First, you booked the newborn session.

And you have planned for it… props, outfits, hats, and bows.

Most importantly you delivered your tiny baby into this world. 😀

Now its the big day when we make “real” photographs of this fresh little person who completely stole your heart.

What you can expect the day of your newborn session:

I’d love to say that the day of the session will be this dreamy, serene experience, where nothing goes wrong, no one is late, no one is hormonal, and basically everything is perfect.  But, alas, that probably won’t be the case.  You booked you newborn session, you planned and planned, and still you will forget something, someone will be late, someone will be a jerk, and you get upset at least once.    I HOPE that is not what happens, but these big important days just seem to be magnets for challenges.  It’s that old adage: anything that can go wrong, will.  I can hear you now – “GREAT!  SIGN ME UP!”  😆

Reality  …

Days when you need everything to go right, inevitably a “perfect day” isn’t often what you get.  But THAT right there is exactly why you hire a professional.  A “real” photographer.  Someone who isn’t still learning her camera, or studio lighting, or experimenting with your newborn because this is only the 20th newborn session she’s done.   I have hundreds of newborn sessions under my belt, and 11 years as a professional photographer, so my photography experience really helps us be quick on our feet when those inevitable challenges come.

ALSO, an perhaps more important:  I’m am a mom too. I completely understand being hormonal, being frustrated with your hubby, being SO nervous your older kids wont cooperate, having bad hair days, not feeling good, learning to nurse a baby, forgetting everything…  UGH I could go on!   Point is, sister, I GET YOU.   So if you come to my studio having had a rough morning, that is totally fine!!  I’ll take care of everything.  My delight is to meet you where you are and make the most amazing photographs of you and your baby.

 

ok.. moving on…

TEMPERATURE:

The studio will be hot. As in HOT.  Naked babies love it that way.  Photographers who work with newborns need it that way.  I set the building to about 88 degrees.  So dress appropriately. Clients who are doing family pictures as a part of the newborn session have a choice to make.  You can either come dressed for the tropics and we make images of the baby by himself first, or you can come ready to shoot family shots and all relational shots first.  If you’d rather work on baby-only first, then feel free to bring hair and makeup stuff to do that here in the studio if you would like. That way heat isn’t melting your face off waiting your turn.  If you plan on doing family shots first, still bring cool clothes to change in to so you can enjoy the rest of the session and not be a miserable mess in the heat.

DURATION:

Newborn sessions are my longest session.  3-4 hours is about average.  Occasionally I’ll have a baby that is exceedingly pliable and cooperative and we fly through in just a couple hours; but that’s not the norm.  Clients all the time bring their lunch and that is a-ok.  Please make yourself at home.  Feel free to have hubby run in to Nicholasville and get food for you to munch on during the session.  close restaurants

SIBLINGS:

It’s a very good idea to make arrangements for baby’s siblings to not be at the studio the whole time. In many cases someone (usually grandma or dad) takes the kids when the family stuff is complete so they don’t have to sit in boredom.  If that’s not an option, iPads and the like are often a useful entertainer of course, or if a parent can supervise, they’re welcome to play outside if the weather is nice!  My studio is at the back of a quiet neighborhood so traffic is not an issue.

BREASTFEEDING:

Obviously in a 3-4 hour session your baby will need to eat. Moms are so welcome to nurse in my studio.  Not that you should worry about me, but it absolutely does not bother me if you use my space to nurse your baby.   I have a Boppy pillow that you are welcome to use so you don’t have to haul yours around.  And in some cases moms need to use a breast pump while she’s here.  Go right ahead.  I certainly will make myself scarce if you need me to.  If not, I usually use that time to set up what’s next in our session.