WELCOME GUIDE

WHAT TO EXPECT

Your lifestyle newborn session is done in the comfort of your own home. My approach to newborn sessions is to capture the joy, the connection and their natural state.

BEFORE YOUR SESSION

Please email me as soon as your baby is born. I will be waiting to hear from you to schedule your session. I recommend the photoshoot to happen anywhere between 1 - 4 weeks. With the lifestyle approach, there isn’t a cut off timeline to do them, but I do recommend sooner than later because babies change so quickly day by day.

DURING YOUR SESSION

When I arrive, I will walk around your home and scout out the best lit areas for our shoot. I often use the couch, master bedroom, and nursery for photos. What I’m looking for is a space with windows that allow a lot of natural light. Trust me, I know what it’s like to have a newborn. Please don’t feel like you have to clean the house before I arrive. We can easily clean up an area that we want to use for photos while I’m there.

Your Baby:Your newborn is perfect just the way he or she is. I don’t try to make babies sleep or place them in unnatural poses. I suggest you have your newborn in a simple onesie that is form fitting with no graphics or words. This usually means that you will need a preemie or newborn sized onesie. I will likely take it off and get some nude or near nude newborn photos as well. Also, please gather a few favorite swaddle blankets for your baby to be wrapped in. I recommend feeding the baby as much as he or she wants about 15 minutes prior to my arrival. (You can wait if you are wanting breastfeeding photos) Newborn sessions can take some time, that is okay. Your baby is perfect as he or she is. I do not do major posing or have any expectations on how the baby should behave (alert or asleep). We let the baby guide the session. What is important is that we capture this beautiful time in your life. 

Siblings: Again, I know exactly what it is like to have a new baby. I have two of my own and I know how big this change can be for the siblings in the house. I usually try to get siblings and family photos right at the start because the sibling may lose interest in me quickly. I have no major expectations for the siblings and will never force them into doing anything they aren’t comfortable with. It is best to prepare the sibling for the session by telling him or her that a friend is coming to visit and take some photos of your family. It is always best not to surprise them. And if anything else fails, bribing them with a treat works like a charm. 

Parents: You are going to be thrilled and exhausted. You will likely be experiencing the highest highs and perhaps some of the lowest lows. Having a new baby is hard and wonderful all at the same time. I vividly remember exactly what you are going through. My job is not to make this time in your life look perfect; my job is to show you just how beautiful it is. I want you to be as relaxed as you can be and at ease while I am photographing your family. I don’t expect anything out of you except you being there. We will let the baby guide the session.

AFTER YOUR SESSION

You can expect your photos to be delivered in 2 weeks after your session. Your photos are delivered and showcased through a Pinterest-style online gallery of retouched high-resolution digital images with the rights to share on social media, make unlimited downloads on unlimited devices and print at the place of your choice.

STYLING TIPS for the family

Stay neutral and comfort fabric. I love the organic feel that the neutral and earthy tones bring to the photos. It showcases the people and connection in the photo rather than the outfit. You can never go wrong with white, beige, light grey or other neutral colors and comfort fabric.  

FINAL NOTE

I can’t wait for our session together! Hopefully you found this information helpful. If you have any questions or concerns leading up to your session, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me. My goal is to serve you the best that I can! This is going to be a fun session, so don’t stress. Relax and enjoy making these memories that you’ll get to treasure forever. See you soon!

Xoxo,

Sally