One of the most asked questions!! (Duh,right?) What do I bring to my newborn session? Are these your props? Outfits? Did people bring all of that?

Great questions! One thing about me… I have a little problem with props! lol! I love them! Every where I go… I’m always thinking… Can I safely stick a baby in that? lol! So, with that being said, my studio is packed! I have tons of wraps of all colors, background colors, floors, paper drops for family shots, buckets, chairs, sofas, beds! You name it, I probably have it or can easily get it! I’m constantly adding to my pile of newborn prop outfits, (that are so adorable!) hats, and headbands! I love all the wicker and bamboo things right now… so I have a ton!

So… back to the question, what do I bring? Most clients will literally walk in with their diaper bag and that’s it! A pacifier, bottle (or boob) as babies tend to think this is a little bit of a workout and will often eat more… diapers, wipes and change of clothes! This is absolutely great since I’ve got you covered! We plan prior, so I have everything set up and ready to go upon arrival and we get to going!

But, hey! What if I have cute little stuffies, or an outfit grandma made, or a tiara? Bring it!! We talk about all of this during the consultation so that I can be prepared! You are having a baby… so often we plan these things and baby may be fussy, or you are tired and you walk out the door without it! lol! oops!! Don’t worry… you can also drop items off in advance so that you don’t have to worry about it the morning of. Hey, it’s different trying to get ready for pictures yourself and family with a new baby!

Sometimes grandma’s outfits are so big though, they fit a 3 month old. I do my best to make this work! The outfits I have at the studio are prop outfits especially made for 7-8 lb babies, so tend to fit pretty well. Some babies fill them out more than others though… lol!

I ALWAYS tell clients, let me know before you buy something, I might have it! That way maybe we can save you some dollars!

Last thing… change of clothes or at least a top! The studio is kept warm for baby’s comfort and can be a little sweaty sometimes. (sorry!) Sometimes… babies might have a tiny accident (or a big one!) on you and the change of clothes is nice! I’ve had babies blow through a diaper and not one but two wraps all over me and mama! Good Times! lol! When I say I absolutely love my job… I LOVE my job and all the things that come with it! Babies are the absolute best! I might just sneak some snuggles during your session haha!

Laughter creates the BEST images!! If you have had a session with me, you probably know that the laughing images and those special connections that I create for you, are by far my fav, and the images that I choose every time!! Nothing is sweeter than creating a happy, but real moment that you can keep forever… and hopefully hang big on your wall! A little secret about me… I pretty much only have the laughing images super big on my walls at home! (LOVE THEM!)

It’s so funny and maybe a little awkward in the moment at first… but then what? You end up with genuine laughs (because for some reason it ends up being pretty funny) that make your forever images look AMAZING!! It’s a great ice breaker, it gets the kids laughing, and most of the time this is when you will get those tough dads to break down and smile too!

This family pic is one of my favs! (It does help that she is one of my besties lol) I loved the lighting, the way they dressed, and they were perfect models! So… what are you waiting for? Let’s create these special moments of your family!! 😉

Ah! The question asked most often…

This is a trick question right! So, the session itself ideally should take place during the first two weeks. This is that magical time period when baby still curls up into those tiny sweet poses. Baby’s belly hasn’t gotten too big yet and its still comfortable for them to gently fold into these desired poses. Then, there’s the dreaded baby acne that can happen sometimes. This magical time frame usually beats that pesky baby acne! Plain and simple… baby can usually be settled easier, tends to be less fussy, and sleep much more through the session.

But… why do I want my baby to sleep through the session? Well, plainly put, newborn babies when awake, tend to scratch their faces, slap themselves, wiggle, and of course cry when being messed with. We want them to sleep during their session so they can easily and safely be posed. Safety first!! Of course I totally take of advantage of a still, awake baby when possible! I love getting those big beautiful eyes when I can! But, that’s also another thing right… newborn babies are still developing their muscles and their eyes tend to cross and wonder when trying to focus!

Let’s also acknowledge the fact though, that not all mommies get their babies in for their session during the first 2 weeks. Life happens and before you know it, your baby is 3 or 4 weeks! yikes! Or things happen and baby sadly has to visit the NICU for a bit or mommy had a rough delivery and needs a rest. I’m not going to lie. Some of my best babies have been 4 weeks old and totally rocked their newborn session! I have achieved newborn sessions successfully up to 10 weeks. Every circumstance is different and sometimes your images might just look a little different, but still get an amazing gallery!

So, all of this is fantastic info right! But, when do I schedule? Ideally, you don’t want to be scheduling your newborn session while you are in the hospital after delivering your new addition. Call me for a consultation the moment you are even thinking about maternity pictures! Guess what! I do those too and have baby plans available that include both! I’ve had moms schedule a newborn consultation as soon as they find out that they are pregnant. Plan ahead! It is one thing that you can check off of your list and be ready for!

But… one more thing… how do I even know when to schedule my newborn session when I’m only 24 weeks along? Good Question! We go by your due date! Ill typically schedule you within the two weeks of your due date. Sometimes you might deliver early. It happens! I’ll rework my schedule to get you in the best I can. Ultimately, don’t miss your newborn session! This session introduces that sweet baby to the world. That newborn stage sadly is gone so darn fast… once it’s gone, you can’t get it back! Document it! Savor it! Get those keepsakes that will last for years and years and can be passed down!