7 years ago my second son was born and with him came the absolute obsession with taking newborn photos. Now looking back at his cute little newborn photo album that sits on the shelf in my living room, I’m so thankful that I took the time to photograph those moments. Capturing those precious days of newborns and toddlers through photography is a beautiful and rewarding experience and I knew right away that I wanted to shift my photography business towards more newborn moments!
In the past seven years, I’ve learned so much about how to create an environment and an approach that leads to beautiful newborn galleries regardless of fussy newborns or busy toddler siblings that often come with a newborn session. In this blog post, we will explore some tips and techniques to create a peaceful and enjoyable newborn session, ensuring a stress-free experience for you as a new parent and the little ones involved.
Preparation for your newborn shoot:
Ideally, all newborn sessions are scheduled within the first two weeks of the baby’s life. Before the newborn session begins, I love to communicate with the parents and gather helpful information about the baby’s routines, preferences, and any specific needs they may have. This preparation helps create a comfortable and familiar environment for the newborn, reducing their stress levels. I always encourage parents to feed the baby fully before the session begins.
A Warm and Cozy Studio:
I do offer in-home sessions but my preference at this point, is to shoot in my studio based out of my home in Purcellville, VA. The light is always right and the setting is peaceful and consistent. The bright and airy studio setting creates a serene and peaceful ambiance and the natural light highlights the softness and innocence of newborns. My studio is warm and cozy which provides comfort for the newborns. I love using soft blankets or wraps for the poses which will also help keep them calm and content.
Engaging Toddlers:
There is nothing more precious than those newborn moments with the big siblings but sometimes those “big” siblings are still babies themselves. I know that toddlers can be active and curious, it’s important for parents to remain calm and collected even if the little ones are active and busy. I will have a variety of toys, props, and activities available to keep them occupied in the studio. Also, feel free to bring your child’s favorite toys or blankets to create a sense of familiarity and comfort.
I encourage parents to prep their toddlers by talking about the photo session before it happens. Feel free to tell them about Ms. Yetta and that I am so excited to meet them and spend time with them! I am a mom to 4 young boys and absolutely love the challenge of entertaining and caring for children. We’ll have so much fun together!
Patience and Flexibility:
Newborns have their own schedules and can be unpredictable… diaper changes, breaks for feeding, or just a break for soothing the baby are all expected and planned for. Ultimately, we’re working to create a beautiful gallery full of these fleeting moments in your newborns new little life. The entire gallery is delivered one week from the date of the session and its incredible how quickly babies change. Often I’ll hear from parents that baby has already changed so much just in the week since their photo session which makes always me so happy that we were able to photograph them so early on!
I can’t wait to meet you and your new baby! Please reach out if you have any questions at all! <3
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