Preparing For Your Upcoming Newborn Portrait Session
Newborns are best photographed when they are blissfully unaware that they are being photographed (aka, sound asleep!) Therefore, it is important to schedule your session within 7-14 days after baby is born. To ensure we get a date set during this time, I ask that you please contact me within 48 hours of the birth. Email is just fine!
Most of the notes you’ll see in this guide are to help make your new baby as full, warm and comfortable as possible, to set the tone for deep, sweet, newborn sleep! These “tips” are provided by all successful newborn photographers and I recommend that you follow them as closely as possible. Every baby is different, but most react positively to these preparatory steps.
I wish there was a fool-proof way to prepare for a newborn session, but babies just have their own ideas/plans. Some will cry, fight sleep, and/or pee & poop all over the blankets, and others are a peaceful dream to work with. I’ve seen it all and will adapt quickly to ensure that we get some fantastic shots! I will do my absolute best to capture a variety of posed images both swaddled and naked, but sometimes we just have to roll with the punches. In the end, your precious new baby will dictate just how the session will go!
Above all else … Breathe
First & foremost, try not to stress out over your newborn session. As a Mom, I understand how important these photos are to you, and how you want everything to go well. But the calmer you are, the more at ease your baby will be be. I promise. Your baby will pick up on your nervous energy, so while I want you to properly prepare for our session, it’s important to not let it drive you crazy!
Before The Session
1. Breastfeeding Moms, be very careful about what you are eating 1-2 days prior to our session. Try not to consume foods that may irritate your baby’s tummy (dairy, spicy foods, etc.), which can cause gas, frequent bowel movements, spitting up, and just overall stomach discomfort. Please also refrain from drinking coffee the morning of our session, as the caffeine can make baby alert & harder to soothe.
2. For 12 hours leading up to our session, try and feed your baby as often as possible, to keep their belly full, with one last feeding just before you leave the house (please factor this into your preparation time the morning of our session).
3. Try to keep your baby alert for a 1-2 hour period in the morning, just before our session. Newborn babies like to sleep a lot, so just do your best. If your baby wants to sleep on the way into the session, please let them be & don’t try to overstimulate them just to keep them awake. If your baby stays awake when you arrive at the studio, don’t stress! We can start with some awake shots, then feed and soothe baby here to get them into the deep, newborn sleep. We have time built in to cover this feeding, and any others, if needed.
4. Bathe your baby as you normally would (the night before is fine), and apply lotion as needed for dry skin. Please also cut or file baby’s nails. This will prevent them from scratching themselves during the session, as well as keep your retouching fees down!
5. Change your baby’s diaper just before you leave your home, and be sure to not pull the tabs too tight. Please dress baby in comfortable & loose clothing, like a one-piece button up or zipper sleeper, but nothing that goes over the baby’s head (no onesies!) Also, please no socks or mittens. We want to prevent marks in baby’s skin from tight diapers or clothing.
In The Studio
Congratulations, you’ve made it through the first part! This is where I will take over. Here’s what to expect when you arrive at the studio–
1. It will be very, very warm in my studio! I keep the temperature at about 85-90 degrees, which is necessary to keep the baby comfortable, especially for those unwrapped poses. I recommend that parents dress accordingly, or in layers, if they would like to be in the room. If you are being photographed and don’t want to sweat, you can “chill” in the room adjacent to my studio, which will be nice and cool!
2. I use soft, diffused studio lighting for my portraits, which allows me the flexibility to schedule sessions on days when there is very little natural light, and creates consistency with my work. I also use various sound machines to create a comfortable environment for baby and help to prevent startling. All equipment is safe and secure and will cause no damage to your baby.
3. As I mentioned above, I will completely take over once you arrive. Depending on whether you baby is awake or asleep, I will either begin by undressing him/her to start off with beanbag poses, or wrap him/her to help them fall asleep. Baby may fuss a little as they transition to the new environment, but please trust me and allow me to work my magic! If your baby cannot be soothed within a few minutes, I will ask you to take them and offer a feeding.
4. We will discuss props ahead of time, but I may have a few items out for you to provide input on when you arrive. If you have something you’d like to bring from home, please let me know ahead of time. I have a flow that I create in advance based on our previous communications and surprises can sometimes throw that off.
5. During the session, I encourage you to sit back & relax. Your baby may cry/fuss for short periods of time throughout, but I promise he/she will always be properly cared for. If a parent intervenes too often, it can disrupt the session, as the baby may smell mom/milk. I will only ask you to help comfort baby if they seem completely inconsolable, which usually means they are ready for a feeding. I will leave you to do so privately, if necessary.
6. Your baby’s safety is always my first priority. Some babies are just not comfortable in certain positions, and I will never force them, so I cannot “promise” you will have certain poses in your gallery. If there is a specific shot you are hoping to achieve, please let me know so I can try that first.
7. Expect the session to last approx. 2-4 hours, all dependent on how well baby sleeps. I will have light snacks and water available, but feel free to bring other food if you think you will get hungry. You are welcome to nap or read a book or just stare out the window, whatever makes you happy! You just may not leave 🙂 One parent must be present the whole time.
8. All photos will be taken inside the studio, no outdoor photos are included in the session.
Parents, Siblings & Guests
1. If you and/or your significant other plan to be photographed, I suggest that you keep your outfits very simple. I have a neutral “bone” color backdrop that I use for my family shots, so bright colors tend to clash with it. I recommend tans, whites, creams, grays, or pastel blues or pinks. Jeans or khakis work well, but some women wear dresses if tight clothing makes them uncomfortable after birth. I always tell mom, pick out your outfit first, then coordinate your partner with it! I also suggest wearing a little more make-up than usual, or feel free to apply it here just before we shoot. Parents/family shots usually take place at the end of the session.
2. If siblings are being photographed, they should not be present for the entire session. They really don’t want to be here and there isn’t space for them to run around, so often times it just ends up keeping the baby awake which is not good! We will coordinate their arrival before the session date, but plan to either bring them at the beginning of the session and we’ll take those photos right away, or arrange for a friend or family member to bring them about 2.5 hours after our scheduled start time. Or, have your partner bring/take them. Both parents don’t need to be present the entire session.
** If siblings are NOT being photographed, I ask that they please not come to the studio at all.
Sibling attire. Much like in #1, simple is best. Same colors apply. Some parents like photos where their older children have no shirts on, which is perfectly fine. Some like them to have “Big Brother” or “Big Sister” shirt, which is also fine. I don’t suggest clothing with other large prints or logos as those can be very distracting. I do not provide clothing for siblings.
3. Due to the size of my studio (it’s just big enough!), I ask that you please not bring additional guests to the session. If you have an out of town grandparent that needs to attend with you, they are welcome to wait in the waiting area.
After The Session
I will have some “sneak peeks” ready for you to see within a few days of our session. I will share these on Facebook and Instagram and tag you. Then, in approx. 3 weeks, I will send you a private digital gallery of approx. 20-25 images for you to review. These will be edited, but may not be fully retouched. At that time, you will choose your final images, based on the package you purchased. Further retouching may be done on those images, depending on need. Additional high-res images can be purchased for $20/ea or the entire gallery for $150-200, depending on number of images in the gallery.
If the package you purchased comes with a print credit, you can apply that towards any prints/canvases ordered through Heather Eatherton Photography. There will be a print pricing sheet included with the gallery and you can order directly from the website. All prints/canvases will be sent to Heather Eatherton for review, before being sent along to you. This insures that you receive the highest quality product possible!
If you have any questions about your session or your purchases, please do not hesitate to ask. I want to make sure you have a wonderful experience from start to finish! I look forward to working with you soon.
