Newborn Photo Prep Guide

Thank you for choosing Alicia Uribe Photography to capture this incredibly special time in your lives.

The best age to photograph newborns is when they are between 5-10 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.

I typically schedule newborns Monday – Friday at 9:30.   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.

• 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