What do you have left from your wedding? You may be wondering what this question has to do with newborn photography, but stay with me.

Do you have the cake? The flowers? The dress? Maybe. The decorations? The food? The DJ? Most likely not.

What about the photos? Your newborn photos are how you captured that day. How you will re-live that day. If you think 5, 10, 50 years down the road, which of all those things will be most important to you? See where I’m going here? That beautiful album or portrait on the wall will bring a smile to your face and the face of your children for many, many years.

It’s the same for Newborn Photography.

Picture this: you’ve just had a baby. You can hardly walk straight because you are sore. You are TIRED. This new little human has your heart on a string, but they sure take a LOT of work to keep alive!

Now think down the road a little. 5, 10, 50 years from now–that expensive baby seat will be long gone. The toys, bouncers, swings-all will be a distant memory. What will you still have that will bring a smile to your face, and your children’s face, and so on? Those newborn portraits! The beautiful album, the portrait on the wall, these are what will last your lifetime and be passed down through the generations.

I know it’s hard now. Believe me, I’ve been there! But I PROMISE you won’t be sorry you put in the effort and investment to get Newborn Portraits of your baby. You will be patting yourself on the back for a long time for this one!

And here’s the thing. Newborns change quickly. As in, daily. So a newborn portrait session isn’t something that can be put off, or re-done. Choosing a professional you trust is key. Those days go by so fast! Here is a list of 7 things you didn’t know about newborn photography that will help you feel more confident about planning your very own newborn session. Make sure to contact me if you have any questions I didn’t address here! I LOVE answering questions!

• How old should my baby be?

Ideally, you will want to have your newborn photos taken when your baby is between 5-10 days old! For a few days after babies have been born, they retain the sweet “curled-up” appearance they had when they were still in the womb. This lends itself to beautifully simple poses that emphasize just how fresh your little one is, and will be cherished for years to come. You may not remember everything about the first few sleep-deprived weeks, but looking at the photos you have from that time will bring the newborn smell right back.

• What if my baby is fussy or doesn’t sleep?

As the mom of 6 children and having been a newborn photographer for several years, I think I can confidently say that you and I can handle anything your baby can throw at us! My goal during each photo shoot is to foster a safe, calming, quiet environment where we can go at your baby’s pace. That’s one of the reasons why we plan for the shoot to take about two hours! One of the things that’s most important to me is safety. The session isn’t going to be very enjoyable if you’re worried your baby will roll off the props! The safety and comfort of your baby is my priority. I have taken newborn photography-specific safety courses and strive to remain up to date on the latest protocols in order to provide the best care possible for you and your newborn.

• Am I going to be able to do this after having a baby?

Birthing a human is no joke! Your body has been through an extremely transformative experience, and as the dust settles from bringing baby home, it might take some time to feel like YOU again. I understand that. I’ve been there! It can be an emotional process, and it’s nothing that needs to be rushed through. And you know what?

You can do it. Really. In fact, getting out of the house, if only for a short time, can help you feel more confident, especially if this is your first baby! It may help to bring along a support person to your session, and this can be anyone you trust: your partner, a parent, a sibling or close friend, a doula, and even your older children, if you have any! Give them a specific job to do to take some of the stress off your shoulders, and make the process that much more peaceful for you! They can being charge of opening doors for you, carrying the diaper bag, or putting together a bottle if you choose to bottle-feed. If you aren’t sure what to wear to your session, this blog post can help!

• My newborn doesn’t fit their clothes/I don’t know what kind of clothes to bring for my newborn!

If you take a look at my galleries, you’ll see that I keep things extremely simple when it comes to newborn photography. This means a lot of wraps, blankets, and sweet, simple, naked goodness! The reasoning behind this is twofold: one, it’s extremely common to have clothes that simply don’t fit your teeny tiny baby, and two- it’s such a beautiful way to remember the way they were so shortly after their entrance into the world. Who doesn’t want to remember your baby’s sweet wrinkles and rolls, or the back that’s covered in peach fuzz?

If you have any accessories that you want incorporated into your photos, we can absolutely use them! The dress that’s been handed down for three generations, you and your partner’s wedding rings, or a special blanket from your great grandmother are all beautiful tributes to your family, and will make the photos THAT much more special.

As stated above, your baby’s comfort is of the utmost importance. I make sure that the studio is warm and welcoming, so your little one won’t be too cold or too warm no matter how many layers he’s wearing.

• What do I need to bring to my newborn session?

First things first, please bring your baby. 😉 After you’ve taken care of that little detail, you’ll probably want to bring a diaper bag stocked with the essentials: extra diapers, wipes, a pacifier, and milk to feed your baby if they get hungry during the session. Whether you formula feed or breastfeed, I have provided comfortable seating in the studio itself so you can have the privacy and comfort that you need! If you have any props or sentimental items that are important to you, please feel free to bring them with you so we can make sure they’re included in some of the shots. Contact me if you have any specific questions about props.

• What if my baby poops or pees during the session?

The short answer? They will. And that’s okay!! Poop happens -as I’m sure you’ve found out by now- and there’s not much you can do to control it. Before each session, I make sure there are waterproof pads placed underneath the sheets and blankets we’ll use throughout the shoot, and I am well versed in stain removal. 😉 In all honesty, it is not a big deal AT ALL! We will get beautiful photos regardless of what comes out either end.

• My newborn has baby acne/flaky skin/red blotches. Will these show up in my photos?

If you are dealing with flaky, dry skin, I recommend using a little bit of Tubby Todd Ointment or Aquaphor the morning of your photo shoot to smooth over your baby’s skin. If they have baby acne or red blotches, I will do some light retouching during my editing process to ensure that your baby’s photos look crisp and clean while still capturing the other details you’ll cherish. (Remember what I said about the peach fuzz? Sooo cute!)

 

Babies can be unpredictable, but I am confident that no matter what may pop up during your session, you will still receive absolutely stunning images you’ll love forever. Leave a comment below with a question you have about newborn photography! If you want more information, feel free to contact me below.