How to make the most of your studio newborn session
So today I’m gonna lay it all out there: the recipe for a successful newborn session that you’re sure to LOVE
The tippy top number one absolute best thing you can do is only book me if you have done your research, know my style, and feel it aligns with you.
I’ll also preface this next part by saying I’m specifically talking about working with me lol. If you opt to go with another photographer that is so wonderful and please communicate with them openly about what you have on your mind! And do you research about their work before you go making decisions.
Okay here we go..
FILL OUT YOUR NEWBORN QUESTIONNAIRE and send it back as timely as you can. I do, in fact, send them for a reason and I do, in fact, review them thoroughly! haha. Basically it’s a short series of questions that help me lay the groundwork. I also specifically ask things like, where (in studio/in home?), if you have siblings joining, and if you want intimate/raw postpartum photos. These would include you breastfeeding, you in a diaper if you want, you naked if you want, etc.
(disclaimer: you can be as covered or as exposed as you’d like for these photos. These are not boudoir style, these are not provocative in nature. I never share without permission. I like to keep privates completely covered.)
LET ME KNOW IF YOU HAVE SPECIFIC OUTFITS OR PROPS as soon as you know you want to include them. Or even if you think you might want to. We can definitely do this in studio and I love the personal touch they add to sessions. But like, send me an actual photo of them or show me in person sometime before so I can actually see it. Each prop or outfit has its own uniqueness and colors and setups would have to be revolved around them, and your session will go much smoother if I know ahead of time and can make suggestions or have a game plan.
MAKE A DECISION ABOUT WHAT YOU ARE WEARING LONG AHEAD OF TIME and share with me. I know, postpartum bodies, especially that soon after delivery, you probably feel like you’ll never be comfortable in anything. I have a variety of dresses for you to choose from that I know work perfectly with the colors and mood of my studio, and they are all designed with a nursing mom in mind. I love it when you can choose one of those. If you aren’t in to any of them that’s okay, but we need to be on the same page. Let me help you shop and plan.
PICK YOUR OUTFIT FIRST. This is why I say to think about it long ahead of time. We’re going to revolve everyone else’s outfits around you, momma. You are gonna be comfortable and I’m gonna plan accordingly. I have a variety of wraps and colors for baby that coordinate perfectly with the dress options I have. If you go a different direction again that is fine, but I will still revolve everyone else around you. If I happen to not have a wrap that coordinates exactly with what you decide to wear (should you not want to wear one of my dress options) I’m gonna buy one, so having time to order what’s needed is ideal. This also goes for your partner… they might not have something that matches what you want to wear, so deciding your outfit first and in a timely manner leaves plenty of time to get them and everyone else coordinated.
COMMUNICATE WITH ME. If you saw something online or saved photo ideas, share them with me! Create a Pinterest board. Let me know photos you’ve seen of mine that you liked. Whatever! I like taking creative control and have freedom to do things, but the best way for me to do that is to have an idea of what’s going on in your head :) The last thing I want to do is put a ton of effort into a setup and game plan only for you to hate it. You don’t have to know specifics or have a ton of details planned out, but just a general opinion or some input is incredibly helpful. A lot of times I will ask opinions on colors of wraps or blankets, headbands, etc. My feelings aren’t hurt when you are honest about what you like, just so you know. The goal is for you to have a good experience and love your photos.
Finally, I’m literally saying this again… PLEASE DO NOT BOOK ME IF YOU AREN’T FAMILIAR WITH MY WORK OR ALIGN WITH MY STYLE. The reason I’m saying this again is I cannot stress it enough. Generally speaking, a photographer spends their entire career tailoring and nailing down their editing style. They put their heart in soul in creating certain ways. If you look at their work you should see a certain level of consistency, in the mood, the posing, the coloring. Especially if you’re opting to come to my studio, I have spent a lot of time customizing my space and adding pieces that work within that space, knowing how they will later translate on the computer with my editing style. For more of my newborn photos you can find them on my website by clicking below.
a few photos from a recent studio session- mom’s dress is available in my client closet^
In the session above you’ll see that there are kind of 3 different looks. There’s one look that is an individual set up for just the baby in a prop they brought from home (the bassinet). The second is one with the mom in the red dress, dad in a tan shirt, and baby wearing a mustard yellow romper wrapped in lace. The final is an intimate with mom+dad showing more skin and baby is naked. All of these were done in one session, lasted approximately 1.5 hours. I love being able to deliver a variety in your gallery. The mom’s red dress, all of the baby’s wraps/blankets/headbands, the mustard yellow romper- these are all mine and can be used in your session. Your gallery will consist of anywhere from 20-60+ photos. All babies are different, all families are different, so not every session will look exactly alike. Some take longer, some babies are awake, some refuse to be set down and have to be held the whole time, all of these make for perfectly beautiful photos. Your session should be a reflexion of you and your family and not feel cookie cutter.
