Hello and thank you for choosing me to document such a special season in your life! As we prepare for your lifestyle newborn session, here is some information about what to expect:

Important tips to help your newborn session run smoothly:

-Babies like to be warm, so make sure your house isn’t too cold. Turn off any fans and turn the thermostat up if necessary!

-Preparing your baby for a peaceful state of sleepiness is very important. Try to keep baby awake for at least 1-2 hours before the session. If you notice your baby about to doze off, try things like giving them a bath, playing together and singing songs. This will ensure they sleep so we can get those adorable sleepy images!

-If your baby uses a pacifier, have it on hand.

-Plan to give your baby a full feeding right before my arrival. A baby with a full tummy is a sleepy baby. 

The Space

We’ll focus on rooms with large windows that provide a lot of light. When I arrive at your home, I’ll take a look around and see what areas might work well due to the natural light available. Commonly used spaces for these sessions are the nursery (if set up), the master bedroom and the living room. Below, I will ask you how the natural light is in these rooms, as rooms that have a lot of natural light photograph best for indoor lifestyle sessions. You will want to declutter these spaces before I arrive, but please do not stress about cleaning your entire home as there is no need! If your crib has bumpers, I prefer you remove them for the session if possible – I love to get some shots peeking into the crib. I also recommend a white crib sheet to avoid any colour cast onto baby’s skin.

Feedings: I don’t mind adding extra time into the session for feeding breaks if necessary. However, in order to help the session go as smoothly as possible, I ask that you feed baby right before the session so that we can get started photographing your new little one right away. Be prepared to nurse or feed them other times as needed during our session for relaxation. If you are bottle feeding, it’s helpful to have a few bottles already prepped and ready to be warmed for when we might need them. 

Wardrobe

Clothing choices play a huge role in the overall feel and tone of your photos. 

For Mom: I recommend a maxi dress or flowing top/kimono as these look natural to the environment and photograph well for newborn sessions. You will want to avoid bright tones as it can create unnatural skin tones on baby due to the color cast. Please also stay away from loud, busy patterns, logos, and dark colors. Most importantly, you want to feel comfortable and confident in whatever you end up choosing. 

For Baby: it’s best to keep clothing simple so that the focus of these images remains on your little one’s face and features. Start with a simple neutral onesie and/or swaddle. I also find that long sleeve, tie bottom gown like the ones from Lou Lou and Company, Little and Knotty or Snuggly Jacks photograph really well. 

If you’d rather not have to worry about styling baby, you don’t have to. I have this tie bottom gown from aden+anais which I will bring to your shoot upon request along with a couple of swaddle blankets. Alternatively, if you’d like to provide your own swaddles, the jersey knit stretch ones are best for photos! Here’s a few suggestions on where to find them too: Snuggly Jacks, Lou Lou or Copper Pearl

For Dad: go simple and casual! A fitted pair of jeans or khakis with a neutral v-neck or henley t-shirt always looks great.

For lifestyle newborn sessions, I like to remind my clients to look at the colors of your home and the rooms we will be photographing in – it works well if your clothing colors and patterns complement each other. 

Props

Since my newborn sessions are all about telling an honest story of your growing family, I like to keep props to a minimum. As mentioned above, I can bring with me a couple of swaddling blankets and a tie bottom sleeper to offer for use during the session. Please let me know before your session if you would like this. If you have questions about including certain items in your photo session, don’t hesitate to contact me!

Important tips to help your newborn session run smoothly:

Newborn Lifestyle Pre-Session Questionnaire

Please complete the following questionnaire prior to your session, ideally before the birth of your baby.