NEWBORN SESSION PREP GUIDE
The prep guide is essential to follow for a successful newborn session.
Following the prep guide will allow me to maximize this time with your baby and ensure I am able to get those sleepy,
squishy, posed shots. Please be sure to follow it.
BATH TIME
Please bathe your baby an hour before you leave for your session, if babies umbilical cord is still attached a sponge bath is fine. A warm bath wakes up baby and gets them all clean and ready for their modeling session. Dress baby in a sleeper, nothing that goes over their head leaving the diaper loose so that it doesn’t leave marks on their precious skin. This will make it much easier to undress baby without waking them up if they arrive sound asleep.
FEEDING
Hold off on feeding until RIGHT BEFORE YOU LEAVE for your session. This will allow for a nice relaxed feeding in your own home, especially if this is something the two of you are still trying to master. Full baby is a very sleepy and calm baby. The hope is that a full tummy and car ride over will sooth the baby into a deep sleep. This will allow me to start the session as soon as you arrive.
If you are breastfeeding please consider expressing/pumping a bottle of milk and bringing it with you so we can quickly get baby full and happy between setups, also known as the “milk coma”. This one time feeding should not cause nipple confusion, and if you choose not to bottle feed, that is completely okay! While in the studio I ask that you feed on demand, a hungry baby generally will not settle, therefore the session may be stopped. Even if your baby sleeps most of the session, they are still working at settling themselves back in after being moved and posed from props and sets. This makes them work up quite the appetite. If you are exclusively bottle feeding (formula or breast milk), please be sure to bring an extra 8oz.
If breastfeeding, it is very important for the 24 hours prior to your session that you avoid foods and drinks that are acidic, spicy or could cause baby to be gassy. Babies under 6 weeks of age have very sensitive digestive systems. Below is just a general guide created by celebrity photographer Ana Brandt. You might even find it helpful after your session too! I lived by it with my second baby.
WHAT TO WEAR
If you choose to be in images with your baby, PLEASE WEAR SOLID COLOR clothing, preferably white, ivory, grey or black and dress everyone in all dark or all light. This photographs the best. You don't want your clothes to be distracting and take away from your beautiful new baby.
WHAT TO BRING
- Please bring a pacifier, this is essential in being able to sooth your baby if needed.
- Extra formula if you are feeding baby this way.
- If we had previously discussed you bringing a special item(s) make sure that you pack it.
- Bring an extra set of clothes if you plan on being in images, they may get soiled by your little one.
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