UNDRESS TO IMPRESS: MY NEWBORN SESSION GUIDE
Before the Session
For the baby, clean away flaky skin and eye boogers on the face with a wash cloth. Trim those tiny fingernails and toenails with baby trimmers. If your baby has any band-aids on the foot, thigh, etc., please remove them as soon as you possibly can to allow the imprint marks to disappear.
Do not change the baby’s diet the day before or during the session. Continue to feed your baby how you normally do (breast-feed, formula-feed, or both). Bring plenty of bottles! Your baby will need to eat more often during the session than they normally do.
Let’s Do This!
When you arrive at my home studio, be prepared to feed your baby. We want your little one to be full, content and sleeping after the feeding to ensure those curly, sleepy newborn pictures. Be sure to burp baby really well after the feeding. Gas can make a sleepy, happy baby into an uncomfortable one in seconds.
Be patient. If your baby is fussy or alert, do not stress out. Your newborn can sense your anxiety and we want to keep the environment as mellow as possible. Please keep in mind, that a good portion of the session is spent feeding and cuddling baby, it’s part of the process. We will try and get them comfortable again, but if that does not seem possible, we will take a break or may even reschedule (at my discretion).
Baby … Undress to Impress!
Leave the cute onsies and outfits at home. Let’s show off that beautiful, baby-soft, crinkled skin! I have a wide selection of swaddles, wraps, hats and hairbands as well as adorable baskets, bowls and other props that I’ll be thoughtfully selecting for your baby’s session.
The Mom & Dad Connection
Photographing the connection between you and your baby is one of my favorite things, so I love to get in a couple shots with you included.
For mom, a subtle application of makeup can soften your skin and accent your facial features. Neutral looking fake lashes can really flatter your eyes. For your clothing, keep the color neutral and design simple. Be sure your nails are tidy and clean (light, neutral polish, if any) as your hands will make their way into the images. Also, rest assured, I aim to photograph using flattering angles and lighting to bring out the natural beauty in you and your family.
For dad, please be freshly shaved with a new razor, shaving cream and moisturizing after-shave lotion to avoid bumps and redness. Trim your beard, sideburns, mustache or goatee. Make sure your nails are clean and trimmed.
Siblings for Life!
Including older siblings in your newborn’s portrait is the perfect way to document this fleeting time in your lives.
Clean, clean, clean! Clean nails, combed hair, clean feet, fresh scrub teeth, and wipe away eye boogers and snotty noses. The cleaner the child, the better their photos will turn out. If your child is still of napping age, make sure they nap before the shoot.
It is perfectly okay to bring bribes to the session. Some cereal, snacks or candies that won’t stain their teeth.
Due to the duration of the newborn session, I ask that a grandparent or caretaker bring the sibling(s) into the studio for ONLY THE LAST 30 MINUTES of the session. Because young children do not have long attention spans, they may not do well in unfamiliar places and will disrupt the environment in the studio necessary for newborn photography.
These tips in this Newborn Session Guide will help you feel better prepared for your newborn shoot and ensure that your session runs smoothly so we can focus on capturing your newborn’s precious photos!
El and Em Photography is located in Troy, MI and specializes in maternity, newborn, baby milestone and family photography. My tiny clients come to my home studio for their sessions from all over the metro Detroit area including: Rochester, Troy, Birmingham, Detroit, Ferndale, Royal Oak, Clawson, Bloomfield, Oak Park, Sterling Heights, Madison Heights, Warren, Southfield, Auburn Hills and more. Michigan Motherhood Photographer.