Parents – especially new parents – are always keen to research things when it comes to their baby. Should I wake the baby to feed? Is my baby peeing enough? When do should we start solids? It really is a bit overwhelming. If you have chosen to have a newborn photo session for your newborn you might not think a lot of preparation goes into the session but you’d be surprised how much work it is to get those peaceful, calm, sleepy images you hang on your walls.

Here are some things of what to expect during your newborn session with me:

*Newborn session must be scheduled within 5-10 days of life and can take anywhere from one to three hours, depending on the baby. Babies are easier to pose and are in that “sleepy state” at this young age. These sessions also take patience to achieve each pose and I do not rush either the baby or myself in order to do this. Please try not to schedule anything important or have too many visitors on the day of our session if in your home. The less people around, the less distractions there are.

*If possible, please clear a space in your home that has the best and most natural light coming in. If the light is hitting the floor, this is even better and this is where I will shoot.

*Most images will be done with a nude baby. Don’t worry if they soil any of the blankets. Babies, eat, sleep and poop. This is what they do. We will just change things up, reposition and move on. All blankets are cleaned prior to each session.

*I have an assortment of little hats and diaper covers I like to use. If there is something you have that you would like me to use on your baby in the photo, please let me know.

*I will be bringing a lot of “stuff” with me—beanbag, baskets, blankets, backdrop, etc. Please use the time I’m setting up to feed your baby so that they’ll be in the desired “milk coma” for our session. Also expect to feed again once we’ve started. When we start handling a newborn it is inevitable that they will want to eat again, don’t be surprised if it’s only an hour that has passed since you last fed them.

*{studio session} I keep my home warmer than usual for newborn sessions. I also use a space heater. All this heat keeps the baby warm as well as sleepy and comfortable. If we’re not sweating, then it’s not warm enough 🙂

*Loosen the diaper or any tight clothing about an hour prior to our session. This will lessen the chance of having any creases or red marks on the baby’s skin.

*For yourself or any significant other that will be photographed with the baby, it is best to wear a black or white coloured shirt. Camisole/tank top or a 3/4 top for mom; logo-free black t-shirt/ ”wifebeater” for dad. Please have your nails clean and free of any polish. It will stand out in the final image.

*Finally, remember that every baby is different. Go with the flow. If the baby is simply not “in the mood” for photographs, we can reschedule for the next day.

Following all, some or none of these points may or not give us the perfect session but it will certainly help make it smoother. I hope this helps! 🙂