Welcome to Your Newborn Session!

Welcome! I'm looking forward to capturing these precious early moments of your little one. Here's everything you need to know to help us have a smooth, successful session together.

Before You Arrive

If your newborn is less than 14 days old, do your best to keep baby awake for an hour before the session. I know this might be challenging! A gentle sponge bath or some supervised naked time usually works well. When babies arrive a bit tired, they typically fall into a deeper sleep during our shoot, allowing for a smoother session.

If your newborn is older than 14 days, follow their normal schedule. When newborns hit this stage, they tend to be more aware and awake. At the studio, we will do our best to make them comfortable so they get nice and sleepy.

Skip the powders and creams around the diaper area for this session. These can sometimes cause skin texture issues in photos and can make babies slippery for posing.

Dress baby in a loosely fitted diaper and a simple front-zip sleeper. This makes getting the baby ready for the session much easier. The less we have to disturb them by pulling clothes over their head, the better our chances of keeping them sleeping soundly at the start of the session.

Give a full feeding right before leaving home. Babies with full tummies sleep better! You'll likely need to "top off" once you arrive, and that's completely expected. We'll also take breaks through the session for feeding and soothing whenever needed.

Expect to feed baby during the session, so come prepared. Sessions typically last 2-3 hours, and we follow your baby's natural rhythm for feeding. Sessions are baby led and if baby needs time to settle or to feed, we’ll stop the session and take a break to do so.

Consider bringing a silicone pacifier (even if you don't normally use one). These can be incredibly helpful for soothing between poses and can make it possible to get a pose where the baby is fussing. I recommend only using soft silicone ones. The hard plastic ones will leave red marks around the baby’s mouth, that can be difficult to edit out. Many parents find this to be a session saver!

Pack extra diapers and wipes. We'll likely go through more than you expect during your session, so bring more than you think you’ll need.

Wear comfortable, layered clothing and bring water and snacks for yourself. The studio is kept quite warm (77-80°F) to keep baby comfortable when undressed. Also aving some light snacks will help keep your energy up during our session.

When You Arrive

When arriving, please knock gently on the door rather than using the doorbell or knocking loudly. We have two dogs who love to bark at the sound of a loud knock or the doorbell, which isn't ideal for sleeping babies.

Please remove shoes in the front entryway. I vacuum and mop before every session and by removing your shoes in the front entry way, it helps keep the studio area clean and safe for babies. There are times I will pose babies on the floor in or on props.

Bathroom Policy: I will not have a bathroom available for clients to use. While I understand this may not be ideal, I ask that plan accordingly. My studio is located in the front of the house, just as you enter. I have curtained off the rest of the house to keep the two separate, and sometimes my kids are just on the other side of those curtains playing. The bathroom is located at the other end of the house. We'll stay in the studio area during your session to respect everyone's privacy and keep things simple. That will mean no restroom access during the session. I sincerely appreciate your understanding about this upfront, but after years of photographing families and raising my own boys, I've found this creates the best experience for everyone.

During the Session

Parents, this is your time to relax! Feel free to bring a book, your phone charger, and definitely some snacks and water. Keeping yourself comfortable and energized during our session is important, and I'll take great care of your little one while you take a breather.

Please supervise your children. If you are bringing along other children for the session, please make sure you have something for them to do quietly and maybe some snacks if they get hungry. It can be difficult for them to sit quietly in a hot environment, while waiting for their turn for photos. They will need to be supervised the whole time they are in the studio. Please don’t let them wander around the waiting area, studio or house. Once they are finished with their part in the session, please have an adult take them home for the remainder of the session.

You're welcome to watch the session. In fact, I encourage parents to watch the session. It’s a special experience. I just ask that I have space to do my job.

Don't worry if baby is fussy or alert at times. This is completely normal, and I build in plenty of time for feeding, changing, and soothing.

Please refrain from taking photos or videos with your phone during the session. I am being paid to take photos of your newborn, so please leave that to me. If you'd like more information about this policy, feel free to ask.

Breastfeeding Moms

Try to avoid caffeine 12-24 hours before your session. I know some of you won’t want to hear this, but I’m mentioning it for a good reason. Surprisingly, even a small amount of caffeine can affect your newborn's ability to settle into a deep sleep. Caffeine can also cause newborns to be fussy and not settle, and be easily disturbed by small touches and movements. All of this of this can impact the session flow and the final images.