Preparation is key!
Having a new baby
Having a new baby is one of the most exciting times of your life. Your whole journey starts when you see those lines on the pregnancy test, and you jump for joy off of the toilet seat! Then reality sets in and you're like "oh my god im having a baby". The whole pregnancy can be a pretty surreal experience, and having been there myself, i know it all too well!
Start early
Did you know that newborn sessions can actually be booked at any part of your pregnancy? You don't have to wait until baby arrives to start looking for a newborn photographer, this can be done at any point after your 12 week scan. Having your newborn session booked in nice and early, can help relieve that stress by knowing that it's all organised and booked in, ready for when baby arrives.
But i don't know when they're going to arrive
This is one of the most common phrases i hear from clients who don't realise that they can book their baby in for a newborn session with me at my studio in Dunsville, Doncaster, before the baby actually arrives. So how does it work? We simply set a provisional date for when you will have more than likely had your baby. I personally like to schedule parents in for a week after their due date. I will then contact you around your due date to see how you are getting on and whether theres any sign of baby. If baby arrives early i do ask that you contact me so that we can bring the session forward, however if baby has not arrived by your due date, you just need to let me know when they do eventually arrive. It's super simple and easy! Your flexible booking can be shuffled to a more suitable date, however 8 times out of 10, a week after your due date usually works!
When is the best time for a newborn session?
So newborn sessions are best when baby is between 5-21 days old. This is simply because, this is the age that they are most sleepy, and still adjusting to the world and prefer that tucked up shape that they know from being in the womb. Baby's of this age will sleep for a lot more hours of the day, which means they are more than likely to be asleep for their newborn session. Being asleep means that they are super chilled, and easy to get into those cute newborn scrunched up poses that we all love! They also love being wrapped, which gives them a feeling of security and warmth. After 21 days, baby can still be photographed, but by this point they tend to be a lot more alert, and have learnt how nice a good ol' stretch feels! Therefore they're less likely to want to stay in scrunched up positions and specific poses become a little harder. Nevertheless, newborn photos at any age, are still super cute, and perfect captured memories of your new baby.
Why do i need a newborn session?
It's simple... Memories! Your baby will never be this small again. They literally grow so quickly and change so much, and in a blink of an eye they're all grown up. You'll never regret having a newborn session, but you would regret not having one. Capturing all the tiny details of your baby is just so precious. These are the memories where you want to freeze time, and re-live it over and over again every single time you look at your images. Display them big and proud around the house, and remind yourself of the tiny little baby you made. My little boy, who's now four years old, loves looking at photos of him displayed around the house, it's a lovely conversation starter so i get to sit and talk about my baby with my grown up baby, i get to tell him things i remember, and re-live all the beautiful moments i had with him. He loves looking back on when he was a baby. Newborn photographs are an opportunity to build your baby's legacy, so they can look back and see themselves with their family.
Communication is key
My whole passion of newborn photography, is based on creating unique portraits of babies and families. My inbox is always open for discussions around your upcoming session, so if you ever have any ideas, or specific set ups or poses that you've seen on social media, please let me know, and i will make this happen. Your newborn session is tailored to you and your family, so if you have any preferences on colours or props, just let me know! I also welcome sentimental items, and have had clients in the past bring scan photos, small teddies and blankets to incorporate into the photos and i am always happy to do so!
Preparing for your session
So once you're all booked in and your baby arrives, it's time to visit my home studio in Dunsville, Doncaster. My studio is local for anyone who lives in Doncaster, Scunthorpe, Goole, Rotherham, Sheffield and surrounding areas. When you arrive at my studio there is driveway parking, and my studio is accessible for all.
What to bring
All you need for your newborn session with me, is your usual outings changing bag, including spare clothes, nappies, wipes and plenty of milk (if you're not breastfeeding). I provide everything else for baby during your newborn session. If your baby has or sometimes takes a dummy, please bring a few of these along to the session as it can help with keeping them settled.
On the day
In the morning of your session it is best to try and feed your baby right before you leave the house for the session. If your travel is over 20 minutes, you are more than welcome to feed on arrival. The aim is to make sure baby is nice and sleepy, with a full belly and a clean nappy at the beginning of the session. During a newborn session, babies may feed a little more frequently, simply because we are moving them around a lot more, posing them, and switching their positions. The most important thing is keeping your baby comfortable.
Starting the session
At the start of the session, i will welcome you into my studio and let you get settled. We start with undressing baby down to the nappy, and having a look through my huge variety of different coloured newborn outfits. Once you have chosen an outfit, we get baby dressed and then get started. I recommend bringing your baby in loose-fitted clothing so that it is easy to get them changed without disturbing them too much. Try to avoid any tight-fitting hats that will leave marks on baby's head.
Family
I always welcome parents and siblings to get involved during my newborn sessions. It's the perfect way to capture everyone as they are at this moment in time, with their new addition to the family. For these images, i recommend family members wear neutral colours, and nothing overly patterned, this helps to keep the images timeless and makes sure that everyone matches without any colour clashes and distractions. My newborn sessions always start with family posed images, and sibling portraits, especially if siblings are young and tire easily. I do often recommend that siblings attend the first or last 30 minutes of the session to take part in the family and sibling images, as the 2-3 hours of the newborn session can often be a long time for them to sit and stay occupied whilst the focus is on their baby sibling.
Props
After family photographs, we move onto baby only images, and i always start with props while baby is still wearing one of my newborn outfits. I will use between 2-3 props for this part of the session, so if you have any preferences please let me know at the beginning of the session, and then i can use them during your session.
Table poses
Using my newborn posing table, i will have matching backdrops and wraps to pose your baby on. I have over 30 backdrop and wrap sets for you to choose from, in varying colours and textures, and we usually select three of these to use during your newborn session at my studio. As a photographer, i absolutely love colour, and love incorporating it into your newborn sessions. Please don't worry if you're a neutrals kind of person, as i also have plenty of these to choose from also, to keep your session inline with your preferences.
Your session
Overall, your newborn session with me will be super relaxed and chilled. I want you to be able to recharge, and enjoy the experience knowing that baby is in safe hands. I always create a calm and relaxing environment for you and your family. My studio is always kept warm, and i have to say, i have had several dads fall asleep on my sofa during the newborn session! I get so many compliments on my playlist that i use for newborn sessions, this is a simple Spotify playlist that i made myself using "instrumental pop" searches, but honestly it puts everyone to sleep. So come along for an unforgettable experience and some beautiful images of your newborn baby to cherish for a lifetime!
