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Preparing for Photos

NEWBORN SESSION GUIDE

WELCOME

A NOTE ABOUT THIS GUIDE

I’m so excited to be working with you and I can’t wait for our time together! It’s normal to be a little nervous about your session. I always tell people that I still get nervous before having photos taken – and I do this for a living!

There is a lot to think about when it comes to planning a newborn session and since I get asked the same things over and over again, I thought it would be beneficial to put together a guide that walks you through everything you need to know. 

I’ll cover what to wear, how to best prepare your little one, styling and more!

WARMLY, KATELYN

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SCHEDULING      HOME      WARDROBE      SIBLINGS      PETS      BABY

SCHEDULING

how do we schedule our photos?

Due dates are unpredictable. We all know a mama who went two weeks past her due date and another who delivered two weeks before! For that reason, I reserve your session based on your due date, but we won’t actually schedule your session until your little one arrives.

Once your baby is born, I’ll have you text me within a few days so we can schedule your session. We have a few options for scheduling. If you want those “just born” sleepy shots, it’s important to plan your session in the first three weeks following birth, if possible. During this window, baby is super sleepy and most easy to keep content for photos. If you’d like to have more time to recover, scheduling between 6-8 weeks can be a lovely time to capture your baby while tiny, but a bit more alert and aware for photos.

If possible, I like to shoot without artificial light using only window light. For this reason, we’ll primarily stick to whichever spot has the best light in your home. This might be the nursery, your master bedroom, a guest bedroom, or a combination. For most people’s homes, sessions beginning between 9:00-10:00am work best for lighting. If you feel like your house is very dark in the morning hours and we might benefit better from an afternoon session, let me know and we can chat about it to determine the best timing.

PREPPING YOUR HOME

While your entire house doesn’t need to look like it’s ready for Pinterest, I do recommend cleaning up the nursery and any places you think we might shoot. This might include your bed, the couch or a spot in your home with beautiful natural light. Look out for phone chargers, water bottles, etc.

Light colored backgrounds help to reflect light and create beautiful skin tones. For this reason, if you have light colored bedding, please make your bed with it for our shoot! If you don’t, I always bring a white duvet cover in case we need it.

But truly, that’s all you need to prep. I know you’re in the throes of newborn life and I won’t judge the pile of dishes, I promise!

WARDROBE STYLING

for every member of the family

Checklist for the whole family:

  • “complement” rather than “match” your outfits
  • Soft, light colors tend to photograph best for indoor sessions to avoid color casting on skin
  • While large patterns are lovely, small patterns might photograph too busy
  • Aim to mix clothing textures for visual interest
  • Barefoot is best
  • It’s a good idea to have backup outfits in case of a mess (spit up, etc.)

FOR MOM

It’s important that you look and feel your best for your newborn session. I like to capture photos that feel comfy and intimate. If that means choosing a long flowy dress, that’s great! But for some mamas, this might look like jeans with a cozy sweater or cardigan, which also photographs beautifully.

If you are breastfeeding, keep this in mind while choosing your outfit. It’s important to choose something that will be easy for nursing since Baby may want to nurse frequently during our session (totally normal and expected).

FIND INSPIRATION

FOR DAD

Dad looks best in a nice fitting pair of dark jeans, chinos, or khakis. Chino shorts can also bring a really nice, relaxed feel. I recommend wearing a button up shirt, henley, fitted light colored t-shirt, or cozy sweater.

It’s best to choose Mom’s outfit first, and then choose complementary colors for Dad’s outfit. Remember, keep it simple. We want your outfits to be comfortable and invite lots of snuggles with your new Baby.

FIND INSPIRATION

FOR THE LITTLES

This session is all about capturing you guys loving on your new addition without all of the fuss of over-styling. I will bring some swaddles to wrap Baby in for photos, as well as some bows. Please pick out a neutral colored onesie (think white, tan, cream, light grey, blush pink, etc.) that we can use for some lifestyle photos as well if time permits. If you have a special outfit, a cute knotted gown, or a bow you love that you’d like to incorporate, please let me know!

IF older siblings will be involved… Girls can wear a dress, romper, or even pants and a soft textured shirt that coordinates with Mom and Dad’s outfits. Consider adding tights or leggings, or a diaper/underwear cover if a dress has been chosen.

Boys should wear different fabric bottoms than Dad. So if Dad is in dark denim, boys can wear khakis or chinos and vice versa. Pair with a button up shirt, sweater, or henley!

FIND INSPIRATION

A NOTE ON SIBLINGS…

Your child just got a new brother or sister and now a stranger is holding a big camera in front of their face. That can feel like a lot! They’re likely not going to entirely be themselves. They may show off more than usual or your extrovert may suddenly become shy. 

Rest assured, it’s all okay. It’s all expected.

If you can, talk to them about our session in the days leading up to it. Let them know Miss Katelyn is coming to take photos. You can even show them a picture of me if you want!

And then, let it go!

I’m serious! Don’t worry about the outcome. Don’t worry about making your toddler sit for photos. The best thing you can do for your kids is to let it go and let me do my thing! Go with the flow and stay positive. The more you relax and have fun with things, the more likely your little ones will do the same.

It can also be helpful to have a few special treats for younger children. Snacks or special toys that we bring out as they start to lose interest can do the trick!

I’m incredibly patient with kids and have tons of tricks up my sleeve to help them cooperate. Please please please, don’t worry about getting them to smile or even making them participate the entire time. I promise, we will get amazing photos if we trust the process and don’t force them. 

 

PETS

My dog is a huge part of my family, which is why I love when families choose to incorporate pets into their session. Since we’ll be in your home, this is typically easy to achieve!

We won’t use your pet in every single photo, so plan on us grabbing a few right at the beginning or end of your session and mostly focusing on Mom + Dad + Baby.

Consider having a lint-roller nearby to keep your clothes looking fresh!

ANY QUESTIONS?

DON’T HESITATE TO REACH OUT

I know this guide covered a lot! If you have any specific questions it didn’t cover, please don’t hesitate to shoot me an email! I would love to help however I can. You can even send me photos of the outfits you’re considering if you’d like my input. I can’t wait to have you guys in front of my camera and to meet your Little One!

CONACT KATELYN