To help make the most of your newborn photos and for it to run smoothly, here are some notes to help baby prep for the session day of:
If baby is breastfed, avoid caffeinated and carbonated drinks as well as gassy and spicy foods 24 hours prior to session.
Interact with and keep baby awake for 1-2 hours before your session to ensure he/she is good and sleepy for the session. Stimulating baby with a bath or by doing ‘naked time’ prior to the session are some tricks that you can use.
A full baby = a sleepy baby, and we need a very sleepy and calm baby in order to achieve the sweet, flexible poses. If your baby can be fed upon my arrival & during setup, great. But if it doesn't line up with their feeding schedule, we can start photos and stop if baby needs one or isn't settled enough.
Dress baby in loose fitting clothes + loose diaper to avoid any lines on baby’s skin and to also avoid disturbing baby when getting undressed. A simple sleeper is best. Please avoid onesies or anything that has to be pulled off over the baby's head.
If you use a pacifier, have it with you – they can be very helpful during the session to settle baby down for a few minutes if needed. I understand some parents are against pacifiers, it's only in rare cases they will be used if nothing else is working to calm baby.
Remove all bandages (from shots, etc) from baby’s skin at least one hour before arriving to the studio. These bandages cannot be removed in post processing and, if left on, will show up in the final images.
Turn up the heat! A warm (and fed) baby, is a happy baby. We suggest cranking up the temperature in the house to a comfortable 80 degrees about half an hour before your session start time. Space heaters work perfectly too if you would prefer.
PARENT PORTRAITS:
** A note to Mom: I know that you may not feel like yourself right after giving birth, but I strongly encourage you to have a portrait taken with your new baby while they are still so young and fresh. He/She will grow up and will want to know what their mother looked like holding them close to her heart as a newborn. I will photograph you in flattering angles, so don’t worry! Worst case scenario is that you don’t like the image and never look at it again, but at least your child will have this moment documented.
If you are unsure of what to wear, we have a beautiful selection of dresses in our client wardrobe in a variety of sizes I can bring.
SIBLING PORTRAITS:
If you have older siblings that you would like photographed with your newborn we will do these shots FIRST. Cream, ivory or white (without patterns or logos) is recommended for older siblings (tops with jeans or even dresses for girls). The more texture the better (knit, lace, etc).
Notes to consider:
Be prepared to spend between 2-3 hours. This allows time for baby to settle and relax them without rushing into any poses, and for additional feeding or changing if baby needs it.
Please heat up your place, baby needs to be comfortable in a diaper. If you have a space heater available we can use that to heat the room instead of the whole house.
The last recommendation is to not stress! Breathe, relax, and enjoy these beautiful moments. I'm very easygoing and flexible. The most important thing for me is you, and baby, being comfortable during the session, and happy with your images at the end.
Nicole Hemeon Photography specializes in newborn photography as well as maternity, babies and landscape photography in the Okanagan including Peachland, Summerland, West Kelowna, Penticton and Kelowna British Columbia.
I’m so thrilled you’re here and would love to tell you about a maternity session. From the client wardrobe to hair and makeup, every detail has been thought out, making the entire experience a breeze. If you are interested in a custom portrait session with Nicole Hemeon Photography and would like more information, please click here to learn more about this experience.
If you would like to schedule a complimentary consultation, receive detailed information,
or reserve your date, please click the contact button above or email me directly at: nicolehemeonphotography@gmail.com