{How to Prepare Your Newborn}
Newborn shoots are some of my favorites. There is so much love amidst unbelieveable exhaustion! I get it. I've been there. I am a mom to three kids and I've done the newborn thing twice. The second time around we had twins. Needless to say, I remember minimal details of those early days. It's my job to make this session stress free. Here are a few tips for how to prepare before I arrive.
-
Make sure baby has a full tummy and has been changed before I arrive. Determine the first outfit you'd like him/her in and have this on the baby after they've been fed/burped/changed. This way they'll fall asleep ready to go and we won't have to wake them to dress them in their first look. If you'd like baby to be naked, keep him/her swaddled and super warm in only a diaper before I arrive.
-
Keep the room/s you'd like to use for photos warm. This can be accomplished by turning up the heat to your home or by bringing in a heater. I swear by this one. Keep them warm!
-
Newborn sessions take a couple of hours. We take frequent breaks for feedings, diaper changes, wardrobe changes, wrangling older siblings, and rocking newborns to sleep. This is a test in patience! Consider this one of your first parenting lessons: A good sense of humor and deep breathing techniques will get you through anything as a parent. (And feel free to grab a glass of wine:-)
-
I love meaningful props, but do not provide them for your shoot. I prefer clients to provide their own props that tell their own unique story. If I brought the same handful of props to every shoot, I'd be creating your story, not telling yours. Use this as an opportunity to includes blankets, outfits, mementos that are important to you and your family. What story do you want to tell? I am always happy to provide suggestions!