How to Prepare for a Newborn Photography Session
Best time to book a Newborn photo shoot
Best time to book a session is at least a month or two before the due date. Basically sooner the better. You don’t need to pay a deposit. Payment can be made by cash on the day, or by direct deposit at least 3 days prior. We tentatively book in with your due date and mobile number. Then when the baby is born, you let the photographer know asap, and we book a day for your session.
Best time to have a Newborn photo shoot
Newborn photo shoots are best done between 5 and 12 days old. However, for premmies or multiples the best time is within a week of coming home from the hospital. This is not to say, that a baby can’t be older, but it does get more difficult for babies to stay asleep during their session.
What to bring to a session
Sessions can last up to 3 hours. It is really important the baby has a feed just before you come to the session. If you live quite far, it’s recommended you feed the baby here on arrival. Please let the photographer know which you will be doing. You also need to bring the babies’ next feed and their dummy. Bring your usual Nappy bag with extra nappies, wipes etc.Dress the baby in easy to take off onesie. No singlets. Please let the photographer know if you have props that you would like to use.For parents and siblings, it’s best to wear neutral clothes that match each other. No bright colours, stripes or patterns. You can bring one dress change.For siblings bring snacks and entertainment. Three hours is a long time for a toddler. Otherwise, we can do the family shots first, and then only the Mum can stay with the Newborn, while the Dad can take the siblings home or to the park.
What happens at a Newborn Session
If there is a specific set up that you know you want, please let the photographer know before the session. If you have favourite colours etc, or certain dislikes, let us know. You can have a look at our website and Facebook page to get some ideas. Otherwise, you can just let the photographer work their creativity.
The photographer will have a few set ups ready to go, so you can choose your preference. You will also get a choice of different hats, headbands and props to choose from.You may be asked to help out during the photo shoot by holding the babies head etc. We do not do any poses that may be dangerous or uncomfortable for the baby. A lot of photos you see online are composites, that make it look like the baby is hanging or holding it’s own head up. Also, not all poses are possible on all babies. Some babies just don’t like certain poses, so we won’t push them into it.A lot of the session is spent putting the baby to sleep, so a lot of patience is required. We want to get the best look from each pose.I know it’s tempting, but Please DO NOT take photos with your mobile.
What happens after the session
After the session is done, we will post a sneak picture on Facebook in the next couple of days. You are welcome to tag yourself and share the photo with your friends. Meanwhile, the photographer will be editing your photos and creating an online gallery for you. This usually takes about a week. Once your gallery is finished the photographer will send you the link, so you can choose your photos.Once you have chosen your images, a disc or USB will be posted to you.