Preparing For Your Newborn Session
Preparing For Your Newborn Session
If you’re expecting your first baby, or if this will be your first time doing a newborn photo session, it’s good to know what to expect for your session. This blog post will cover a few tips for preparing for your newborn session, well as cover some common questions or concerns that moms to be may have about their session.
When should I do the session, and how do I schedule my session?
If you want capture that sleepy newborn stage, the best time to do the session is when baby is less than 2 weeks old. Once the baby is closer to 3+ weeks old, they will generally be awake more during the day. That being said, I’ve done plenty of “older” newborn sessions, some as old as 6-8 weeks. Some moms prefer to wait a bit longer so that they can start to feel like themselves again and be more rested. Just know that babies at that age are in a bit of a different stage by then– They’ll be more alert, which is always fun to get some bright eyed, awake pictures.
It’s best to get on my schedule when you’re in your second trimester in order to ensure availability. We won’t schedule the exact date of the session until after baby is born, so make sure to contact me within a day or two of baby being born if you want to get the session scheduled during the first couple of weeks.
What is my newborn is really fussy or won’t sleep for the session?
I know many moms worry about whether their newborn will “cooperate” for their session. Please don’t stress about it! Babies are unpredictable. In my 12 years of photographing newborns, I’ve dealt with many babies that are either fussy or don’t want to sleep for their session. This is something an experienced photographer knows how to best deal with and keep a baby calm during the session.
I always email clients a list of several tips to follow the morning of their session to help ensure baby is content for their session. A pacifier is also really important to have on hand, so I always recommend that clients have one handy even if they’re not consistently using one with their baby.
Sibling Photos: Expectations vs. Reality
I always tell parents to have realistic expectations when it comes to sibling photos, especially when the sibling is a young toddler. It’s a huge adjustment for them when baby comes home from the hospital. They’re having to share your attention when this new little baby and it can take some time for them to warm up to them. But don’t worry, I have some little tricks I use to get sibling photos that will typically work with even the most uncooperative of siblings. One of the most important things to remember about this is to not put too much pressure on the older sibling. They’re doing the best they can, and usually if we just give them some time and make it fun, we’ll be able to get some of those cute sibling photos that every parent wants.
I hope this blog post provided helpful information for you to consider when preparing for your newborn session. Want more information about maternity session? You can check out this post about maternity session information.
Family Scheduling update: I’m currently scheduling milestone and family sessions through December 2023.
Newborn Session Scheduling update: I’m currently booking newborn sessions through February 2024. My schedule fills up quickly, so please contact me soon if you’re considering a newborn session. I’m happy to answer any questions you may have and send a sample gallery over to give you an idea of what to expect for a session.
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Newborn sessions take place in my client’s home or in my natural light studio. My natural light studio has all white walls and lots of windows which creates beautiful natural light. For in home sessions, I travel throughout the Houston area, including The Heights, Montrose, West University, River Oaks, Garden Oaks, Oak Forest, Katy, SugarLand, Richmond, Cypress, Spring and The Woodlands. If you’d like to schedule an outdoor maternity session in Houston, or would like more information about a newborn session, contact me for more details.
