Tips & Tricks for a Successful Newborn Session | Charlotte, North Carolina Newborn Photographer

EIGHT TIPS FOR A SEAMLESS NEWBORN SESSION

Picture this: You’ve just given birth to your precious baby. You’re recovering from childbirth, figuring out feedings, trying to understand the needs of this new human, and you’re running on very little sleep… And now you’ve scheduled your photographer to capture the perfect photos of your bundle of joy!

No need to panic. We can do this! Here are a few suggestions to help you prepare for your session to go smoothly.

BEFORE YOUR SESSION (ideally before the birth)

1. Pick out your family’s outfits. 

Solid, neutral colors are best for each member of your family, and I love to see a little lace on Mom. Avoid busy patterns and any clothing with logos on it. If you do decide to wear a pattern, try to keep the colors and tones muted. For example, light blue, sage, and ivory photograph beautifully. Feel free to visit my pinterest board for a little inspiration!

2. Call Mom!

Or Grandma, a friend, it just needs to be someone you trust. Plan to have them come to your home the day before or early the day of your session. They can help you wrangle any older children you have, make sure your clothes are clean and pressed, even make sure you eat. A helper that day will be a huge asset!

DAY OF YOUR SESSION

3. Keep your baby awake.

Try to keep your baby awake for 2 to 3 hours before your scheduled appointment. This will help your baby to be nice and tired for their time in front of the camera.

4. Plan to feed your baby just before leaving home.

A full belly + a tired baby = a very smooth photo session. Don’t forget to bring a bottle of formula or breast milk in case your baby needs a snack. Sometimes I can keep the baby in their exact same position to feed them and avoid picking them up to get them back to sleep. We can take a break for you to breastfeed the baby, as well.

5. Bring a pacifier!

A pacifier might buy us a little bit more time to keep your baby happy, so we can finish our session. Sometimes it’s just soothing enough to get them back to sleep so we get get them into that perfect curly pose.

6. Drive separate cars.

If you have older children, it may be convenient for Dad (or your appointed child wrangler) to take them home when the family portion of the session is completed. If this is not convenient for your family, I happen to have several indoor and outdoor play options to keep your older children occupied. Feel free to bring a change of clothes and let them play outdoors on our climbing dome, zipline, or trampoline.

AT MY STUDIO

7. Wear layers.

I’ll have the studio nice and warm for baby’s comfort, so you might prefer to have layers that you can remove, in case it gets too warm for you.

8. Be mindful that sessions may take up to 2-3 hours.

Be prepared with whatever your family might need in that amount of time (and see #2 above!). Snacks are never a bad idea and I am not above a good bribe if it gets us through the session!

Don’t worry about how smoothly you think your session is going; we’ll go at your baby’s pace to capture beautiful portraits together. You’d be surprised how many times I catch those “in between” shots when you didn’t even notice my camera was out. Sometimes those even turn out to be my client’s favorite images!

For all my experienced mamas out there, what would you add to this list?

Studio Milestone Session - 1 Year Session | Charlotte, North Carolina Newborn Photographer

Trust me, that first year is going to fly by. There’s no better way to capture the amazing ways your baby has changed, than a 1st birthday session in the studio! I offer several options for those in my Membership, including a cake smash and even the option for a follow-up bubble bath to add variety to your gallery. You get to decide! You supply the cake, and I provide all of the props.

One-year-olds are so fun to shoot. I love to see how their little personalities have blossomed and the milestones they are reaching. And usually they aren’t moving too fast yet, which definitely makes photographing them easier. 😉

James had so much fun in front of the camera with me! His Mom chose several neutral outfits, which allows you to focus on James in the photos and not get distracted by the outfit he was wearing. Would you believe he was a little timid when it came time for cake? I get such a wide variety of responses to the cake smash. Some littles are very timid and others are too happy to dive right in!

James also enjoyed playing with the curtains in front of my window. Did you notice that gorgeous light? Part of the magic of my studio is consistent lighting no matter the weather. This window is actually my new Lastolite “faux window”! The littles love to play with the curtains in front of it, and it gives such a natural looking glow. If you haven’t been to my studio recently, I’d love to have you come get acquainted with it!

You can also learn more about the Luxury Membership in my recently updated FAQ!

Your Family's Health | Newborn Photography | Charlotte, North Carolina Newborn Photographer

Your Family’s Health Matters to Me

Not feeling well the day of your family’s scheduled session?

Let me know! The camera can see when you aren’t feeling your best, and it will show in your photos. Don’t feel embarrassed if you need to reschedule to another time when you and your family are feeling better. I want your session to be a pleasant experience for you and your family, and I want you to be pleased with your final images. I promise, you’ll be much happier with your gallery!

I would do the same for you.

While it has been a rare occurrence, I do occasionally come down with a cold, and need to reschedule your session. I don’t want to expose your family, and especially your little ones with compromised or developing immune systems, to any germs unnecessarily. Your family’s health matters to me.

My family, my clients, and my NICU patients thank you!

It is also important to me that I stay well. As a NICU nurse and newborn photographer, I am regularly in contact with babies that may be vulnerable to germs to which the rest of us are already accustomed. We do travel pretty frequently as well, so it’s important to feel my best while we’re on the move. My other clients also appreciate that I’m able to keep their scheduled appointments. My patients, my family, and my clients thank you for helping me stay well!

Korban | 23 Week Preemie | NICU Portraits | Charlotte, North Carolina

Welcome Korban!

Korban is a rare 23-weeker. He was just 1 pound 7.3 ounces when he was born last year!

THE LONG JOURNEY TO BABY

After a 4 year battle with infertility and the loss of their first baby in 2021, Korban’s parents turned to fertility treatments. Mom, Bre, finally got that longed for positive pregnancy test in May 2022! After she was found to have a shortened cervix, she had a cerclage placed in September. Unexpectedly, in early October, her water broke, and Korban was born just a few days later by C-section.

HOW EARLY CAN A BABY BE BORN?

In recent decades, 24 weeks has been seen as the gestational age of viability, the age when a fetus has some chance of survival if they were to be born. These chances of survival increase for each additional week of gestation (pregnancy). In a growing number of instances, when appropriate levels of care are available and the stars seem to align, some babies born before 24 weeks are able to survive. So, Korban has joined a very special club!

WORDS OF ENCOURAGEMENT

What does Korban’s mom have to say about this experience?

“[A] few ups and downs are to be expected, especially for a baby born at 23 weeks. I’ve been overwhelmed by the love and support from my family, friends, and coworkers! I’m still getting used to it all but I’m constantly reminded that this journey is unique. This experience is special and I want to embrace every moment!”