Newborn Session Prep Guide

Before the session

Color scheme
In your newborn session questionnaire, I ask for colors you would like the baby to be photographed in. If you have a special request for a color scheme please let me know ahead of time!

What should my newborn wear?
Please dress your newborn in clothes that may be easy to remove/change as we may be taking clothing off as they are sleeping and don’t want to wake them. There is no need to bring any special outfits for baby as they are usually wrapped in a swaddle during their session.

Props, Wraps, Headbands
I have TONS of props, wraps (in EVERY color), headbands, bonnets, hats…and much more to make your session unique to you and your style.

Preparing your newborn
Here are a couple of things to help the session go smoothly… Do not change your baby’s diet the day before or the day of your session. Do your best to keep your baby awake for 2-hours before the session so they can be in a deep sleep during it. Clean away flaky skin and remove any eye-boogers with a washcloth. If needed, trim toe and finger nails. If your baby has any band-aids on the skin, please remove them as soon as you can to allow imprints to disappear.

What to bring

Bottle + Pacifier (Optional)
Bringing a bottle may help calm the baby if they are already posed and hungry – this helps allow more time to photograph. If your baby takes a pacifier, please bring that, too. You might not normally use them for baby but they do sometimes help during the shoot and then you can throw them away once we’ve finished. If you forget – I do keep sterile ones just in case. If your baby doesn’t use a bottle or pacifier – no worries.

Wipes + Diapers
I do keep extras just in case you do need them or forget!

Props
Feel free to bring any special items or props that you would like to incorporate into the photos. I just ask that you let me know ahead of time what you are bringing so I fit it into the session. Some examples people have brought include sports equipment, deer antlers, special stuffed animals, and more!

Spare Change of Clothes
Sometimes babies can have little accidents, so if you plan on going somewhere after the shoot you might want to bring a spare change of clothes for yourself.

During the Session

Location
Newborn sessions typically take place at my studio (58899 8685 Rd., Waterbury, NE 68785).

Studio
My studio gets pretty warm – I use a space heater to ensure the baby stays warm and comfortable throughout the session.

Feedings
Please feed baby right when you arrive to your session or right before you come. Burp baby really well right after you feed them to ensure baby is able to sleep comfortably. We can certainly stop throughout the session to feed as needed. With a bit of luck he/she will doze off and we can start to get those cute sleepy shots!

Be Patient
Your baby may be fussy and alert. We will try multiple techniques to help baby calm down and go to sleep. If we are unable to get your baby comfortable again, we may need to reschedule to ensure we can get you the best photos possible.

Mom & Dad
When doing newborn portraits, typically I don’t have the parents in the room. Baby can smell mom’s scent and typically will want to be held. I have a sitting area outside my studio where you can sit, watch TV and peek in occasionally. Usually, this is a nice time for you to be able to just relax.

Family Photos
I do encourage you to have a few photos taken of you and your newborn. My studio is set up to do small family photos. For attire, I recommend neutral colors that aren’t too distracting or bold.

Thank you for choosing me to capture these new special moments of your newborn!