i am beyond honored that you’ve chosen me to take pictures of this sweet time in your lives. THANK YOU. thanks for inviting me into these sacred moments. newborn photos are some of my faves and having three of my own babies, i know how important these photos are. here’s a little guide to help you prepare for our session to make everything go as smoothly as possible :)

the basics

you’ve probably learned by now that the baby is the boss. you can have the best intentions but i’m sorry, you’re no longer in charge. so here’s a few things you can do to make sure our photoshoot goes as smoothly as possible.

  1. keep your house extra warm! if your baby is used to being swaddled or held then your house is going to need to be extra warm to compensate. if you have a space heater, turn it on! babies lose heat much quicker than the rest of us + they’re so used to being warm that we might not notice the coolness, but they certainly will.

  2. try and feed your baby right before your session, or as i’m showing up. if there are any detail shots you want, i can capture these while you’re finishing the feeding. otherwise we can wait for you to finish up. a full (warm) baby is a happy baby :)

  3. have an idea of photos you want or where you’d like to take pictures. have a change of clothes ready just in case, and keep a few blankets near by.

  4. have an idea of photos you want, but also be ready to throw all expectations out the window :) I swear that babies KNOW when a photoshoot is happening and act accordingly. as in, they’re not going to cooperate in the way you want them to. want them awake? they’re passed out. want them sleeping? they’re crying the entire time. but it’s OKAY. i’ve dealt with all of these situations and we’ll get sweet photos either way.

what to wear

my style always leans toward minimal, neutral, classics. i like coordination, not matching. you know those photographers who have everyone wear a black shirt and jeans? yeah, that’s not me. show me your personality (see the leopard print dress above. LOVE.) but remember that these will be hanging in your house so don’t wear something you would absolutely never wear otherwise. what i’m saying is, BE YOURSELF. BE COMFORTABLE. if we are doing newborn photos and you just gave birth, BY ALL MEANS, please don’t feel the pressure to wear jeans or do your hair. give yourself grace and let me take pictures of you enjoying your sweet baby without you worrying about the perfect photos.

what should your baby wear

outfit changes are totally acceptable. just remember it could wake a sleeping babe. but also, there’s nothing yummier than a diapered baby in a swaddle or a pretty blanket. remember that outfits with patterns, sayings, etc., go out of style. when in doubt, go simple. all pictures here are some of my favorites so take any and all inspo from these.

siblings

things can get a little spicy when we add another child to the photos. you’re clearly already well versed in patience but i promise that probably nothing will test your patience like family pictures from here on out :)

  1. be so flexible. if your kids don’t know me they are usually super shy but let me know if i can bribe them with candy or fruit snacks and we’ll be best friends in no time. i’ve got a few tricks to encourage your big kids to warm up to me, but i’ve found that telling/ordering/forcing them into the pictures will almost always result in tears. we’ll start slow and they might just run around for a while but i’ve gotten some very sweet pictures with even the spiciest of older siblings.

  2. this is a big transition for your older kids. so keep it simple. bring something to the photos that your big kids like. whether it’s painting or reading or singing, plan something they can engage in.

  3. i’m a family lifestyle photographer. so while we’ll be sure to take a few pictures of everyone looking at the camera, i’m going to capture your life. so if that means in a messy bedroom or on the floor of the nursery or in your yard, we’ll capture your real life and your real family.

  4. be so patient. i’m not stressed, you don’t have to be stressed. if your older kids don’t want to take pictures in this moment, we’ll try again. and again and again. nothing makes them not want to be in the pictures more than upset, yelling parents. so we’ll all be cool and act like it’s not a big deal and it will work out, I PROMISE.

  5. i wish i could tell you that bribing your kids with ice cream after photos works but unfortunately for all of us, kids don’t really understand the concept of time. SO. you can try it, but i’ve found that a quick snack in the moment is far more valuable.