Preparing for your Lifestyle Newborn Portrait Session
first & foremost — thank you.
Thank you for trusting me with these portraits.
I want you to know that I consider this an honor and a huge responsibility. My goal is to make artful, soulful portraits of your family as a whole, of your new baby, and of the unique connections between you all – like the bond between husband and wife, between sisters, between mother and newborn. That is a lot to accomplish in a couple of hours, so I’m starting to prepare right now, by sharing some info and tips with you!
a recap of the basics :
-> I ask $550 for lifestyle newborn sessions. This is an all-inclusive price that includes our time shooting and an online gallery of my selections of lightly retouched, high-resolution images, with printing rights.
-> I aim to schedule these sessions in the first two weeks after your baby has been born. If you book before the baby comes, I will make a note of your due date, and you can let me know when the baby is here, so we can schedule our session.
-> We will shoot at your home, but please do not worry about having everything (or anything) picked up, or your decorating chops. Trust me on this!
-> We will move at a relaxed pace. I'm expecting to take breaks to nurse and soothe the baby. Please don't worry about how long it's taking!
-> I usually start these in the late morning, and go for at least two hours. If you've noticed or can watch for a time when lots of light comes into key rooms (nursery, living room, parents' bedroom), that can be helpful in choosing a start time.
-> Expect images similar to the ones you see in my gallery! I don't have a bean bag, or a trunk full of designer swaddles and headbands or props. Lifestyle newborn photography has a very unposed, documentary approach, compared to traditional newborn photography. I'm a lifestyle newborn girl!
-> I will deliver an online gallery within three weeks after our shoot, of at least fifty final images. You can download the files to keep forever, and you have the option to order beautiful-quality prints of your favorites, small or large, through the gallery, which I highly recommend, and which is in addition to the $550. If you'd like to see those print prices beforehand, please let me know.
-> A $200 deposit is due at the time of booking, and is non-refundable; the remaining balance is due at our session!
More Specific Details
shooting at home:
I will come to you and your baby, for this session! Your family is in a big transition, and I want to make your photo day as easy as possible.
And - I truly love portraits in families’ homes! Your home is where you spend a lot of your moments, and make a lot of your memories, and I am all about documenting the very real moments that you want to remember ten years from now. I think portraits at home are especially meaningful and intimate and can help little kids feel safer and more comfortable.
I’ll say it again - your family is in a BIG transition, so please know that I do not at all expect your house to be spotless. Trust me, my apartment is never truly clean! If we need to tidy up an area of a room to take photos there, we will do that. Easy peasy.
When I arrive, I will take a peek at your house and find the spots that work best. The rooms I most often choose for photos are the nursery, the master bedroom, and the family room. I have had sessions (that I love!) where we were on the parents’ bed the whole time, in the light of one good window - that’s really all I need: one pretty spot of light! I love to get some variety in a couple of rooms if we can, but it’s also really nice to keep it super simple.
time of day
I almost always start these sessions at 10 AM, but this can be flexible if needed! I try to give us plenty of daylight, because these are not the fastest-moving sessions. I prefer to move at a relaxed pace - and let’s be real, we can only move as fast as your newborn allows, and that is just part of this magical season. No worries at all if it feels like it’s taking a long time. I purposefully block off plenty of time on my schedule and never expect to go less than two hours.
If you've noticed or can watch for a time when lots of light comes into key rooms (nursery, living room, parents' bedroom), that can be helpful in choosing a start time. Like, if your home is always pretty dark at 10:00 or 11:00 am, but it fills up with afternoon light, let me know that!
kindness is crucial
Sometimes Picture Day can be stressful. It’s just the truth. And having a newborn baby makes things especially unpredictable! (And sleep-deprived)
I know that these photos are important to you, and if surprises do come up, I promise everything will work better if you work hard to keep stress to a minimum. I think it helps to concentrate on the being best version of yourself, the version that you want to remember as you look at these photos for years to come. Please encourage everyone to speak to each other with kindness and grace, because having your photo taken is already a vulnerable thing, especially for adults, and one frustrated comment can make it even harder.
I think it helps to let your kids know that these photos are important to you, and do everything you can to set them up for success in our time together — but please don’t threaten them into acting a certain way. Think “kindness before, kindness during, and reward/gratitude after.”
I almost always prompt you to give each other compliments and share kind words to get you smiling. :)
what should I wear?
You should look like yourself, just with a little extra polish. I want you to be comfortable, and feel confident - whether that means wearing an old favorite, or using this as an excuse to buy something new.
For newborns: you cannot go too simple. I think one simple swaddle is all you need. A simple well-fitting onesie is also great to have. I also love a pretty swaddle as much as the next girl, and here are some brands that my mama friends recommend: Solly Baby / Copper Pearl /
For everyone else: I think neutral colors and classic styles (just be wary of really trendy stuff) are best. I also love a pop of color, but choose it intentionally! This is another area where I encourage people not to overthink — just lay out some things beside each other and see what looks good together.
I always love when Moms wear a pretty, casual dress - and that could be a great way to add a pop of color. Two brands that have a ton of great dress options are Piper & Scoot and Called to Surf — they don’t pay me to say that, I just have been really glad to discover them! They have a lot of different styles, some are even nursing-friendly, and I think they’re both very affordable. Moms, I think this is a great way to “treat yo’self” for less than $100. :)
I made a Pinterest board for you, if you want some inspiration!
Swaddling: Our secret weapon
Speaking of swaddles - they are key to our success, friend!
Newborns love to be swaddled, even though they may act like they don’t and are great at getting their little arms out. I learned this from a photographer who was a Labor & Delivery nurse before she started her photo business: swaddling makes them feel safe and calms them down / keeps them happy!
I would love if you could have your baby in a pretty / simple swaddle when I arrive, IF timing allows for that. If not, no worries - but I will probably wrap them up to keep them chill for the first photos with the older siblings / whole family :)
Older Siblings
I always plan to start out with photos of any older siblings with the newborn, right off the bat while they are interested, then add in the parents for the whole family - because then, the older siblings are off the hook! I still have a lot to do with the parents and the newborn after that, so I try to set the kids up for success and get them first. Sometimes they join in again at the end, and I’m on the lookout for sweet moments with them throughout our time together.
I’ve learned that snacks can be a lifesaver, when kids are getting tired / bored! And also some music on your phone, etc. can be a mood-lifter :)
nursing
There is almost always a nursing break during these sessions, and I try to always ask the mom if she would like a few simple photos of this. It’s totally up to you, and I never share or post these without permission (and I rarely share them at all, period!)
payment
I am so grateful for your business and support. I want you to know.
I can take cash, check, Venmo, or Cash App.
A $200 deposit is due when you book and is non-refundable. A check in the mail or Venmo/Cash App work best for that. The rest is due at our photo session!