How to prepare for your Newborn Session

Bringing a newborn into the family is a joyous occasion, and capturing those precious early moments through a professional photo session can create lasting memories. As parents embark on this delightful journey, it's important to prepare adequately for the newborn photo session. In this post, we'll explore valuable tips and a prep guide to help parents ensure a successful and enjoyable experience.

Let's be real—every new parent knows that trying to snap pics themselves is a bit of a struggle. No matter how much photography experience you've got, babies might be cute, but they're not exactly easy to photograph.

That's why handing over the job to a pro makes total sense. You can kick back, enjoy your bundle of joy, and let the photographer handle the hard part of preserving those super special memories.

But, of course, a successful photo session needs a bit of prep. Getting those sleepy, curly poses can take some preparation before your session. I will go over some tips and tricks that I recommend to get your sweet baby nice and sleepy before their session!

THE BEST TIME TO SCHEDULE A NEWBORN PHOTOGRAPHY SESSION

The best age to photograph newborns is when they are between 5-14 days new. During this window of time, newborns are still very sleepy, less fuzzy and curly. They don’t mind you moving them around from pose to pose while they rest. Once they have a full belly and are kept warm, they will generally be asleep. As newborns get older (10+ days), they tend to be more challenging to pose and settle, may develop baby acne, and have longer wake periods. For these reasons, it’s absolutely essential that the newborn session be scheduled early. Please know that not all babies like or will do the same poses. Each baby is different, and I will never force a baby into a pose. If you want a specific pose, please ask about these while planning your session. Please contact me once you have an induction date or the baby is born so that I can get you on my calendar.

• If your baby has slept solidly for 3 hours prior to your session, we may spend a long time trying to get your baby to sleep and not get many posed shots or be able to use the props you've requested. If you can, in the morning of your session, try to keep your baby awake for 2-3 hours by giving them a bath, interacting with them, and feeding just before you leave your home or on arrival at my studio. This little bit of prep really can make a difference to your session, especially if the baby arrives nice and sleepy. But don’t push it, because we don’t want to overstimulate the baby.

• Make sure to dress the baby in a sleeper that is easy to remove by unbuttoning or unzipping. Try to avoid something that must be removed over the head. Diaper baby loosely to help avoid diaper marks. (Please avoid using diaper ointment on their entire bum! It’s almost impossible to wipe off for pictures.)

• Sessions are baby led, we like to work around the cues of your baby. We like to allow plenty of time for feeding, diaper changing and cuddling during your session, so plan to be here between 2 - 4 hours. Just make sure to have an extra bottle on hand with breast milk or formula. Throughout this time you may get hungry so we recommend bringing a snack with you.

• If you are using or considering using a pacifier, please bring it along. It can be a huge lifesaver when the baby continuously wants to feed/suckle for comfort. Sometimes it really is the difference between getting that shot or not!. Using a bottle or a pacifier for a couple of minutes can help to maintain the fluidity of the session and helps the baby settle easier.

• Be prepared to be in a few photos. Wear cool and comfortable clothing, as the studio will be nice and warm. Neutral colors and tones always photograph well. Please avoid logos and patterns on shirts. It is best to keep clothing simple for family and sibling pictures. Jewelry such as bracelets, watches, and necklaces tend to get in the way. Simple short sleeve shirts and sleeveless shirts look great for moms. Dads look best in button-down shirts or a form-fitting t-shirt or sweater. For siblings, please no big brother/big sister shirts or monogrammed outfits. And just in case there are any small accidents, bringing an extra set of clothes is always a good idea.

• We have plenty of props for you to choose from and like to involve you in the styling of the session. If you have a special item you would like to incorporate, we would love for you to bring it along.

In the meantime, if you have any questions at all regarding your baby’s session, please don’t hesitate to contact me.

We look forward to meeting you and your family very soon.

Alicia Uribe Photography

THE NEWBORN PHOTOGRAPHY EXPERIENCE

Photography sessions can be a lot of fun. But, the newborn photo session is an art of its own. You have to approach it with care. I typically schedule newborns Monday – Friday at 10:00 If you are having your baby boy circumcised, we will need to make sure we allow him at least 5 days of healing time before his session.

Pre-Session Consultation

The process begins with a pre-session questionnaire. This allows me to understand your vision, preferences, and any specific ideas you have for the session. Once baby has arrived, we will schedule you in within the first two weeks of the baby's life when they are most likely to be peacefully asleep.

While any baby up to two months of age is considered a newborn, it’s best to do newborn photography in the first two weeks of baby’s life. During that period, the baby is more cooperative and easy to deal with.

The session has two parts. It has a prep time and photoshoot time. That’s why the whole session usually lasts about 2-3 hours.

Patience and Timing

Sessions are baby led, I like to work around the cues of your baby. During the session, I like to allow plenty of time for feeding, diaper changing and soothing and cuddling during your session to maintain a relaxed atmosphere so plan to be here between 2 - 4 hours. It's essential to work at the baby's pace, understanding that their comfort always comes first. Just make sure to have an extra bottle on hand with breast milk or formula. Throughout this time you may get hungry so we recommend bringing a snack with you.

Posing and Creativity

One of the most fulfilling aspects of my work is unleashing creativity to capture artistic and timeless images. I have an array of props, wraps, and backdrops to create visually captivating compositions that showcase the baby's unique features and personality. Exploring different poses, from classic to creative, results in a diverse gallery of images that parents treasure.Each session has a general concept, but to make it the most special day for you and your family, I’m open to new ideas. Whether it’s about outfits, or photography poses and props, just mention it.

Additionally, my home photography studio has toys, props, cameras, and everything you need for a perfect time.

Additionally, it won’t be just 2-3 hours of photography. We have to take into account feeding and diaper-changing time. And don’t worry about it, as a mom, I know as well as anyone that things “get dirty sometimes”.

Finally, when we get the baby photos, it’s time to photograph the whole family.