Welcome to Your Newborn Session!

Hi there! 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

  1. Try to keep baby awake for about an hour before our session if your newborn is less than 2 weeks old. 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 those peaceful, curled-up poses everyone loves.

  2. If your newborn is 2 weeks or older, just do your best to follow their normal schedule. If you try and keep them up, there is a possibility of overstimulating them causing them to fight sleep. Which can make the session more difficult.

  3. Dress baby in a loosely fitted diaper and a simple front-zip sleeper. This makes transitions between setups much smoother. The less we have to disturb them by pulling clothes over their head, the better our chances of keeping them sleeping soundly.

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

  5. 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 take breaks for feeding whenever needed.

  6. Bring extra bottles if you're bottle feeding. Sessions typically last 2-3 hours, and we follow your baby's natural rhythm. I never rush through poses if baby needs time to settle or feed.

  7. Consider bringing a silicone pacifier (even if you don't normally use one). These can be incredibly helpful for soothing between poses. The silicone ones don't leave marks like the hard plastic varieties. Many parents find this to be a session-saver!

  8. Pack extra diapers and wipes. We'll likely go through more than you expect during our time together.

  9. 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. Having some light snacks will help keep your energy up during our session.

When You Arrive

  1. 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 a loud knock and doorbell, which isn't ideal for sleeping babies.

  2. Please remove shoes in the front entryway. I vacuum and mop before every session. By removing shoes in the front entry way, it helps keep the studio area clean and safe for babies who may be posed on drops and props on the floor.

  3. Bathroom Policy: 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. 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 and I understand it’s not convenient, but after years of photographing families and raising my own boys, I've found this creates the best experience for everyone. It’s challenging trying to balance personal life and my business and this is one way I do it.

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.

  • If you are bringing along young children, please make sure you have something for them to do quietly. If can be difficult for them to sit quietly while waiting for when they are needed. They will need to be supervised the whole time. Please don’t let them get into anything, and keep them from running around the house and studio. Once they are finished with their part of the session, please have an adult take them home or to the park for the remainder of the session.

  • You're welcome to watch the session, but I ask that you don't hover too closely as this can distract baby and affect our workflow.

  • Please refrain from taking photos or videos with your phone during the session. If you'd like more information about this policy, feel free to ask.

  • 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.

For Breastfeeding Moms:

Try to avoid caffeine 12-24 hours before our session. Surprisingly, even a small amount can affect your newborn's ability to settle deeply, which impacts our session flow and the final images.

I can't wait to meet your little one! If you have any questions before our session, just reach out.