Newborn Session Prep Guide
Amber Bryson Photography
How to prepare for your baby's first photo session:
Let's Pencil You In: We know that a baby's birthday can be unpredictable. It's best to contact us during your second trimester so we can pencil you in. I like to plan a tentative date for your session about a week or two after your baby's due date. We will add you to the calendar, you can fill out a questionnaire (so I can start planning all the cute set-ups we're going to do!) and then you'll pay a session fee. And that's it, you're in and can relax and wait for baby to arrive! It's great if you can add us to the "when baby is born" list of people to notify, too! That way we will have a better idea if your original booked date will work, or if we'll need to move it around for your or baby's needs.
Newborn age and timing: Newborn sessions are most successful when done within the first few weeks from birth. I will typically photograph babies between 5-21 days. For those cute curled up poses, it's best done while baby is sleeping and used to being curled up and warm like they were in the womb. After the first few weeks they become a bit more alert and discover the joy of stretching! They get a little trickier and less as likely to want to stay curled up in the poses we place them in, but we can still get cute awake photos as well as adorable wrapped poses!
Preparing baby for session: A well fed baby is a happy baby. Please make sure baby has had a nice full feeding before your session. This will ensure a nice sleepy "milk drunk" babe. We are also happy to take as many breaks as baby needs if he or she gets hungry during our shoot. It's hard work being new in the world! Dress baby in a button or zip up sleeper that can be easily removed upon arrival. Try not to put on anything that must be pulled up and over their heads. We want to disturb baby as little as possible when transitioning them to their first pose.
What to bring? If you are coming to our home studio, please bring (if not breastfeeding) extra bottles of milk, and a pacifier -even if baby doesn't usually take one. You may also want to bring extra burp cloths, diapers and wipes. Sessions can last 2-3 hours so feel free to bring snacks and water for yourselves so you're comfortable!
What to wear? If you plan on being in some of the shots with baby we suggest wearing neutral, well fitting clothing that you're comfortable in. The same goes for siblings. Avoid bold prints, patterns and graphic tees. Mom and Dad's hands might be in a few shots so you might want to make sure nails are clean and manicured.
IN-HOME OR STUDIO?
Guide for in-home sessions and studio sessions
In-Home Session: These shoots take place in your home. We bring everything we need to create beautiful newborn portraits right to your door. All you need to do is crank up your heat to AT LEAST 75 degrees Fahrenheit. We set up and can find the best light to shoot or use our own lighting for more control. (There is an add-on fee for an in-home session)
Studio Session: You can come to us! Our home studio is set up in our front living space. There is a small seating area for you and your family to watch. Sessions are warm and can last 2-3 hours, which can be hard for little ones. Having a grandma or friend there to help is great. Sometimes they may need to take siblings elsewhere so as not to disturb baby. The less people that attend the better.
Which is best? This really is personal preference. If you choose an in-home session, just remember we don't expect your home to be perfect so don't stress!
The most important thing? Relax! Bringing a new baby into the world is tiring and sometimes stressful. We are very experienced handling and posing newborns. Your baby is in safe hands! It can sometimes be best if mom steps away if baby is hard to settle. Their little noses know moms scent and it can be hard for them to relax if they want to be in your arms.
Warm it up: Crank the heat! It's super important that your baby feels all toasty when we are doing unwrapped poses. If they're cold they're going to be more awake and/or upset. We ask that the thermostat be about 80 degrees. If you're sweating, baby is likely the perfect temp!
Volume: We try to manage noise in our home studio. Please do whatever you can to keep noise down during the session. If you have noisy pets please make plans to keep them quiet during the shoot. If you have other children it can be helpful to have a sitter or family member plan to take them out for a couple hours. Our white noise machine and heater help block little noises and keep baby feeling comfortable and soothed.
Set-up Area: De-clutter the area where you'd like the shoot to take place. We will need approximately a minimum of 5x7' area for posing your baby.
Props: We have a nice collection of blankets, props, headbands, etc that we can bring. Please, make sure to fill out your questionnaire to help when customizing set-ups. If you have a prop or any special items you'd like to incorporate into the shoot, please let me know beforehand so we can plan set-ups with them.
Timing: Posing a newborn does take time and patience. Newborn sessions typically can last 2-3 hours. Please plan accordingly! Baby is in charge so we like to give enough time for feeding, cuddles and calming baby.
Have a question that you don't see the answer to? Feel free to ask!