Your Experiences, Explained....

 

The Full Newborn Experience

This session includes family & sibling poses if you wish to add them to the start of your session. Once those are completed the remainder of the session will be all about capturing your sweet, new baby. In this session there will be a mix of props, posed images (including the option to wear outfits), and wrapped poses.

This session requires a session fee retainer at booking. This session fee retainer does not include any digital images, prints or products & is not applied toward your session order - it is the cost for your scheduled session day/time and is non-refundable. All purchases are made after you receive your final gallery. Please see all pricing here.

To add extra people to a full newborn experience, such as grandparents, there will be an additional charge of $50 per person (LIMIT 2), which will be invoiced separately from your session fee retainer.

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The Petite Newborn Experience

This session is a baby-only session that is one price, paid upfront and it includes 5 high-resolution digital images. This session is approx 1 hour long in the studio. This session includes up to 4 setups/4 props with baby wrapped in different ways. Props will be chosen by the photographer - only certain types of props can be used with wrapped newborn poses.  

Due to the shorter time limit baby may be awake for some or all of the poses which means your baby will also be wrapped/swaddled in various ways for this type of session. If you are looking for poses that include outfits and the naked, curled up, sleepy baby poses then the petite newborn experience may not be a good fit for you & you will want to schedule the full newborn experience. Please see all pricing here.

Due to the shorter length of the session, I kindly ask that no siblings attend the session.

 

** If you wish to send me 'inspiration' photos please be sure they are from my own website or my Facebook page and not Pinterest or from a web search. I prefer to photograph in my own style and cannot replicate certain poses or ideas **

 

| Helpful Hints & Frequently Asked Questions |

 

When Do I Schedule?

It’s ideal to book your newborn session during your pregnancy, typically around the second trimester (around 20 weeks), to ensure availability and give plenty of time to plan. By booking early, you can secure your preferred time frame and avoid any last-minute stress. I will pencil in a session date approx. 12 - 17 days from your due date. Once your little bundle of joy arrives, simply contact me to let me know the great news! If he/she arrived earlier or later than expected I will adjust the session date accordingly. If you did not book early or simply decided last minute that you want a newborn session don’t worry! I have successfully photographed newborns up to 8 weeks old.

The reason newborn sessions are best scheduled within the first 12 to 17 days after birth is that they are typically sleepier and more flexible in posing during this time. The early days also capture their tiniest features, such as their soft, curled-up poses, that are only present in the first few weeks of life.

Where Does a Newborn Session Take Place?

Newborn sessions take place in my cozy studio in downtown Little Chute, inside The Main Street Plaza. The studio is fully equipped with all the professional gear needed to capture your baby and family. You simply need to pack your baby’s essentials and I provide the rest! I have an abundance of props, backdrops, fabrics, tiny outfits, baby sized hair pretties, bonnets and more! There is a Keurig, a bottle warmer, a mini fridge stocked with beverages and plenty of small snacks for you to help yourself to. There is a bathroom on location as well. Once your family images have been taken you are welcome to settle into my ‘parent lounge’ area to watch the rest of the magic take place. You can look over my product samples on display or even take a little snooze. Moms will be able to relax and put their feet up for feeding baby as well.

Please let me know ahead of time if you have any special items of your own you would like to use such as grandma's knitted blankie, stuffed lovies, daddy's guitar, or an old baseball glove. This way I can properly plan ahead when I style and plan out your session.

I find that morning sessions work best so I schedule sessions for 10am. These sessions can take up to a few hours (3-4) so please don’t schedule anything else around the session time. The length of a session all depends on the baby. Some babies sleep straight through and some need more frequent breaks for cuddling and feeding. Typically half the session time is devoted to comforting and feeding.

If we are taking sibling images I do highly encourage that once siblings are finished being photographed that one parent or another trusted adult takes them back home. This is not because I do not enjoy the presence of ALL of your little ones, I do VERY much! It is because the studio is filled with lots of tempting things to explore & touch and lots of expensive equipment that can accidentally be broken. I want to ensure that you can remain relaxed and able to enjoy your newborns session and it also helps to ensure that I can focus all of my attention on your newborn.

How Do We Make Baby Sleepy?

Planning a bit of awake time in the hour or so before the session should help to exert some energy so baby will be sleepier upon arriving at the studio. Try not to let your baby sleep all morning or they will be unable to sleep well for their session & we will not be able to get the sleepy, posed images you hired me for.

Bath time before the session is a good way to tire your baby out. Give baby a good lotioning after their bath to reduce any flaky skin but do not use an oily or greasy lotion as it will not photograph well. Dressing baby in a button/zip down sleeper without a onesie makes it easier & less disturbing when I need to undress them at the studio.

Please give baby a FULL feeding right before you leave for your session. Once you arrive I may have you feed him/her once again as a top-off just before the session starts.

If you are traveling quite a distance to the studio, if possible, it will help to not let them sleep the entire drive, although that may be easier said than done!

What Should Everyone Wear?

My style of newborn photography is a mix of wrapped and implied naked babies. I love to show off those beautiful rolls and gorgeous baby skin. I also like to give variety with various wraps & tiny outfits (provided by the studio).

While it may be tempting to want to use store-bought or handmade infant outfits I would recommend allowing me to use the outfits provided in my studio. They are specifically made to be used for newborn photography and will fit your baby much better than the store-bought kind. If you have something that you have your heart set on for your newborn to wear during their session please provide me with photos before the day of your session so that I can plan the best way to use it in the session.

Please bring your baby in a button/zip-down sleeper WITHOUT a onesie. The less I have to take off over your baby’s head, the better. You can add an extra blanket over baby in their carseat to keep them warm.

Lotioning baby before and sometimes during your session will help to eliminate dry, flaky skin. Also washing their hair that morning will help it look nice and fluffy (and is a good way to help tire them out!).

For parents/baby poses I like to have you wear some type of solid-colored shirt whether it be black, cream, blue, etc.... color is okay but patterns can distract from the baby. Parent/family images are taken on my simple colored backdrops and also seated on my studio couch. For even more simple/classic looks we can do skin-on-skin poses and for mama/baby shots we can use my studio gowns, and various fabrics for wrapping mom's top half with baby. Dad can go shirtless as well to show his muscles if he'd like. This is also great for showing off any cool tattoos!

Your hands show a lot in these photos so be sure to lotion up and either remove your old polish or freshly paint your nails for your session.

I do edit baby acne and scratches. If your baby is very flaky I will edit what I can while still keeping the integrity of your baby's skin without making it look unnatural. I do not edit birthmarks or anything that is a permanent part of your baby unless it is requested (within reason) by the parent.

Why Is It So Hot In Here?

My studio will be warm to help ensure your baby's comfort during these mostly birthday-suit moments. You are welcome to bring along a change of cooler clothing for yourselves for after your family photos are completed. Keeping in mind, baby is undressed in some poses so we definitely want them to be comfortable. I do use a space heater for more direct warmth and also a white noise machine to help lull baby into a sleepy slumber.

What If My Baby Cries?

Baby might cry here & there - it's okay! I don't do anything that hurts them & I never force them into anything that is uncomfortable. Some poses require flexibility and babies are born with plenty of that! They may wake or cry a bit just from being moved around. Some babies sleep the entire time and don't stir at all, others take more time and patience. Sometimes positions can take up to 20 minutes to perfect. If you request a certain pose I will try it but if the baby resists I won't force it, not all babies will cooperate or like all poses and that's okay!

If you have introduced a pacifier (even if your baby hates it), please bring one along. I often get babies who normally dislike it to readily take one during their session. The pacifier is the best tool I can use to soothe your baby & it also helps me with obtaining certain poses. If you have not introduced one, I’d love for you to consider using one just for the session, if needed.

There will be as many breaks as your baby needs to change, feed & snuggle.

Patience, Patience, Patience!

Some poses take awhile. Sometimes baby needs extra soothing to get into a deeper sleep. They're not used to being messed with so much during 'nap time' - no sooner do they get all comfy & I'm moving them around again. You may often see me just sitting there with one hand on baby's head & one on their bum/feet - this is my way of helping them feel secure and therefor helping them settle down. Don't fret if baby seems uncooperative, the calmer we all are the calmer baby will be.

What About The Mess?

No worries when it comes to pee, poops and puke! It's to be expected and nothing to worry about. All of my blankets, furs, wraps, little pants, etc are washed after each session.

Additional Information.....

If you forget anything on this list just do not forget the milk! If you are supplementing or bottle feeding, please be sure to bring along extra (more than you think you’ll need). The constant moving & posing often requires a feeding or two outside of the “normal schedule”. There is a bottle warmer for you to use.

If you are nursing, plan to nurse during your session. It might be just a quick snack, but it could be a full feeding. There is a couch available, a nursing pillow & you will have privacy. If you are pumping, please feel free to bring that along as well, as many moms find the need to pump during the session.