I believe there is not a moment more magical than when a baby is born. It is an honor to be a part of capturing this amazing process and documenting one of the most incredibly special times in your life! My job in photographing your newborn goes far beyond just snapping a few shots with a camera; I strive to capture a unique moment in time and all the amazing emotions along with it. It’s my greatest hope that the photos from your session will become a family treasure. That’s why I’ve put together this newborn experience guide based on my many years of experience photographing newborns.
Newborn Experience Guide – Top 5 Session Prep Tricks
Here I share some of my “tricks of the trade” to increase the chances of getting those beautiful, doll-like images everyone goes absolutely crazy for. I’ve included information on booking and timing, what to wear, how to prepare for your session, how to get your baby ready, and more! Of course, as we get closer to your due date and session I will reach out with more reminders and tips, and send you a full newborn experience guide. You are always welcome to contact me with questions!
Booking Your Session
As soon as your baby comes, it’s going to be non-stop late nights and hard work (seriously, I’ve been there)! Coordinating a photo session might seem like the last thing on your list of priorities. This is why I recommend booking your session at least 2-4 months in advance of your due date to make sure everything is lined up ahead of time and you don’t have to worry or scramble for last-minute plans!
Once your baby is home safe and sound, please contact me immediately to let me know the wonderful news (it’s totally fine to have a helping friend/family member set things up too)! I will work closely with you to find a day and time that works for everyone. It’s very important to remember and plan for the fact that newborns are best photographed under 2 weeks of age; the ideal timing before 9 days.
Getting Creamy, Perfect Skin
Before the day before your shoot, please do not schedule any vaccinations for your baby. I want that beautiful baby skin to be smooth and creamy, and sometimes shots can cause a minor skin reaction or leave a mark.
I can’t stress enough how it important it is not to use tight-fitting diapers, straps or elastic on your baby the day the shoot! I’ve seen so many tight-fitting diapers and elastic outfits cause marks on baby’s skin, and it
Getting Sleepy Baby Photos
I highly recommend keeping your baby awake at least 90 minutes before our photo session! This helps baby stay sleepy and calm during the shoot, and increases the probability of getting those adorable, sleeping, doll-like images everyone goes crazy for. The longer baby can stay awake before photos, the better! Additionally, make sure to have your baby fully fed and changed before the session. This increases chances of sleep and greatly decreases the chances of fussiness! Everyone wins.
Parents – What to Wear
We’ve turned up the heat for baby, but mom should be comfortable too! I always tell my clients to dress in layers during the shoot in case things get a little too warm. Being comfortable is key to beautiful, natural images!
Checklist of What to Bring
Setting out things ahead of time helps things go more smoothly during the shoot. While I do have a selection of snacks, diapers, wipes, and pacifiers, I always recommend you bring the following
- Extra milk or formula
- Extra diapers
- Wet wipes
- Pacifier
- Snacks and drinks for mom
I hope you found this newborn experience guide helpful. If you have any other tips you’ve found to be helpful during newborn experiences, put them in the comments!
I feel so fortunate that I get to call this work. Who else gets to wake up every single day and help families celebrate life & love? I love that I get to tell their story. It is incredible to be able to create a moment in amongst all of the chaos that is new parenthood, where new moms and dads can really just focus on that amazing, tiny human that they created. I am pretty lucky if you ask me! If you are expecting or know someone who is, I would be honored to craft a completely custom portrait experience for you! To learn more, drop me a note at hello@erinjachimiak.com or click here.
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