Newborn sessions are generally scheduled before the baby is two weeks old (although 6-10 days is preferred) as they stop curling up their arms and legs the older they get and many of the newborn poses are simply not possible. Premature babies can be good sleepers a little longer than full-term babies. Please be prepared for a possible lengthy session as some newborn sessions take longer to fall asleep.

Newborn sessions should be scheduled at a time when the baby can be fed and then immediately placed in the car to come to the studio…this helps to ensure that the baby will fall asleep in the car and remain asleep once you arrive at the studio for the sleeping newborn poses. It is very important to keep your baby awake as much as possible (for many hours) before leaving for your session to help ensure that the baby will sleep soundly once they arrive. We cannot get all of those sweet sleeping poses with an awake baby as awake babies tend to flail their arms and legs about unless they are tightly swaddled.

You may end up having to feed the baby again when you arrive at the studio so please be prepared for this. If the baby is formula fed or you have breast milk pumped, please bring this along in case we need it. On occasion, I have had babies feed three or four times during a session.

Please note that not every baby sleeps during the session. We will try hard to get your baby sleeping soundly but if they don't sleep, we will vary the poses to find things for an awake baby.

Before leaving your house, it's a good idea to clean the baby's eyes with a warm wash cloth and to check baby's eyes and nostrils for anything unsightly that you don't want photographed. Please do this before leaving home…we don't want to upset the baby upon arriving for the photo session.

I normally do not photograph newborns with clothing on, although I do have various diaper covers if you prefer your baby wear one or you may bring your own. If you have a special outfit or gown that you would like in a few pictures, please bring it and we will incorporate it into the session, usually at the end once the baby is awake. If parents want to be in the newborn portraits, please follow these simple clothing suggestions.

MOM'S LIST TO WEAR:

Wear solid black (or any solid, dark or light colored shirt), dark jeans are great, small stud earrings, no necklace, keep jewelry to a minimum…wedding rings are okay…no watches. Please be mindful of low cut or V-neck tops. No sweatshirts or sweaters please. Bright colored nail polish really stands out…keep nails simple. No makeup with sparkles…including eye shadow as the sparkles catch the light of the flash and you will have silver sparkles all over!! No lipstick with a high gloss…the reflection of the lights from the studio will show on glossy lips. Bring your make up bag for touch ups. Bring a change of clothes for after the photo shoot just in case there is an “accident" during the session. Please note this happens a lot.

DAD'S LIST TO WEAR:

Wear solid black (or any solid, dark or light colored shirt), no stripes, jeans are great, no necklace, and keep jewelry to a minimum…wedding rings are okay…no watches. No sweatshirts or sweaters please. Bring a change of clothes for after the photo shoot just in case there is an “accident" during the session as this often happens. Please do not wear a white t-shirt under your black/dark shirt if you can see it. In general, if mom is wearing light colors then dad needs to wear light colors and if mom is wearing black, then dad needs to wear black.

BABY:

Since we will be photographing your baby with little to no clothing on…I suggest unclothing the baby (or if you feel the need for clothing, choose something very easy to get off) and leaving a loose tab diaper on the baby and placing them in their car seat and covering them with blankets. This is an assurance of no clothing marks or indents on the skin…plus when we start our sleeping baby portraits, it's super easy to undo the diaper and place the sleeping baby (sleeping from the car ride) right on the set and start shooting once you arrive. So if the baby is sleeping when you arrive for your appointment, please DO NOT wake the baby as we may be able to begin the session immediately. No clothing with heavy elastic should be on the baby…IE: socks, booties with elastic on the ankle, elastic on the wrist, no booties over hands, etc as they can leave red marks on the skin that can stay for up to an hour of the session.

Please bring a few blankets that may or may not be photographed with your baby as well as any you have that they may be swaddled with. Be sure to bring bottles, water, formula, baby wipes, a change of clothes for baby, extra diapers, burp rags, hair brush, pacifier, and anything else you think you may need. Even if your baby does not take a pacifier, please bring one if you have it. Many times has a baby taken a pacifier at the session even when they do not normally at home.

If you are planning to have the baby wear clothes, keep the following in mind: Simple clothing works best for creating successful, timeless portraits. Avoid patterns, busy prints, stripes, and logo clothing as they can be very distracting and tend to draw focus away from the faces. If siblings are being photographed together, please have them dressed in similar toned clothing for a more unified look. If possible, keep pants darker than tops as this draws attention up to the face. Think of every detail, down to socks and shoes, however, barefoot is always the best choice. And, if your child is a young child and not walking, avoid large collars and suspenders that gather up at the neck, as they tend to overwhelm and hide the jaw line and face. Big kids clothing like blue jeans does not look good on newborns…newborns simply do not look good or comfortable in them. Newborn outfits generally look bunched up when the baby is sleeping and when awake it is hard to catch the baby still, wearing the outfit.

Please bring a change of clothes for Mom, Dad and baby. I know I have already mentioned a change of clothes but we have had parents int he past have to sit through a session after being peed on and then have to endure a long ride home in wet clothes. Also be sure to bring lots of burp rags and blankets…for drool, spit up and accidents.

Please feel free to bring anything that you would like to incorporate in the portraits such as a special blanket, headbands, knit hats, bloomers, a stuffed animal, jewelry, toy, etc. I am happy to personalize your portraits :) I love it when families bring something in their home that we could use like an old milk crate, basket or even an antique chair. This personalizes your baby's session and it will be neat to show your child that special portrait and show them how small they were at that time.