Newborn Session Prep Instructions

Here are some important tips to encourage a successful newborn session to go more quickly and smooth.

1) Be sure to notify us if you plan an induced date, or within 48 hours of delivery. Depending on our schedule, we will try our best to get you in between 5-16 days as best as we can, as we have a very busy schedule so we try to get in between 5-16 days if possible. Sometime is may be a little over, but newborns are very doable up to a month of age. The session just typically takes longer for newborns older than two weeks of age. 

2) We have two studios on our property. Our newborn studio, is the building on the right, the 2nd door with ramp. 

3) The first 10-15 minutes of the session will be picking out the sets you want.  Not all poses are guaranteed, as your little one is the boss, but following the newborn session prep instructions, helps to ensure the poses that you like. Please come in to the studio to feed your baby instead of feeding in your vehicle. While you feed your little one in the studio, I will be getting the sets up and ready for you that you picked out. We provide everything we need for our newborn work flow from backdrops, tiebacks, wraps, outfits, props, etc. 

4) Newborn sessions typically last 2 hours to 4 hours due to multiple feedings, swaddling, diaper changes and waiting on baby to fall asleep for some of the photos. For family newborn sessions, they average about 3 hours. For just newborn only, they average about 2 hours. Simple sessions are wrapped sessions only and average about 30 to 40 minutes.

5) The studio will be fairly warm for newborns, so dress in cool clothing or layers to remove if you get too warm. Temperature is usually kept between 75 to 78 degrees for newborns, as most are in their birthday suit or very little clothing for most of the session. Newborns will not have. a successful session if they are cold.

6) MOST IMPORTANT: Try to keep your little one up and awake the morning of or before their session as much as possible, so they will be sleepy for those cute sleeping baby poses. This is the most important step to ensure a successful session. You can help to keep them awake by giving them a bath right before you leave the house for you session. Take and play with them as much as you can, and if at all possible, wait to feed them when you first get to the studio. Please notice, if you have a long driving time and your baby sleeps the entire way, your session will typically be longer than the average session, as baby won't want to sleep much for pictures if they have been sleeping in the car, but they will eventually fall asleep towards the end of the session. Some parents find it helps to have one parent drive, and the other sit in the back with the baby to talk to them and try to keep them awake and stimulated. 

7) If possible, feed them right when you get to the studio (inside the studio while I'm setting up) so they will have a full belly through out the session. Formula fed babies will usually eat at the beginning of the session, and usually will not have to feed again throughout the session. Nursed babies typically will have to eat twice during the session, and sometimes 3 times. For this reason, sessions for nursed babies will typically last longer than a formula fed baby.   

8) Please bring a paci (NO ATTACHMENTS ON THE PACI PLEASE) if you allow your baby to have one. THIS HELPS THE SESSION GO MUCH QUICKER AS I POSE THE LITTLE ONE. Babies who do not take paci's will typically have a longer session time. 

9) Please bring them in a zipper or button up outfit/onesie. Please DO NOT bring them in an outfit that has to be pulled over their head. So if they are sleeping, it is less likely to wake them up.

11) If your little one has hair, please bring a baby brush if you prefer to use yours instead of our newborn studio brush.

12) We do keep Johnson's baby lotion in the studio, but please bring baby lotion if you baby has dry, peeling skin and you use a different brand other than Johnson's.

13) If siblings are involved in the images, I typically shoot the sibling shots first while the sibling is still in good spirits. Due to the length of the session, it is recommend that you have someone to pick up the siblings from the studio after their portion is completed. If that is not an option, please bring entertainment for the siblings, such as tablet, etc. to keep them occupied during the lengthy session.

14) For newborn sessions that include parents/family pictures, and you want your newborn to be in their birthday suit for the family pictures. Please bring a change of clothes for yourself just  in case your little one has an accident on you.

15) Since little hands touch our floor and our actual studio floor is all white to use in pictures, so we try to keep in clean and scratch free from shoes, dirt, etc, so please remove your shoes when entering the actual studio room. Unless wearing shoes in the pictures, shoes must be removed when first entering the studio in the first room.

16) If you know exactly what you would like for your newborn session, feel free to send us any examples that you want to include in your newborn session. 

17)  Due to our busy schedule as a small business owner, please try not to arrive no earlier than 15 minutes prior to your session. Once you arrive, please do not sit in your car, you may go ahead and come in the studio. You do not have to knock to enter the studio, please come right in. If we are not in the studio, we will be out there very shortly.