Newborn Photography Guide

How do I prepare for a newborn photography shoot?

We schedule our newborn sessions within the first two weeks of the due date. This is a tentative date and will likely change depending on the baby's arrival. Having said that, there are no guarantees with newborns. They do what they please. We have done photo shoots at 6 days. Some cooperate and some don't. We have done photo shoots at 4 weeks. Some cooperate and some don't. Either way, they're all wonderful!

If the baby is late, you will contact us and we will play it by ear. If the baby is early, don't worry about contacting us right away. Enjoy the new member of your family! Contact us in the next day or two by email or text and let us know that your baby is here. We will then check our calendar and will let you know what dates would work out best.

The day of the photo shoot we suggest to have the house at a good warm temperature (around 75F). We might not need the heat on during summer months. The little ones don't like to be too hot or too cold. To help your baby look its best keep some baby lotion handy to help with dry skin. Also, keep gloves or socks on their hands to prevent them from scratching themselves.

We like to walk around and see what settings might work out best in terms of lighting and backdrops for the newborn and family pictures. We prefer to use rooms with the most natural light. For the most part we like to use the baby's room, your room, the living room, and the yard if it's a nice day.

As for feeding your baby, try and time it so that you are almost done with the feeding or completely done by the time we arrive. A happy belly equals a happy and sleepy baby. Also, we suggest no caffeine the night before and the morning of your shoot if you breastfeed.

Try to keep your baby awake before we arrive. We want them to be very tired and fall asleep by the time we start shooting. Give them a bath or fake change their diaper so they can stay awake.

If you purchased an A-Stop Package; We will do a very natural lifestyle photo shoot. Grab a few onesies or swaddles for the baby, prepare your room and the baby's room, and we will document all the joy! We will not bring props but we will try to use what you have around your home and we will bring a bag of various colored wraps. We won't do any heavy posing for the baby. For example; naked poses, hands under their chin, or sleepy baby poses. If your baby falls asleep we will gently place them in very easy poses in their crib, bed, or couch. For example, on their side with their hands placed under their cheek. We only do simple, fully clothed, and gentle poses because we only have an hour.

If you purchased a C Stop Package; If you wanted your baby in a wrap, diaper cover, or possibly naked then I suggest to take their clothes off (but keep them in their diaper!), wrap them up in a blanket, then start to feed them before we arrive. The less we move them around after they have a full belly, the better. For props, we will bring a basket or something to place your baby in, some backdrops, and various colored wraps. Most props and hats that you see in our photographs belong to the baby. The picture will hold a different meaning if we utilize your belongings. If there are specific shots that you wanted to capture, let us know before our session so we can prioritize.

I hope this overview helped answer some of your questions. Thank you and feel free to contact us with any questions.