the newborn Session guide
The sweet spot for capturing newborns is typically 8 days to 3 weeks after birth, with around 10 – 14 days old being ideal. This is such a special time for your family! Amid the feelings of bringing a new baby home, there are incredible moments you’ll want to remember. I’m here to guide you in capturing those moments in a relaxed and fun way so you can cherish them forever.
What is a lifestyle Session?
Remember those photos of babies in flower bouquets or laying on toy trucks or dressed up like little angels? Sure, those can be cute, but that’s not what this is! A lifestyle shoot is about capturing your whole family and the home you’re bringing your baby into. It’s about how the siblings or pets interact with the new addition, the special touches in the nursery, or even the crib that’s still in pieces! I’ll help with posing and direction, but I prefer when it’s a collaboration. Once you’re in some nice light and a comfy spot, I’ll guide you to interact with the baby in a way that feels natural for you.
PREPARING YOUR HOME
Don’t worry about getting your home picture-perfect! It doesn’t need to look like a magazine spread. When I first arrive I’ll do a little scouting tour to look at all the rooms in your home and decide which will work best, it may be not the most obvious place! We’ll spend most of our shooting time in the rooms with the best natural light and biggest windows. Ideally that’s the living room, master bedroom, and the baby’s room. Sometimes none of those rooms will work and we’ll have to find little pockets of light in unexpected places. I’ll turn off all the inside lights and open all the blinds and curtains. Sometimes, we’ll move furniture closer to the windows and clear out distractions. Since a lot of the session might be focused around the bed (if the light allows) a neutral, light bedspread works best. Bright colors can be distracting, cause color casts on your skin and might clash with your outfits. We might end up doing the entire session in one room or move around the house, and if you have a favorite spot outside, we can capture some moments there too!
baby prep
If you can, try to time it so that baby has just finished a big feeding right before I arrive. A warm baby with a full belly usually means they’ll be sleepy, and cooperative, making the session smoother and faster. Don’t stress though! A sleeping baby isn’t a must, it’s just the less we have to fuss with them the better, especially when there’s toddlers involved. Before the feeding, dress the baby in a snug, lighter toned, somewhat plain onesie. I’ll likely start with a wrap over it. If the baby stays settled, we can unwrap them later for a different look and because the onesie is underneath we won’t have to change their clothes, potentially making them fussy. Once a baby is alert it can take awhile to get them settled down again. Onesies or outfits should be plain or with small patterns, and most importantly, well-fitting. Ideally short-sleeved and without the feet covered, so the photos can show off those adorable little arms and legs. Feel free to suggest any cute headbands or hats you have; just make sure the bow is small and hats are well-fitting so they don’t overwhelm the baby’s face.
sibling prep
The newborn might be the star, but siblings often steal the show! If you’re worried about them cooperating, don’t be—I’ve got tons of tricks and experience with kids. I’ve seen all levels of participation! From kids jumping up on the bed and giving me a big smile right away, to kids that want nothing to do with their new sibling and won’t even go near them. It’s all normal. Keeping things relaxed and not putting too much pressure on them is key, and we’ll make it work. We’ll let them come and go as they please, making the most of the times they want to be involved. You can prep them by creating a calm environment leading up to the session and not over scheduling them before. Let them know it’s going to be a fun time where you’ll all be together and they’ll get to shine as the big brother or sister. We can include activities they love, like reading books, playing on the bed, or enjoying their favorite toys. I’m always happy to pick the session time to work with nap schedule’s as well.
The Flow of the session
what to wear
Keep your outfits fairly casual—nothing too fancy, but not your everyday loungewear either. Something that seems natural to wear around the house. Neutrals with splashes of color and texture look best in photos. No big brand names, logos, or lettering or characters on your tops. Pattern on one person can add a nice touch, especially for the little ones. If you’re feeling any little insecurities, go for something that’s not super tight, like an over sized sweater or a longer dress with sleeves. For little ones in dresses, have them wear shorts or leggings underneath and tie back their hair (if they’ll let you!) so we can see their cute faces when they give baby kisses. Most importantly, be comfortable and feel like yourself, show off your personality! Feel free to show me options when I get there for a second opinion. If you still need time to get ready when I first arrive that’s totally fine too! I can always start with other family members while you take your time.
I'll bring
I’ll usually bring along some essentials for solo shots of the baby, like a blanket and a moses basket, but I like to use items I find around your home whenever possible. I’ll also have my collection of wraps with me. If you have any favorite swaddles with patterns your fond of, we can use those too. I’m a big fan of sentimental items—anything made by a special relative or passed down through generations adds a personal touch to the photos.
The whole thing should take no longer than 2 hours! and even though I know there will be a lot going on in your life at the moment and parts of it will be tough the session will be meaningful, memorable and totally worth it, I promise.