In-Home Session Prep Guide

Congratulations on the arrival of your new family member! I look forward to getting to photograph your family!

 

Here are some things to do in order to ensure for a successful newborn session:

  1. Turn up the heat! Babies do best when they are cozy and warm so we want your home as warm as possible.

  2. Prep your space! Your home does not have to be perfect. I promise. It’s your home and it’s supposed to look lived in, and if you have little ones, it’s VERY well lived in.  You don’t have to hire a professional cleaning company before your session or redecorate the living room; I’m there to focus on you and the interactions with your new baby. Instead, focus on uncluttering your home which means just tidying up a bit and basically putting stuff in the room where it belongs (no coats on couch or towels on bed sort of thing) and just toss the rest in a closet until I leave. If it’s not something you will want to see in your photos, hide it! 🙂

  3. If nursing, try to avoid eating anything spicy (i.e. pizza, hot sauce, etc.) that might upset baby’s tummy for 24 hours preceding your scheduled session.

  4. Interact with and try to keep baby awake as much as possible before your session to ensure he/she is good and sleepy for the session. It is important to keep him/her awake for 1 hour before the shoot. Without this, we spend too much time getting them to sleep and not as much time photographing them. If you need to give the baby a bath to help keep them awake or get them naked, those are some tricks to use. Also, the baby needs to be fed as much as possible during the 12 hours that precedes the session. This will allow for baby to sleep as deeply and as long as possible.

  5. Please make sure your little one has a full belly for the session. Please feed your baby just before I am due to arrive at your home.

  6. Dress baby in loose fitting clothes to avoid any lines on skin – a simple button-up pr zipper sleeper is best.

  7. Collect any items you want used in the session beforehand such as blankets or stuffed animals.  We’ll go through these together to determine what and how we can use the items in your session.

  8. Relax. If the baby gets fussy or alert, don’t worry. A baby can sense your anxiety and we want to keep the environment as mellow as possible. I am not in a rush and I will not bail because the baby isn’t sleeping or cooperating.  No worries! Take some deep breaths and enjoy this time with your new baby. Ultimately, I want you to enjoy this experience as much as I enjoy capturing it. It’s ok to be a bit nervous. I have to admit that I don’t get in front of the camera much myself! But I can guarantee you that you will not regret having these memories to cherish.

 

What to wear is probably one of my most common questions.  The lame answer is something that makes you feel beautiful.  Yep, I know that’s hard when you’re sleep deprived and overwhelmed.  But finding something that you can move in and feel comfortable in is pretty important.  Some tips (and example photos) though:

Wear layers!  While we’ll do parent/sibling shots first, right after we will crank the heat higher for your baby and you don’t want to melt.

  • No prints!  We will be photographing you both on a black background, as well as in my studio bay windows, so the less print or super loud color combos you have going on, the better.

  • Wear neutrals!  Neutral colors are universally flattering and give your photos an elegance.  Neutrals also make it easier for you make your family members match and look like a unit. Blues, blushes, creams and grays are my favorites.  You can always add a pop of color with a scarf for some pop!

The basic workflow for newborns are:

  • Baby with sibling (if applicable)

    . (Once these are completed I usually recommend that big brother or sister get taken someplace else so they don’t go stir crazy waiting for baby to have their close up! 🙂 

  • Baby in wrap

  • Naked baby (if wanted by the parents)

  • 1-2 outfits/props which we will lay out in order of importance and get through as many as baby will let us.

 Family and sibling shots are more lifestyle oriented, capturing you and your baby together, just being a family. Solo shots of baby include a more natural style, but also get some of those beautiful posed shots too! It’s the best of both worlds! 🙂

Your digital files come with a print release authorizing you to print them where ever and how often you like, and you can also buy additional prints and gifts from your gallery if you would like!

Newborn sessions can take up to 3 hours, so please plan for that   

My cell phone number is 415-506-7614 if you need to get a hold of me.  I can’t wait to work with you!! 

~Sara