I receive a lot of questions about to prepare for newborn sessions so I decided to put together a little cheat sheet so you can know what to expect and some tips to help you prepare! With these tips, you'll be able to have a relaxed and stress-free session.
Plan Ahead Early
Newborn sessions are held within the first ten days of being born when the baby is sleepy and able to mold into poses easier. We strongly recommend scheduling your session before your due date to better ensure that we can plan for you and your baby to come into the studio. Please feel free to contact us to set up a time frame of when you would like to come in.
Keeping The Baby Awake
If you can, try to keep the baby awake for 1-2 hours prior to coming in to the studio. We want to make sure your baby is sleepy and will stay asleep during the session. In order to keep the baby comfy, they will need to be in a deep sleep to snooze through all the different poses and outfit changes. We recommend doing whatever it takes to keep baby exhausted, possibly a bath or any other form of excitement before arriving.
Hungry Baby
Hold off feeding the baby until you arrive at the studio. This is very important. We will take some time before the session to feed them and make sure they are happy, full and sleepy before we begin. A well fed baby is a happy baby! We’ll also be more than happy to take as many breaks as needed to help them re-fuel.
This Might Take Awhile
Plan on the session lasting anywhere between 2-4 hours. Newborn sessions are typically the most challenging. The baby is in charge and determines how long the session lasts. Being in a new place can take some time getting used to and they may be cranky!
Bring In Your Heirlooms
I will have a few outfits and setups created for your session, but please feel free to bring anything special you'd like us to use: family heirlooms, wedding rings, toys, monogrammed blankets, hats, etc. We’ll go through these together to determine what will look best in the pictures.
Time To Relax
Be prepared to relax! We’re comfortable and experienced in holding and posing newborns. Your baby is in safe hands, we promise! Feel free to rest and even leave the room for a bit if you’d like. We’ve had parents who’ve used this time to take a nap or even run out for a quick lunch. All totally acceptable to us!
If the baby gets fussy or alert, don’t worry. A baby can sense anxiety and we want to keep the environment as mellow as possible. If we have a question or need you for feeding, we’ll take a break and come find you.
Other Tips To Remember
Remember to wear something nice if you and your husband would like to be included in the newborn session. Casual is better. Maxi dresses are a great option, as they are comfortable and cozy while snuggling your little one.
If you'd like to purchase an outfit for your baby to wear in addition to what we have at the studio, we have a few vendors we can recommend to find the perfect items for your session. By bringing in your own props, you'll be able to ensure that you'll have the perfect outfit to match the baby's nursery theme, the color scheme of your house, or to compliment personal hobbies, like a love of Star Wars or a passion in music. To help you get your creative ideas flowing, here are a few of our favorite vendors for newborn props: Babies Republic, Just Hatched Designs, Mr and Mrs And Co.