Preparation Guide for your Newborn Shoot
I am so happy to be photographing your new bundle of joy! As a mom of two children, I understand how overwhelming those first few days can be with a new baby so I created this informational guide to help you prepare for our session together.
Important - Preparation is Key for a Successful Outcome for the Day
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Newborn sessions are usually scheduled for 9am start at my Cranbourne studio as babies always sleep better at this time. I do sometimes schedule babies in for a 1pm start and this may because I have had a cluster of babies born at the same time.
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Plan ahead by using google to calculate the distance from your home to my studio and add additional traffic conditions for peak hours etc.
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Ensure your baby is fed RIGHT BEFORE YOU LEAVE HOME. If your baby is not due for a feed please wake them for a top up feed as feeding the baby on arrival at the studio will wake your baby and may take at least 45 minutes for your baby to fall back asleep.
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Please keep your baby awake at least an hour prior to leaving your house. If baby falls asleep in the car on the way this is perfect as bubs will be nice and settled on arrival. If your drive to the studio is less than 15 minutes please allow for a some extra time in the car so your baby falls into a deep sleep during the drive.
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Dress your baby in bigger size onesie that zips in the front as it’s easiest to take off and less disturbing to your baby. Please do not put a singlet on your bubs that requires overhead removal
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If your baby is in a carseat capsule please bring the baby into the studio in the capsule.
Please Note:
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NO NAPPY CREAM
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NO TALCUM POWDER
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Your session is exclusive to TWO adults only. Due to limited studio space and session policies, we request that all other friends and relatives stay at home
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If you have a sibling attending. Please note that we will start with the newborn first and the sibling/family images will be photographed about 45 minutes in
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If you are doing any hand shots with your baby please make sure you remove any nail polish and tidy up your nails and skin around your nails. It will be noticable in photos. These are things Im not able to fix/edit after your session
What To Bring
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Bring your makeup in case you have to touch up
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A change of clothing in case baby has an accident on you
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Bring Lotion or oil for your baby in case they have flaky skin
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Bring Snacks
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Bring Ipads or colouring books for Siblings
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Bring Bribes (ie chocolate or things they love) for siblings in case we need it for the sibling shots
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Grab a pacifier even if you do not plan on letting your baby use one. Pacifiers help soothe babies and will make the session go much smoother. If your baby becomes unsettled in a pose often a dummy will calm them enough to continue without having to get them up and re-pose them all over again. I have Brand New Sterilised Jollypop Dummies that I prefer to use during my session. (these dummies are shaped like a Nipple and adjust to the size of your baby’s mouth.) For more information about Jolly pop dummies "Click Here"
A few Important things to Remember
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CIRCUMCISION: Circumcision can often leave the area raw and painful for a few days after the procedure. It is important to note that newborn photos should be done either before the procedure takes place or at least 2 days after the procedure.
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A full baby is a sleepy baby, and we need a very sleepy and calm baby in order to achieve the sweet, flexible poses you see in my portfolio. I may ask you to ignore a strict feeding schedule for the 2.5 hours at the session. The only way we will achieve calm, flexible poses is if baby is fully satisfied and sleeping.
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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.
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This is a full service studio meaning that I will be changing baby’s diapers, cleaning up any messes, and feeding baby when required during the session. I usually ask that Moms try to stay outside of hearing and smelling range of bubs as once baby has that connection with mommy in the middle of the session, it’s sometimes hard for them to get back into a deep sleep or if mommy’s milk has not come in all the way baby may want to use mommy to snack on and pacify frequently. I have always had the most success by being the only one to interact with baby during the session. If you’re breastfeeding and are open to bringing bottles with breast milk, great! Of course if you are exclusively breast feeding then that is fine too. (again, asking that you remain open to feeding on demand at the studio).
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Remove all bandages (from shots, etc) from baby’s skin at least one hour before arriving to the studio. These bandages cannot be removed in post processing and, if left on, will show up in the final images. Dont worry about their cord clip I hide this during posing
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The studio will be kept at between 25 and 28 degrees to keep your little one warm while being photographed. If Im not sweating then its not hot enough x
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Just to warn you: Your baby will pee and poo on many of my props and me during the session. Im used to this so dont worry. When being photographed with your baby, you may get peed or pooped on! This happens daily in my studio (usually on me), but some parents are surprised by and unprepared for it.
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I spend a lot of time getting every little finger and toe positioned perfectly when photographing your little bundle. First and foremost, it is important to me for your baby look comfortable and peaceful in the photographs. I have a lot of experience and patience with newborns. I have children of my own and have photographed over 1200 newborns. My motto is safety first. I will never put your newborn in an unsafe pose/prop.
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Props and ‘Pinterest Requests: I supply all of the backdrops, furniture, hats, headbands and wraps for the session. I am always open to new ideas but be aware that I will not use anything that will harm, irritate or look awkward or controversial on your newborn. If you see something you like in any of our galleries, be sure to mention it before your session as I setup the day before your session . I am open to suggestions on poses that you may have seen from Pinterest but please understand that every pose we do depends on how well baby cooperates and how safe the pose is for your little one. I cannot guarantee any pose for this reason.
What to Wear - Mum and Dad
The best colors to wear are typically neutral colors such as white, cream, beige, sage green, navy and grey. These colors tend to photograph well and are not distracting in the background. It's also helpful if everyone in the photo is wearing coordinating colors, rather than clashing patterns or hues. This creates a cohesive look in the photo and makes it appear more polished and professional.
Typically we only photograph your top half so dont stress too much about what you are wearing on your bottom half.
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Mums a nice top or dress. But make sure the rest of your family suit what you are wearing
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Dads a nice shirt or plain tshirt. Avoid logos and too much pattern as it can be distracting in photos and may look too busy
**A note to Mum: I know that you may not feel like yourself right after giving birth, but I strongly encourage you to have a portrait taken with your new baby while they are still so young and fresh. Remember this photo is for your new baby and they will love you always. I will shoot you in flattering angles, so don’t worry! Worst case scenario is that you don’t like the image and never look at it again, but at least your child will have this moment documented.
What to Wear - Siblings
For the Boys - Jeans.or Jean Shorts and a plain top or shirt (without patterns or logos)
For the Girls - A nice dress or I have heaps here that can be used. My sizes are more for Size 1 - Size 6.
They’ll be barefoot, so no need to look for clean shoes.
Hair and Makeup Tip
Here are some guidelines for makeup and hair if you have booked in to have faily/sibling photos. Make-up should be classic and clean. However your foundation can be quite thick as this photographs well and helps me to smooth out your skin in post-processing. Hair the same - loose is best. Have your hair either straightened or curled/waved depending on your style.
And Finally…..
I want you to come away from this session with images you will cherish forever. Thank you for trusting me to capture one of the most wonderful moments in your life.
Thanks xx
Alana