How to prepare for your newborn session

1. If nursing, try to avoid eating anything spicy (ie. pizza, hot sauce, etc) or anything that will cause gas and might upset baby’s tummy for 24 hours preceding your scheduled session. A gassy baby will not pose well during the session due to their little tummy being upset. *Some other foods that may cause gas are dairy products- milk, cheese, yogurt, pudding, cream, or any food that has milk, milk products, casein, whey, or sodium casein it, as well as foods with caffeine, soy, fish, peanuts, chocolate, wheat, beef, nuts, eggs, corn, or citrus fruits. 

2. Interact with and keep baby awake for 1-2 hours before your session to ensure he/she is good and sleepy for the session. This is very important. Without this, we spend too much time getting her to sleep and not as much time photographing her. Stimulating baby with a bath or by doing ‘naked time’ prior to the session are some tricks that you can use! I know you are saying now “my baby sleeps all morning” and this is true if baby is at home, however this will be one of the few early outings and baby will sense the different environment and will naturally have a lighter sleep. Also, don’t forget that baby will be moved in and out different props and outfits. 

3. Please make sure your little one has a very full belly for the session. Please feed baby just before you leave your home. I have many clients who arrive at the studio saying that they gave baby a small feeding about 45 minutes ago and need to feed baby upon arrival. Baby usually wakes up during this feeding at the studio and has trouble falling back into a deep, restful sleep. If baby is bottle feeding, please bring extra bottles and milk (formula or breastmilk) – (babies work up quite the appetite being constantly moved around in the warm studio) – I promise you we will need to fee at least once during the session. Also, baby should be fed as much as possible in the 12 hours that precede the session. This will allow for baby to sleep as deeply and as long as possible. 

4. It will be quite warm in the studio (approx 25-27 C), so dress in layers. 

5. The session will last anywhere from 1.5  to 3 hours, depending on how much the baby sleeps and we are photographing parents and siblings.

6. If you are using a pacifier, please bring it! If you are not using a pacifier please consider brining one as well. With your permission we will use it during the session for brief moments as it will help to settle baby down while posing.

7. If you session includes a sibling, if possible I include siblings at the beginning at the session. If you have another parent, sibling(s) can leave as the remainder of the session can be long for them. If sibling(s) have to stay with you, we will do our best to entertain them with TV and a few toys.

Let me know if you have any questions at all! Please email or call me any time. I prefer open and honest conversations before the session to avoid any misunderstanding or disappointment.

If you have seen a posed newborn session click on this video. It is a training video but gives you a good idea what to expect.