for that. Plan for all of their “normal” and “usual” habits and routines to get thrown out the window. We will roll with their punches… we’ll play by their rules… and we’ll get whatever they will allow us to get. We may have to take breaks and come back, but I usually try to knock out the sibling photos in the beginning… especially if your eldest is under the age of five.
Helpful tips…
- Feed them before I get there, but be sure it’s not food or drink that stains or discolors the skin.
- Don’t put them in their special outfit until I arrive.
- Have a special prize for them to incentivize good behavior.
- Schedule the whole shoot around their nap schedule over everyone else.
- Wipe noses and mouths THOROUGHLY. I do not edit out boogies or crusties on the older kids since it’s an easy thing to avoid.
Wardrobe + Props
Have a few options ready for your session and I’ll gladly advise when I arrive on what will capture the best. Simple things are always the best for newborns as we don’t want the outfit to take away from the baby. Neutrals photograph the absolute best. I will bring with me a bag of props and blankets that photograph well, but I love incorporating YOUR things as it makes it much more personal and special.
AVOID:
- Collared shirts or overalls! They pop up in to the baby’s face and cover their cute chubby cheeks.
- Busy patterns.
- Super bright colors (like neon)
Items to have on hand…
- boppee
- swaddle blankets with no patterns
- snuggle blankets like chunky woven fabrics or faux fur
- hair accessories, bows, hats, etc
Also, here is my family session prep guide that goes into more details regarding wardrobe for the whole family. It helps ensure you are coordinated for the shoot and gives more tips on how to prepare the whole family in other ways as well.
That’s it! This is going to be super fun and super laid back… I don’t like to do photos that are too posey (as you probably already know), so this shoot will feel like a day in the life - but with the parents showered, hair done and fresh, clean clothes on. I can’t wait to capture you and your family!
Please send me any questions or suggestions you may have! I always love to update this guide as needed.