Newborn Session Prep Guide - Linda Wilson Photography

Newborn Prep

One of the most important things to remember at the session is that baby is in charge! I always try my best to get a nice variety of poses & props in, but sometimes babies just won't sleep soundly enough to pose safely in some of the props. Trying to get too many outfit & props changes may backfire, causing your baby to be over stimulated, and then we get even less variety. So we have to not set our expectations too high and go with the flow. Baby's safety will always be number one! Another key factor is baby's age. After 3 weeks old they don't sleep as soundly or stay in the curled up positions as well. 10-20 days is usually best, but every baby is different & sometimes they may just have an off day. Make sure to book early. I like to pencil in for about a week after due date, and then we can adjust if needed once baby arrives.

Your first decision to make about the Newborn Session, is do you want to focus on just all the cute baby poses, or do you want to add Family and/or sibling portraits to the session? Adding Family will include more time and may be a bigger investment for your photo package, but will be special portraits that you and your child will treasure forever.

I have everything needed for your session as far as props go, but if you would like to bring a prop of your own, please make sure to limit it to one or two special, sentimental items. And make sure to include photos and/or a description of it in the questionnaire form, so I can have a setup ready to go with it.

Prepare for the Session

Avoid foods that can cause gas for baby a few days before your session if you are nursing, and also try to avoid caffeine that morning if possible.

Bring extra bottles & supplies. If you are nursing and pumping, bring a couple of bottles of expressed milk. If you are using formula, please bring extra! Babies tend to feed more than usual at the session. *bottle warmer available.

Bring a pacifier, as it is very helpful during the session. Usually the hospital gives a nice one that wont leave marks on baby's face.

Stimulate & try to keep baby awake for an hour or so before the session. This helps make baby extra sleepy for the session. A warm bath is great and talking & interacting with baby while just in their diaper for a little while.

Feed baby right before you leave for the session. A full belly makes for a happy, sleepy baby. Remember the long session times allow for feeding time during the session as needed. We want baby milk drunk and in a deep sleep to get all those cute posed photos.

Dress baby in loose clothing (zipper front) for ease to undress him without waking him up (unless we are starting with the family photos and you have him in the outfit already for those portraits.) We'll plan to start with the family photos, so arrive dressed and ready to go.

Studio temperature will be warm for a newborn session. You may want to bring a change of clothes for after the family photos so you are more comfortable.

Feel free to bring drinks (and a snack for mama) especially if you are nursing! I'll have bottled water available, and there's a 7-11 next door if needed.

Try to arrive on time. (but not early) I know it's hard getting out the door with your new little one, so try to pack up and plan in advance. I do have a little grace period, but over 15 minutes will start to cut into your session time.

Siblings

*If you are doing family & sibling photos, I like to begin with those. Please try to arrive on time with everyone dressed and ready to go. Please make arrangements to have someone pick up your young children after we finish with the family photos, so we can then focus on the individual baby portraits. If no one is available, it is best for one of the parents to take the toddler out to grab a bite to eat, or play at a nearby park while we complete the rest of the session. Sessions last several hours, and children do not enjoy sitting still for that long. And I have lots of equipment and studio props that they will be tempted to play with. Parents should keep watch of them the entirety of the time to avoid any mishaps. Thank you for understanding.

What to Wear

Wear Simple Neutrals.

Think about the style you'd like for your family portraits. Think about where you will hang this portrait in your home. Will it go in the living room? The nursery? What does that look like? What does it feel like?

Light and Airy? Wear light colors like white, cream, tan, light gray
Dark and Dramatic? Wear darker tones, black, charcoal, darker gray
Organic? Earthy? Maybe try brown and beige tones.
Colorful? Maybe add just a touch of pastel pink or baby blue?

Whatever you decide on, just please make sure that everyone coordinates well. You don't want one person to stick out more than the others (unless maybe the new baby of course) so make sure you all are in the same tones (all in darks or all in lights) Avoid loose and bunchy, wrinkly clothing. Try for nice form fitting soft shirts without logos or bold patterns. Keep it simple so that the focus is on the faces and baby. Also think about only wearing simple jewelry, remove watches, and don't forget to check the fingernails! (especially on little ones...and make sure to check their teeth and noses as well, just before the photos start)

I like to get a variety of poses: The whole family, Mom with baby, Dad with baby, Sibling(s) with baby, mom & dad with baby. and variations within each of those.

Rest assured, I aim to photograph using flattering angles and light to bring out the natural beauty in your family. Your images will be retouched, so please don’t worry about acne, dark circles, or skin imperfections. And baby will hide most of your body. You will look stunning!

Additional Thoughts…

I have everything needed to style your baby's session. I have tons of setups, clothing & accessories, blankets, wraps, bonnets, headbands, baskets, boxes, buckets, beds and more! So you really don't need to bring anything besides baby and their supplies. However, if you have something special that you'd like to incorporate in one of the setups, I will need to know ahead of time, so I can plan what set to use for it.

If we are doing family photos, I will need to know colors ahead of time to have the right backdrop up and ready to go. Please get ready at home and arrive ready to start. I know baby might need attention of course but the sooner we can get started on the family photos, the more time we will have for all the fun baby poses which take so much time.

Communication is Key! If there is anything I need to know please tell me. And if there is anything you are uncomfortable with please tell me. Baby's safety and your comfort is more important than anything else. If after awhile of trying a certain pose and the baby isn't having it, then we should decide to move on. Not all babies bend and move the same way. Also make sure to let me know if baby has any complications or any poses we should avoid. I try to wash/sanitize my hands throughout the session, and I can wear a mask while I'm near baby if it makes you feel more comfortable, just let me know ahead of time.

Retouching

For Baby: Please don’t stress if your baby has acne or peeling skin. I can retouch all of this at no extra charge. If you prefer to leave some of the peeling skin to show the newness of your baby, please let me know and I will leave those details in your photos. Otherwise, all skin blemishes that would not normally be there will be retouched. Birth marks, scars can be softened ONLY at your request. I like to leave the part of baby that stays with him. Umbilical cords will be left as is and will not be edited out, so please let me know at the time of the session if you prefer that the umbilical cord stays covered, and I will pose the baby in a way so it will not show.

For other family Members: While acne/blemish removal and skin softening are free of charge, there are a few things that will incur an extra editing fee of $25 per image. These requests are very time consuming and may result in editing delays. Please take care of these issues before your photos.

Nail polish color changes/ heavy peeling removal (small chips can be photoshopped free of charge)
Hair color change or root cover up
Self tanner blotches/streaks and tan lines
Braces removal or tooth repairs/replacement
Large tattoo removal requests (if you do not want them to show, please wear something that covers them)
Arriving with heavily wrinkled clothes (a steamer is available if needed)
Food or boogies left on children’s faces
Requesting makeup color changes
Poorly fitting undergarment lines/folds, and brightly colored undergarments that show through clothing. Neutral tones are best.

After your session

We will schedule a viewing appointment to view all the photos on a large TV screen at the studio. Together we will narrow down to just your favorite images and you will place your order at this time. Turn around time for your retouched digital photos is usually around 2 weeks (Printed products will be longer)

Thank you for choosing me to photograph this special time!

It is my hope that you come to my studio feeling comfortable and at home. I am truly honored to be able to document this incredible time in your lives, and look forward to getting to know you and your sweet baby!

If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to contact me.

Please make sure to fill out the required Newborn Questionnaire below. Failure to fill this out by 3 days before the session date may result in an unplanned and unsuccessful session. This form, along with all the tips above, will give us the best chance for a successful newborn session.