How to prepare for your newborn photoshoot.

 

Booking Your Session

Your Newborn session is a very special milestone and I want to help your capture this fleeting moment.

Newborn sessions are designed for babies 10 days and younger. The best day to photograph your little one is from day five to day ten. During this time newborns tend to be sleepier and retain that fresh newborn curl. After 10 days, newborns tend to develop things like colic and baby acne, they also tend to be more alert and stay awake longer.

I will set your newborn session on a temporary date (usually the weekend after your due date). Once you have given birth, simply give me a call, text or email, we will select and solidify a date for your newborn session within the first 5-10 days.

 

During  The  Session

Most newborn sessions take place within my cozy home studio located in Copperfield S.E Calgary. Here, you will have access to my selection of props, it also ensures that we have the perfect lighting and cozy setting for a sleepy and happy baby. On location shoots are available on request and require a large natural light resource.

Before the session baby should be well fed and expect to arrive approximately 10-15 early to allow for any feeding time. The studio is kept at 26 degrees to ensure that your newborn is warm and comfortable. I suggest that parents dress in layers to ensure their own comfort.

If the session is taking place at your home, ensure that your heat is turned up to 26 degrees before I arrive. Start nursing baby 30 minutes before my arrival, without any clothes, just a diaper and wrapped in blankets. If they keep falling asleep whilst nursing then remove some of the layers of blanket so as to keep them awake and feeding longer.

During your session, I will pose and handle your baby with the utmost care. There is no need to worry if you are not feeling 100% yet. I will soothe, swaddle and ensure baby is kept happy.

If the baby is really wide awake and does not want to sleep, I will swaddle the baby to get some photos, and use the parents as a prop, holding the baby over the shoulder or in your arms.  A fussy baby almost always settles down when held by mom or dad. I encourage all of my parents to take part in the session. I love capturing relational type photos with moms, dads and siblings.

Your newborn session will last approximately 3 hours long. This ensures we have enough time to pose and take whatever breaks necessary such as feedings. You are more than welcome to bring along a few snacks or entertaining items such as a book or an iPad.

No outside cameras, videos or cell phone cameras are allowed to be used during the session.

 

What to Bring

1. Spare shirts for both of you as babies do pee/poop and accidents happen.

2. Please bring a pacifier as they help to get babies to sleep and soothe them. If you have one (even if your child won’t really take it) please bring it to the session as it may help.

3. Any cute props you want to use, hats, wraps etc. Etsy https://www.etsy.com/ is a great resource for cute knitted hats, diaper covers etc. Please allow at least 4 weeks for ordering these items to make sure they get to you in time for the photoshoot

 

What to Wear

• Avoid branded items, prints or horizontal lines.

• Clothes for mom – suggestions are a tank top, tube, camisole in a black or white/nude/beige color. Jeans, pants or skirt to match. If you’re not sure what will work better bring all of it.

• For Dads – a white, grey or black plain t-shirt, work dress shirt or bare skin to skin with baby looks really beautiful.

• For siblings – Bring a white, grey or black t-shirt as well for their individual photos with baby.

• If there are siblings at the session I usually ask you to also bring a colored outfit each, for the full family photos.

• Also please ensure that fingernails and facial hair is groomed.

• Please do try and iron clothes and use a lint roller, as wrinkles and lint tend to stand out in pictures.

• Bare feet work best so make sure those toes are nicely manicured!

Proofs & Ordering

Approximately 3 weeks following your session, I will email you a password to your online proofing gallery. The online gallery will remain active for 1 week. Once full payment is received, your digital files will placed on disc and will be available for pick up. Please allow 3 to 4 weeks for processing.