Congratulations! You’ve made the all-important decision to book your baby’s newborn session! What a relief to know that all those sweet little newborn details, including their fuzzy shoulders and wispy hair, pouty lips, tiny fingers and toes, will be documented for you and your children to look back on for years to come! Your newborn session will take place at my home studio, just outside of Bridgewater. Newborn babies are best photographed within 5-14 days after birth, while your baby is still super sleepy, so it is important that you reach out to schedule your session as soon as possible after baby is born.

By this point, we’ve had the opportunity to talk in depth about your color and style preferences, what you and your family will wear, and even had the chance to pick out a few of your favorite newborn outfits and headbands or hats! So, how do you ensure that you get the most out of your session? What if your baby or other children don’t cooperate? These are common concerns, but not to worry! Every session is baby-led and never rushed. Prepare to spend approximately 3 hours at the studio on session day. Plenty of time is provided for acclimating siblings to me and the studio space so that they do not feel pressured to cooperate before they are ready. There will also be plenty of time for feedings and soothing during the process so that your baby is as comfortable as possible. It’s important to note that not every baby will do every pose in my typical flow, and if baby does not seem happy in a particular pose, I take great care to comfort them, modify the pose, or move on as it suits your baby. Safety is always my number one priority.

To help baby to be prepared to sleep during the session, there are steps that parents can take on the day of the session:
— Keep baby awake for at least 1 hour prior to our session time. Giving your baby a bath approximately 45 minutes before your session will help keep them stimulated.
— Give baby a FULL feeding immediately before your session. I recommend feeding your baby upon arriving at the studio if you live 30+ minutes away. Try waking baby if he/she falls asleep while feeding to ensure a full belly and deeper sleep. Bringing additional expressed milk (if breastfeeding) for feedings between poses is not required, but highly recommended.
— Dress baby lightly in clothing that is easy to remove without waking
— Be sure to come to the studio dressed and ready for your first family portrait! Feel free to bring a change of clothes to change into for the duration of the session if you wish. The room in which I will be working with baby is approximately 80 degrees, so you may wish to bring layered clothing.

What do you need to bring? Just yourselves and food for baby! The studio is fully stocked with everything we will need for baby such as diapering supplies and feeding supplies including a nursing pillow. The studio is designed with comfort in mind for new moms and their families with space to lounge (or nap), coffee, drinks, snacks, Wi-Fi, and several quiet toys for siblings.

I look forward to creating a stress-free and enjoyable experience for you and your family. I’ll see you in the studio soon!