We LOVE photographing newborns! One of the advantages of booking with Michele Taylor Photography for your newborn photography session is that we create an experience that is seamless, enjoyable and completely stress-free. One of the first things we do to alleviate any of your concerns is to invite you to meet with us for a pre-session design consultation – we will even come to you! At this appointment we will go over everything you need to know to ensure you are well prepared for your newborn photography session. If you come to us we can even pick out all of your props, colors, hats/headbands which will session day even easier! Or if we come to you, we can help you pick out something to wear!

We’re honored to document this special time for your family. Knowing when to plan and how to prepare for your session can reduce the stress and make your session even more successful. We’ve listed some helpful advice and tips for you that will help us get the very best images out of your upcoming newborn session.

SCHEDULING

It’s never too early to book with us, in fact the earlier, the better. We recommend that your schedule your newborn session PRIOR to your baby’s arrival to ensure a date on our calendar. We book a limited number of newborns per month so that we can give the best attention and experience possible to our clients. This also allows us to make changes in our schedule to accommodate early or late arrivals . We pencil you in about 10 days past your due date and adjust if necessary. Adding us to your ‘baby is here’ call list always makes us feel special!

14 DAYS…is that a rule?

Newborn sessions are best done before baby is 14 days old, but it’s not a rule that can’t be broken. Here’s why we aim for 14 days:

1. Newborns must be asleep for their session. They simply will not settle into those sweet curly poses when they are awake. And…it just isn’t safe. It can happen after 14 days, it’s just more challenging to get your baby into that deep sleep that was so easy their first week.
2. They stay asleep longer and their reflexes are not as strong. Your baby’s safety is our top priority – we take it very seriously. If your baby is older than two weeks, they make wake easily, startle and start to do more stretching and this can make the sessions longer and more challenging to get those beautiful images.
3. Newborn acne and sometimes colic can flare up after the two-week mark. Colic and gas can make your baby very uncomfortable and hard for them to settle into certain poses.

SLEEPING

Our goal is for you to arrive with a very sleepy baby. This is VERY important! We recommend that you keep your baby awake a minimum of TWO hours prior to the session. We know this is hard, so all we ask is that you try your best. Some tricks to keep your baby awake are giving him/her a bath, undressing the baby, tickling or lightly wetting baby’s feet. We will get amazing images (and much quicker) if your baby sleeps through the session.

FEEDING

A well-fed baby is happy and content. You will be feeding your baby a full feeding at the studio so please schedule your baby’s day accordingly. If possible, please have a bottle of formula or breast milk ready for the session, along with a pacifier, should we need them. We will take feeding breaks as needed but having a bottle ready can help us keep the session flowing smoothly. If you’re not comfortable with the use of a pacifier, please let me know. We absolutely respect whatever you choose!

WHAT TO WEAR

Dress your baby in loose fitting clothes to avoid any lines on their skin. A onesie or sleeper that opens in the front is best as this avoids having to lift anything tight over baby’s head. The studio will be warm for baby to be comfortable. Dad and Mom will have time to change, if they desire, toward the end of their session for their family poses. We use a neutral color backdrop – white, cream or gray. So solid color clothing that is also neutral will look great – think earth tones, neutrals and soft pastels. We will discuss wardrobe ideas at your consultation. We also offer hair and makeup services to our client for an additional fee. Having your hair and makeup done during your newborn’s session is a perfect opportunity to be pampered.

HOW LONG IS THE SESSION?

Newborn sessions are not rushed and usually take three, sometimes four hours. This allows for feeding, diaper changing, soothing, etc. If siblings are involved it’s usually on the longer end. We tell our families to come and relax. We have toys for toddlers and older siblings to play with, there’s complimentary wi-fi for you and you can even catch up on your favorite binge-worthy show on Hulu or Netflix. You can catch up on sleep, surf the net, read a book or magazine, or just relax. We will swaddle and soothe your baby until they are settled and get the asleep before posing.

POOP HAPPENS

Your baby will be photographed without a diaper for part of the session. We are used to being soiled by babies. We wash all of our baby props and blankets between sessions so everything is clean, sanitized and ready for your baby!

PROPS

We provide everything needed for your newborn’s session: outfits, wraps, accessories, headbands, hats, backdrops, and props. If you have an heirloom item you’d like to incorporate, please let us know during the consultation when we are planning your session. Your images will become pieces of art that your will cherish and be happy to display in your home for years to come.

We hope you have found these tips helpful and hope that you understand all that goes into working with our littlest clients. We take pride in the experience we provide to our clients. Our goal is for you to know what to expect and to feel as prepared as you can for your newborn’s photography session.

To schedule your newborn’s session, contact us today! We can’t wait to learn more about your family and help you document these once-in-a-lifetime memories.