Feedings leading to your session- I always instruct mommies to make sure their babies have a nice, fully tummy just prior to our session. Please plan to give the baby a full feeding right before you leave your house (if you’re local). When you arrive at the studio I will have you top baby off and give them a chance to fall back asleep while we finish setting up for our session. If baby is formula fed, please bring extra formula and bottles.
If you live further than 30 minutes away from our studio, please plan to arrive 45 minutes prior to your session time so we can be sure he/she is sleepy when we begin
*Feeding baby as much as they can possibly eat 10-12 hours before our session will help ensure that baby is ready and full and will be more likely to have a long sleepy stretch.
If you are nursing, please avoid eating anything spicy that might upset baby’s stomach for 24 hours prior to our session. Any sort of spicy foods can make your baby uncomfortable or upset their tummy. An upset tummy will ALWAYS mean lots of tears and little sleep! With that being said, please try to avoid these foods, or any foods the baby may have allergies to.
Including Siblings/ other family in the session– If you have older children that we’ll be photographing, please plan to drive 2 cars so dad (or another family member) can take them for a play date once they are done with their photos. It’s nearly impossible to ask a sibling to sit still and quiet for 1-3 hours in the studio while we photograph baby. The studio does not have the means to entertain siblings during the session.
How to dress- Dress the baby in just a diaper and zipper/button sleeper (no onesie). Looser fitting cloths are best! The less we can upset the baby getting him/her out of the carseat, the easier it will be to get them to fall back asleep.
*Anyone else attending the session I advise them to dress in layers. The studio will bey VERY warm. This helps keep babies asleep and comfortable. A rule of thumb, if we aren’t sweating, then baby isn’t warm enough. Keep in mind they will be naked, or minimally clothed.
If we will be doing photos with parents/siblings I recommend wearing neutral colors. Something simple with limited/no detail. Creams, tans, light grey all photography beautifully with newborns. Try to avoid white, as it can be unflattering for some skin tones in photos.
What to bring- I have a variety of props and outfits that can be used during the session. You will receive a newborn photo session questionnaire where you’ll be able to tell me what colors, themes, etc. you’d like to have implemented in your session.
I encourage parents to bring any personal touches they wish to have incorporated to the session. Maybe Great Grandma Betty made a quilt for your little one. Bring it! We can implement it into the session creating everlasting memories.
Bring along a pacifier, even if your baby doesn’t take one. It’s very usefully to calm babies while moving their poses.
