Lifestyle
Newborn
Session
What is a Lifestyle Newborn Session? What you can Expect!
Lifestyle newborn sessions are all about telling an honest story of your growing family. Where as traditional newborn shoots focus more on you’re new little one buddled/wrapped and put into squishy/unnatural poses, a lifestyle newborn session is more documentary in nature, where it shows you interacting with baby in their natural state around you, your partner, and siblings. The is a whole family experience, but don’t worry! We still will get some single shots with just baby.
I like to keep props to a minimum. If you have special heirlooms or other things you’d like to include in the session, we will definitely work them into the photographs.. I can bring a few blankets and a basket to help accessorize the session, but we really want to keep it as natural as possible. If you have questions about including certain items in your photo session, don’t hesitate to contact me!
Congratulation on the soon-to-be arrival of your little one!
I want to thank you for considering me to document such a special moment in your life! Before our session, please fill out the questionnaire below so I can better gauge your expectations, ideas, and goals for our session. Preparation and communication are the keys to a successful newborn session, so make sure to share all your ideas and concerns with me on your questionnaire! As we prepare for your session, here is some information about what to expect.
Scheduling
It is recommended that you tentatively schedule your newborn session PRIOR to your baby’s birth to ensure a spot on my calendar. Please let me know what your due date is the below questionnaire and we can aim for the weeks following that date. Shoot me an email soon after you deliver and we can solidify a time for the session. The scheduling of the session following the birth can range any time within the first month. If you prefer to have photos showing a sleepy, tiny baby, then we will typically schedule you within the first 14 days of life. If you prefer baby to be a little bigger, more active and to catch some eye-open, awake shots during the session, then we can schedule you later than 14 days.
Location
Lifestyle sessions will usually take place in your own home. If the weather is warm enough and you’re comfortable with the idea, we can take the session outdoors for a few shoots as well. We’ll focus on rooms such as the nursery (if set up), the master bedroom, the living room and any rooms with large windows that provide a lot of light. 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! Try to keep the areas where you’d like to shoot simple so that the focus is not taken off you and that buddle of joy! We really don’t need much space and can shoot around any problem areas. 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’ll also probably be moving furniture around if we need to make room, but don’t worry – I’ll put it all back when we’re through!
Please open all of the blinds and curtains in your home prior to my arrival. This enables me to find the best source of natural light in your home, so that I can set up our “mini studio” in the best possible location. Nothing flatters like natural light, so we prefer to use it whenever possible. For this reason, sessions are normally done mid-morning to late-afternoon when window lighting is as its best. 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. 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. I’ll be bringing additional lighting equipment as well to help out when needed.
If you’d rather do the studio approach, you and the family are more than welcomed to come to my home studio to take photos. Studio shoots are minimalistic in nature with the family positioned in front of a solid colored/neutral backdrop. These studio shoots are a little more staged and posed, which I can help with.
Wardrobe
Clothing choices play a huge role in the overall feel and tone of your photos. 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. Keep it simple! Most importantly, you want to feel comfortable in whatever you end up choosing. Take a 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. Please loosen your baby’s diaper and clothing at least 30 minutes before the session. This gives those little imprint marks time to disappear. (You baby will be naked in most of the shots, but we pose them so that all the “important bits” are not on display.) If you have an outfit that you’d like to have on your baby, I’m down with that! We will start with baby naked first, and then can incorporate clothing later.
Feedings
A well fed baby is a happy baby! Please feed and burp baby right before our session to ensure we don’t have an upset, cranky baby. I’ll also be more than happy to take as many breaks as needed to help him/her re-fuel. It’s tough work being a model!
Skin to Skin and Breastfeeding
I’m a big fans of skin-on-skin portraits with you holding your baby against you. They’re so simple + timeless! So if you want some portraits like this with your newborn, consider a strapless top or tank as an alternative. If you feel comfortable enough, I’d be happy to take a few photos of you breastfeeding your little one. To the men: if you are comfortable going shirtless, you can join in some skin-to-skin time with you little one as well.
Other Tips
If you’d like your baby to be asleep for the majority of the session, try to keep them awake for at least 1-2 hours before the session. If you’d like a more awake baby, do the opposite! Have them sleep prior to the session. If you want a little of both, we can schedule the beginning of their session in the middle of the nap and finish up with them awake, happy and well rested!
If your baby uses a pacifier, have it on hand.
Babies like to be warm (and they will be nakey!), so make sure your house isn’t cold. Turn off any fans and turn the thermostat up if necessary!
Poop/Pee Happens! Your baby may be in the nude for the majority of this shoot. Please don’t panic if your baby decides to let it loose during the session. This is natural and it is expected! Please don’t feel embarrassed or worry when this happens, because they all do it. In fact, it will probably get some good laughing shots! It would definitely be helpful if you had a stack of old towels, extra wipes and blankets available for when things get messy though.
If you would like shots in a diaper, it’s a good idea to have a cloth diaper, diaper cover in a solid color, bloomers, or something to put over the diaper. Disposable diapers on their own tend to look a little messy and distracting in photos, but throwing a cover over it cleans things up.
If you would like shots in your bedroom, please make the bed…unless you want to have the whole family snuggle under the covers! It is suggested you use a solid blanket/comforter or something that isn’t too busy.
After the Session
Once your session is over you'll receive your digital proof gallery within the week for you to select your favorite images for me to do full edits on. If you’d like to purchase additional images beyond the set amount of your package, each additional image is $15. In 2-3 weeks, I will provide you with a final gallery with all your selected fully edited images. You'll be able to download them and also be able to share with family and friends easily. You can also purchase prints/canvases with my selected professional laboratory through your gallery as well!
Questionnaire
Please take a few minutes to fill out the questionnaire below so that I can better gauge the feel for you session and photos. Questions with an * are required, while others you can choose to fill out if applicable. Once your answers are submitted, I’ll be sending you a contract and model release (via e-mail) for your review and signature prior to your session. Contract must but signed and submitted prior to the date of your session. I look forward to working with you and your family and meeting your new little one!