Baby Girl Newborn Portraits with Pops of Color

I had the best time welcoming Baby Katelynn Carol to the studio for her newborn portraits! She brought along her parents and big brother, Cameron, to help welcome her to the world. Katelynn Carol was already 2 weeks old when she came to the studio - which is totally fine! I love photographing older newborns. There’s something special about their sweet little hands and feet, even as they start to fill up and curl up a little bit less.

Her big brother did such an amazing job in the studio and was so happy to be in front of the camera! He also loved playing with my toy wooden camera and pretending to take pictures of his family with it, and he had the biggest smile any time I turned my camera towards him to take his picture. I loved photographing him with Katelynn Carol, especially with one of my favorite props: the Moses basket!

We picked some beautiful pastel setups for this sweet girl to end the session. She looked so sweet in the different setups and some of my favorite headbands! I’m so thankful this wonderful family chose me to capture Katelynn Carol’s first days!

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Classic Studio Newborn Portraits for Baby Ea

Say hello to Baby Ea! Ea’s portrait session was my last newborn session before going on maternity leave to welcome my own baby girl! Ea was the sweetest girl, wide awake for our entire session… but perfectly calm. With that attitude, every single portrait was just adorable and I’m so happy she was so relaxed in the studio. 

For her session, Ea’s parents didn’t have too many requests. We wanted to keep the timeless and classic feeling for each of her setups. One of my favorites was the teddy bear setup because I caught the cutest little smile! Baby Ea is definitely already stealing hearts!! She’s seriously so sweet. Her parents did want to include fresh flowers in her setups, and I personally loved how the purple setup came out with them. 

After their session, we had their ordering session! All of these gorgeous portraits were turned into an heirloom album and circular wooden wall art. I hope that one day Baby Ea flips through her own album of portraits, like my son does, and that they can all look back on these early days of her life with fondness and happiness! 

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5 Props I Use in Every Newborn Session

As a studio newborn photographer, my style is all about minimalistic setups and focusing on your baby! Your baby is perfect just as they are, and I don't want to distract from that in your portraits.  I use neutral colors and natural textures to create a clean, timeless, organic look in your baby's first portraits. To create these natrual setups, I do use a few props. Today, I’m sharing 5 props I use in (almost) every newborn session. Many of these props blend right in and you don't notice them at first glance (like the wooden crate and the bowl) because your eye is drawn right to the newborn baby.

Swaddle.  

This is a must-have for every newborn photographer, and the first thing you learn when posing newborns is how to wrap the baby snugly so that their arms and legs don't wiggle out of the wrap.  The swaddle keeps them calm and happy, and it helps them feel secure.  This plus heat and white noise or a shusher app all come together to lull the baby to sleep and make it easy to pose the little one.  I like to use what I call "baby spanx" underneath the swaddle to keep baby extra snug, plus it makes it easy for me to change out the top layer for a new look while baby stays calm and happy while all tucked in.

White crate.

I start all my individual portraits with this one prop!  I like to layer it with whites and creams for neutral portraits, and then as the session goes on, I will add in colors through additional wraps, bump blankets, and layers.  I typically begin with the baby fully swaddled, and then I bring out their arms and flip them to their bellies once they're settled into a deep sleep.

Wooden bowl.

From there we move to the wooden bowl!  I love the round shape of it for overhead shots, and these always look so beautiful printed on our round wooden wall art pieces.  I also like surrounding the bowl with greenery or florals to accentuate the shape, plus it works well for posing babies on their bellies and capturing the head-on-hands pose.  

Bed or cradle.

I love these wooden props for sleepy poses!  We make sure to capture a few overhead shots, full body, and close-up.  Plus, I always enjoy backlit a profile view of the baby, too!

White or cream blanket.

I have so many different white blankets with different textures, and I love using them in a variety of ways in my portraits.   Sometimes I use it on the posing bed for traditional posing.  Sometimes I layer it spilling out of the wooden crate.  Other times I will use it as a soft texture underneath the bowl or bed to add a little more dimension to photographs.    

I’m always of the mindset that less is more when it comes to newborn portraits. I hope that these five props show you that you can truly create beautiful (and long-lasting) portraits for your baby without a lot of involved setups.

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Baby Starr | Classic Black & White Newborn Portraits of Adelaide Olivia

I'm savoring this stage that we're in with our baby girl. I want to remember the newborn squeaks and grunts. How she stretches her little body, arches her back, and curls her hands up by her face. The way that her tiny fingers grasp my pinky and hold on tight. How her legs fit together perfectly like two puzzle pieces when she tucks them up together and fold them across her tummy. I find myself pulling out my phone more and more often to capture videos of this newborn goodness, the precious little mannerisms and reflexes that I know she'll soon outgrow but that I don't want to forget anytime soon. And of course I can't help but document it all on my camera as well, beautiful portraits that I know I'll look back on years from now and feel a yearning to go back to those sleep-deprived newborn weeks when she snuggled up so peacefully on my chest and her breathing synced with mine.

When capturing Adelaide's newborn portraits, I wanted to document a few that were raw and natural. Perfectly unposed. The black & white images and the clean white background keep the focus on the baby, and all of the sweet little details are front and center.

Some photographers like to refer to this as "baby led posing," and that's exactly what happens to capture images like this. You let the baby run the show, and you let them curl up, stretch, sigh, and settle into the comfy positions that they naturally find comforting because it's how they were curled up in the womb. As the photographer, you can guide them a little bit by wrapping a swaddle around them or gently bringing their arm in when it floats out to the side, but you capture all of that newborn goodness and the natural movements and expressions that they make.

These are a few of my favorite sleepy, unposed newborn portraits from Adelaide's first few weeks, and just looking at them now already has me missing those early days when she was so light and tiny in my arms. It really is true that it goes by so quickly, and it's hard to believe it until you're experiencing it that you can miss something already even as it's happening right before your very eyes.

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Pastel Newborn Portraits for Baby Lakin with Big Sister

Welcome to the world, Baby Lakin! I first met Lakin’s family when they welcomed their first daughter, Quinn, 3.5 years ago. Now they've added another little girl to their family and they came back to my studio again for another set of newborn portraits. I’m SO happy I got to meet their new addition before my maternity leave. 

One of the best parts of working with a family more than once is getting to see how their kids grow up – and adjust to being big siblings. Quinn is an amazing big sister! She was super helpful during the session and wanted to take pictures with my wooden camera prop. It was so sweet. She even told her parents to move closer together and say cheese. At one point, she even posed her baby doll in the wooden bed I used for Lakin. It was adorable!!! I might have to hire her for my studio one day! 

Baby Lakin was sleepy the entire time, and I only saw her beautiful bright eyes as they were putting her in the car seat to go at the end of the session! She was still in that tired stage in the first few weeks of life – but that’s okay. Lakin looked adorable in each setup we chose. Personally, I loved the green wrap we used in the last few images. She looked precious snuggled up under the blanket!!

Thank you to this beautiful family for trusting me not once – but twice – with their girls’ newborn portraits. I’m so honored that I had the chance to work with you twice and celebrate your growing family!! 

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Baby Starr | Adelaide's Newborn Portraits

Adelaide Olivia

June 17, 2022

We welcomed our daughter in the middle of June, and somehow an entire month has already gone by! I don't remember time going this quickly when our son was born, but the weeks have all blended into one another and time is disappearing faster than we can keep track of it. I swear I barely blink and another week has passed in a blur of feedings, naps, and doctors appointments!

Sweet little Adelaide Olivia was born on June 17, 2022. She is our rainbow baby, and we waited a very long time for this beautiful baby to join our family. She's finally her, and we are over the moon.

Adelaide is perfect in every way, and we are so in love already. Grayson is the proudest big brother, and he lights up every time he's in the room with her and wants to be involved in everything that has to do with his sister. His grandma keeps saying that "he was born to be a big brother," and it's true that he is really doing an amazing job in his new role already. We love watching him in this transition, and it's so sweet to see how he interacts with his baby sister.

She spent the first couple of weeks sound asleep, and we couldn't wake her up for anything! She was literally the sleepiest baby I had ever encountered in my 10 years of posing newborns. But that meant that I got to enjoy multiple mini portrait sessions in the studio to capture a few setups each day. This was such a stark contrast to Grayson's newborn portraits, where he wouldn't settle into a deep sleep because he knew mama was close by, and every click of the shutter startled him wide awake. Baby girl knew what to do, and she snoozed and posed and smiled! I had so much fun capturing these first portraits of her, and now I'm excited to choose which ones to print and frame in our home, and many more to put into an album for our growing album collection!

For Adelaide's session I enjoyed lots of neutrals, and you all know I'm a fan of classic baby portraits on white backdrops and layers. I pulled out all of my favorite headbands and floral crowns from Polka Dot Poppy, and I added a few new ones with baby's breath as a nod to the baby's breath I wore in my hair at our wedding, and that my mother wore in her hair at her wedding in the 80s!

And of course, I couldn't resist using the same tiny camera prop that I used 4 years ago in Grayson's newborn portraits. Every photographer has got to capture her baby's portrait holding a newborn sized camera, right?!

I have so much more inspiration for Adelaide's portraits this year, and I'm excited to share more with you as she grows!

Thanks for celebrating our sweet girl's arrival with us!

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Studio Newborn Portraits for Baby Mihira

Meet Baby Mihira! This sweet little girl and her family came to my studio recently for her newborn session. Mihira was 3.5 weeks when she came for her portraits, so she was more awake than many of my newborns. Because of that, we got some truly gorgeous eye contact that comes from her being a little bit older – it was perfect!! 

When we began planning Mihira’s portraits, we discussed a simple color palette that focused on neutrals and a lot of ivory. This meant that we could bring in pops of colors through our props, like peach peonies and a beautiful purple wrap. I love being able to take a simple setup and add a bit of variety with simple wraps, props, or other pops of color because we kept everything else straightforward. Mihira looked so sweet in each setup, too! 

One of the most special parts about Mihira’s portraits is that her extended family came for portraits, too. I was able to capture her with her parents, cousin, and grandparents. I absolutely love when families come for newborn portraits – what a great reason to get the family together and update your portraits all at once! Enjoy a peek into sweet Mihira’s newborn portraits – she’s seriously perfect!! 

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Welcoming Jordan Elliot - Newborn portraits for this family's third baby boy

Welcome to the world, Jordan Elliot! I’m so happy to have welcomed the Popper family back to my studio for their third baby boy’s newborn portraits. This sweet family has three boys: Jonas, Jacob, and Jordan - all 22 months apart and I’ve had the honor of capturing all of their newborn portraits. It’s truly an honor to be invited back into their life to document their milestones and new additions as they grow.

When we began to plan Jordan’s newborn portraits, Natalia and I knew that we wanted to create portraits that would coordinate with his older brother’s newborn portraits, too. That would ensure that all three boys’ portraits could easily be displayed together and enjoyed cohesively. Because of that, we stuck with blues and greys to match the other two boys!

It was so fun too see everyone in the studio together while we photographed Jordan. Jacob and Jonas were thrilled to introduce their new brother to me and showing him off! Capturing their interactions might have been one of my favorite parts of this sweet session. Enjoy a look into Jordan’s newborn portraits today!

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Welcoming this family's third baby boy with newborn portraits!

Everytime I work with this family, I’m reminded about how much of a privilege it really is. This is their THIRD baby and I’ve photographed all three boys now. I met them during 2018 when their oldest was just a few months old, and they frequent my studio often for milestone sessions now. There is truly nothing like the joy of watching families grow and meeting Baby Rhys was just the next wonderful part of our story together!

When we were planning, Jen (their mom!) had a few props she wanted to incorporate in the portraits. I’m a huge advocate of making your portraits yours with sentimental props and setups. Jen knew she wanted to include a tiger, because Rhys is the tiger zodiac sign - how fun! She also wanted to include some shamrocks because his name has Welsh and Scottish roots. I love that we were able to create these beautiful custom setups for this sweet boy!!

I can tell these three boys will be the best of friends. Rhys’ big brothers, Jackson and Xander, were just over the moon their entire session. They wanted to hug and show off their new brother to me and we had a lot of fun! I’m so happy to see this family again and can’t wait to see them soon for Rhys’ first milestone portraits!!

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Why Most Newborn Portraits are of Sleeping Babies

Have you ever wondered why most newborn portraits are of sleeping babies? It's not just because photographers are pros at getting babies to sleep. There's actually a whole science and reasoning behind it!

When they babies are sleepy, they are:

-more relaxed

-easier to pose

-safer to pose

Sleeping babies make our job easier and safer. As you know, a baby’s safety is always my priority in the studio or at home, so any time we can allow baby to sleep during our portraits, everyone feels a bit better! (Of course, it’s okay if your little one doesn’t sleep, too!!).

Newborn babies tend to sleep more than they’re awake.

All babies are different, but most newborn babies are asleep more than they are awake -- even though sometimes it doesn't seem that way to new parents! Most often in those first few weeks, the only times they are awake are when they are eating or getting changed, and it's rare to have many moments when they are awake and relaxed at the same time. This means that in order to find those moments of peace for our session, we want baby will be asleep and therefore relaxed during our session!

Some poses just aren’t safe to do if baby isn’t sleeping.

The first priority in every newborn session is the baby's safety, and some poses are just not safe to do with a newborn while they are awake. For example, tummy poses are not safe for an awake baby because they can kick their legs and wiggle off the posing bed or prop. In other poses, the babies have their heads carefully balanced on their arms or hands, and even though this is done in a very safe manner to distribute their weight evenly and keep their bodies balanced, an awake baby is too wiggly to attempt this safely.

We work to create a relaxing atmosphere for your baby!

Since we want your baby to sleep (so they’re relaxed and even safer), newborn photographers work hard to get babies to relax during their session. That is why we crank up the heat in the studio, swaddle and rock the babies, use white noise, and use gentle repetitive motions such as patting and stroking to soothe them. Our goal is to get babies as relaxed as possible so that they will fall asleep and be easy and safe to pose for their portraits. Plus we are able to capture the most variety in images and poses while they are sleeping, too!

But what happens when a baby just won't sleep?

Honestly, this happens fairly often, so if your baby is one of those ones that just won't settle, don't stress! Usually it's a digestive issue. Some babies have upset tummies and they're trying to work out some gas or a BM. Others are affected by caffeine in breastmilk, or maybe a new formula just doesn't sit well in their tummies. Some had a stellar night's sleep last night and they're just not tired right now (but you know the second you leave they're going to drift off to dreamland!).

Newborn portraits are about photographing your baby!

No matter what happens (or doesn’t), we'll figure it out and work around it to capture beautiful portraits while you're in the studio. Typically newborn sessions last 2-3 hours, and most babies would struggle to stay awake for such a long period of time in those early weeks. We keep their tummies full and use all of the tricks to help them relax and stay happy. While they're awake, we swaddle them up and capture those big bright eyes and funny little expressions. I looooove photographing awake babies because they are so expressive, and those wide-eyed shots always make it onto the front of their birth announcement cards. Eventually they all fall asleep and they give in to the heat and the white noise, but some babies just take a little longer than others.

When should you schedule newborn portraits?

For the traditional posed newborn session, we usually schedule those for between 7-15 days old. The ideal time to reserve your newborn session is before the baby is born to ensure a spot on the calendar. After the two week mark babies are often much more alert and wiggly.

I love photographing older newborns, too, but the type of images we create in those sessions is more about interactions and expressions while they are relaxed and awake. Older newborn sessions are less posed and they are usually done with babies 4-8 weeks old.

Ready to get your session on the calendar?

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Springtime newborn portraits with florals and hints of purple

Welcome to the world, Avery Marie! Everything was in bloom at the studio for Avery Marie’s springtime newborn portraits. Since her mom’s favorite color is purple, we decided to lean into the purples and spring season for her setups. I have a funny feeling it will be a favorite color of Avery for years to come.

Purple looked amazing on both Avery and her mom. Her mother chose to wear a lavender gown from our Mama’s Wardrobe, and I’m so glad she did! It was the perfect color on her with her hair and complexion, and it looks amazing against the baby's complexion, too!

Avery’s parents brought a few props for their session that are special to them, including a fun little ice cream movie. They love ice cream, so it was the perfect prop to celebrate that connection they’ll share with Avery one day. Her mom also spent years as a ballet dancer, so we made sure to incorporate a tutu for one of the photos. It was purple, of course!

Avery, you are SO loved and I can’t wait to see you grow this year. You are so lucky to have your incredible parents with you along the way.

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Newborn Portraits with Teenage Siblings

Meet Baby Finnley and his big siblings Austin and Addie! I was so happy when Finn, Addie, and Austin’s parents reached out about scheduling a newborn session to capture their new arrival to the family. As they began to tell me about their family, I knew this was going to be a very special newborn session for all of us. Finn is lucky to be welcomed to the world by his incredible parents and his big twin siblings, who are just so in love with him. He’s one loved little boy, that’s for sure!

Posing Teenage Siblings with Newborn Babies

Photographing a newborn session with teenage siblings is unique, too. It was a lot of fun to work with Addie and Austin as we welcomed their brother to the world. These two are so sweet and it’s clear they love each other and their family very much!

While working with teenagers during a newborn session is much like working with an adult or a parent, there’s definitely a few differences. One thing I love is that we can do more of the poses I typically reserve for parents with a few adjustments. Not all big siblings are as comfortable holding or moving a baby as their parents are, so it’s easy to change things up so they’re comfortable. I always have my sessions follow the flow needed for the family - and tend to start with full family portraits so that the teens have a bit more time to warm up and be ready to hold the baby, though Austin and Addie didn’t seem to need that!

Once the teens are more comfortable and ready to hold their new sibling, we’ll get started with some of my favorite poses. I always check in with the kids to make sure they’re still comfortable holding the baby or moving them around. Sometimes, I’ll be more hands on if needed, but usually by just adjusting the poses to be seated, the teenagers often find much more confidence holding their new siblings! Having them seated just allows everyone to feel more confident and sure about holding the baby! The baby's safety is always the top priority in any newborn session, no matter who is holding them.

With some patience and guidance, we’ll easily capture some incredible memories for you and your family - including your teenage children holding their new sibling! Thank you to this sweet family for trusting me with this special memory!!

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How to successfully capture newborn portraits with a toddler sibling

One of my favorite parts about being a newborn photographer is seeing families come back with their second (or third, or fourth) babies to my studio. I adore watching the toddlers I’ve photographed since they were newborns become big siblings and welcome their new baby brothers or sisters to the world. It’s so special - being able to capture these milestones for families. Not just the new baby, but the transition into siblinghood for the older toddlers, too. But, capturing these toddlers comes with it’s own challenges, and just about every parent I talk to is worried about how their toddler will be with the new baby during our portraits. It’s such a common fear - and I totally get it! But it’s 100% possible to have a beautiful session - with your toddler and new baby. Look at how well Baby Dylan and his big brother Owen did!

When I last saw Owen during their outdoor family portrait session in the fall, he was shy and quiet and only wanted to be held by his dad. This time around, he was excited to introduce me to his baby brother Dylan, and he loved playing with all of the toys in my studio. He eagerly joined the family portraits, and he was all smiles for the camera when he saw the different rattles and bubbles that I brought out for his session. Now, I know that not all toddlers are like Dylan - but over the years, I’ve learned a few tricks about how to help your toddlers feel better in the studio during newborn portraits.

Tips for engaging toddlers:

• Go at their pace, don't rush them - or everyone’s going to have a rough time.

• Make them feel special! It’s hard to understand why you aren’t the center of attention anymore. Start off by talking to the toddler and playing with them, and make it all about them instead of all about the baby.

• Let them feel in control, give them easy choices like "Do you want to start with just you and baby, or mommy and daddy and baby? Do you think we should use the white or the blue blanket?"

• Never underestimate the power of a bribe. I keep my studio snack cart stocked with toddler favorites, and it's amazing to see how hard these kids will keep it together for a promised goldfish or juice box when they are all done!

• Give them breaks. Mix up the family poses so that the child isn't in every single one for long periods of time. Let them go play, have a quick bite, help you find a new toy, etc. while you mix family portraits with mom and baby, dad and baby, sibling portraits, etc.

• Make it fun! Sing songs, blow bubbles, hide toys or snacks with the baby, ask them to find an animal in your camera lens, use rattles, lean in for little tickles, etc.

• Remember to keep the baby's safety your top priority and plan all shots around poses that will keep the baby supported and secure. Always have a parent or two nearby to spot the baby, and give the toddler clues or magic words that will let them know when it's safe to get up and move.

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Beyond the Newborn Session: Capturing the First Year of Milestones

I don’t know what it is about parenthood that makes time fly by, but I know that ever since my son was born, I’ve blinked and another year has gone by. As a mom and a professional photographer, I understand the value of portraits of my child from the newborn stage and beyond. Newborn portraits are one of the things most parents put on their “parenting to-do list”. That first year is fleeting and I think it’s so important that everyone has a chance to document their precious baby. But the documentation shouldn’t end there.

When I was a new mom, I constantly had my camera out to capture every little moment and changes in our son after our newborn portraits. Looking back, I’m so happy that I have truly beautiful and classic baby portraits of my son, in (and out) of the studio to document those stages, too. Every time he started on a new milestone or learned a new skill, I wanted to capture it forever.

Our babies change SO much in the first year of life - more than any other year as they grow. They grow their first teeth, laugh for the first time, and learn to sit up, crawl, and walk. Capturing all of those milestones truly matters. We all say we never want to forget those stages and changes - and with studio portraits, you never will. You’ll have those dimpled cheeks and baby giggles documented forever to enjoy.

As babies grow, they enter into my favorite stage, the “Gerber Baby stage”, when they’re 6-10 months old. This is one of the most popular milestone sessions in my studio. Babies are sitting up solidly, they're happy and expressive, they interact with you and play into all of the games (peekaboo, tickles) to let us capture their amazing smiles. They're not that mobile yet so they're not running away from the camera - so it works out for us. These are often some of the best portraits to capture your little one’s personality as they start to figure out who they are.

After the “Gerber Baby stage”, our babies inch even closer to turning one… and then comes the super popular cake smash session! These cake smash portraits are always a lot of fun. They’re a celebration of your baby - and of your family’s journey over the last year. I love watching babies and their families interact during their one year milestone and cake smash portraits in the studio. It’s also the perfect time to document something your baby is interested in, when you choose your cake smash theme.

Capturing your baby’s first year is so important. These studio sessions are the perfect way to document each of your baby’s milestones along the way - and a great way to ensure you’ll always have stunning portraits to remember each sweet baby smile by. Our baby’s first year always flies by… make sure you don’t miss teh chance to document it all!

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10 questions newborn photographers want you to ask before booking a session

Expecting a baby is such an exciting time for families - and planning your newborn portraits is always a lot of fun, too. But it can be overwhelming if you’re not sure who to hire or where to take your newborn baby. As a newborn photographer who’s been photographing babies for many years now, I’ve come to realize that there’s some important topics you should discuss with your newborn photographer before ever booking a session.

1. What safety training do you have with photographing newborns?

This is the most important question you can ask the photographers that you are considering for your little one's first portraits. Newborn photography requires specialized training, and you don't want to trust just anyone with a camera when it comes to your baby that is only a few days or weeks old. You want to hire someone who has in-depth safety training and who knows how to safely handle and pose a newborn -- because posing a newborn safely is much different than handling a newborn in your day-to-day life at home. There are many opportunities for newborn photographers to learn these skills both in-person and online. I have done a variety of workshops and even mentored other photographers, and I continue my newborn education every year with new workshops and trainings. I've photographed hundreds of newborns since 2012, and their safety is my #1 priority in every single session. Safety trumps a cute pose every single time.

2. How many newborn sessions do you schedule a month?

Some photographers run a high volume studio, which means they take on dozens of clients each month. I run a low volume, high service business so that I can devote more time and attention to each client. This also allows me plenty of flexibility in scheduling newborn sessions depending on when each baby arrives. I take on a limited number of newborn clients each month so that I can be sure to fit everyone on the calendar with plenty of wiggle room for babies who are early and late arrivals.

3. Is the studio cleaned and sanitized between sessions?

This has always been important to me as a business owner, and now more than ever we are paying extra attention to all of the ways to make our studio safe for our littlest clients. Every hard surface is disinfected before a session, and every fabric and soft prop is sanitized as well. Read more about our Covid policies here on the blog.

4. What happens during a newborn session and how long is it?

There's nothing more stressful than becoming a new parent. There are so many unknowns in the first few weeks, which is why I like to prep families ahead of time for their newborn session so that they know exactly what to expect. My studio sessions typically last 2-3 hours, and you can read more about what to expect from start to finish here.

5. Do you have a newborn session prep guide?

I give every family a welcome packet upon booking their session, and it includes a prep guide with tips on what to do and what to expect before, during, and after their portrait session! I tell all families that this may be their first time, but I've done this literally hundreds of times, so I do whatever it takes to make their experience easier and less stressful.

6. Is family posing included?

Not every newborn photographer includes family and sibling portraits in their sessions. If the first family portrait is something that is important to you (I know it is to me!), then look for a photographer that includes this. I encourage all families to jump in front of the camera for a few portraits at the beginning of their session because I can guarantee you that these are the memories you'll want to look back on one day -- just how tiny your baby was all curled up in your arms and the way your toddler looks at their new sibling before leaning in for a kiss. See some of my favorite family moments captured during newborn sessions in this Best of 2021 Newborn Portraits on the blog!

7. What happens if the baby cries or won't settle?

This happens. And actually, speaking of things that happen during a newborn session, so does poop. And you know what? We just go with it! I wrap and swaddle the baby, rock and gently bounce the baby, turn up the heat, play white noise or a shusher, and use a few baby whisperer techniques that I've picked up over the years that calm even the fussiest babies. I tell all families that all babies settle eventually, and we just go with it knowing that once they settle we'll be able to capture the most beautiful portraits of your little one. In the meantime, I love a good awake newborn portrait and these are a great opportunity to capture their wide variety of expressions and interaction with family members. No time is ever wasted, but we also take our time and don't rush through anything.

8. What should we wear? Do you offer a client closet?

This is one of my FAVORITE questions, and if clients don't mention this to me on our phone call then I 100% make sure to bring it up! I have lots of tips for families to make choosing an outfit simple, and I even provide a closet filled with dresses for moms to borrow for their portraits. I know what it's like as a new mom when you're not sure what is going to fit right after delivering your baby. That is why I have carefully selected a variety of long dresses in flowy, neutral fabrics and flattering styles that look amazing on new moms. You're welcome to borrow one for your portraits when you book your newborn session with me! Find more tips for what to wear on the blog, including for dad & siblings!

9. Can you come to our home?

Some photographers offer lifestyle portrait session in the client's home. I love these sessions, and they are a beautiful and relaxed peek into your lives at home with your new baby. If you want the convenience of a photographer that comes to you, this might be something to consider! These sessions look and feel quite different from a studio session, so be sure that they're the right fit for you before booking.

10. What is included in the price?

This is going to be different for every photographer. There are some photographers that sell only prints, and others that sell only digital images. There are photographers that will design your birth announcements and albums, and help you select wall art that will be perfectly sized and will complement the decor in your home. There are other photographers that will send you an online gallery and leave the rest up to you to figure out. Find the photographer whose process fits your needs. Are you looking for photos to post on Facebook? Or are you looking for beautiful artwork to enjoy at home and keepsakes to pass down to your children?

Over the past decade of working with families, I have found that most new parents are overwhelmed with life at home with a new baby, and that is why I offer a full-service experience that includes an in-home ordering appointment where I help them select their favorite images. I print everything for them from my professional labs, and bring them artwork that is ready to hang and enjoy. When working with me, families don't have to worry about when they'll have the time to log into a gallery, figure out which images are their favorites, determine which sizes will fit on their walls, make sure the ones they chose look good together, find a decent lab to send everything to print, design an album, make and print their own cards, etc. It's literally all done for them while they get to soak up those first few weeks with their brand new baby and not have to worry about anything else.

I realize that everyone has a budget in mind when scheduling their portrait session, however, I also believe that you shouldn't choose your newborn photographer based on price alone. These are memories that you are going to treasure for the rest of your life, and the birth of your child is one of the most important milestones your family will ever celebrate. You want your portraits to reflect that, and you want your printed products to stand the test of time so that you can pass these keepsakes down to your child one day when they are grown.

Make sure you choose a photographer whose style you love. Look carefully at their work and see if you can imagine it hanging in your home. Learn about the service they provide and the products they will create for you, and think about the ways they can make your life easier as a new parent when it comes to enjoying your portraits.

Are you expecting a little one? Reach out today and let's chat about how I can create a memorable portrait experience for your family!

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A colorful newborn session for Baby Rocco

Meet Rocco! He was my first newborn session of 2022! What a way to kick off the year in the studio. Rocco and his sweet parents came to the studio to document his arrival to their family. We kept with a fairly neutral color scheme, leaning into the white floor of the studio and added some pops of color in his setups. It was fun to find beautiful, warm colors for the winter to pair with his white outfits. We also had a little bit of fun with a wintery overlay to celebrate this little winter baby!

Rocco was just perfect during the session, cuddling up with his mom and dad. He slept for me during his individual! I’m sure the cozy knit wraps from Dede Props helped! Dede Props is one of my favorite places to get my newborn’s knit wraps and bonnets from. Located in Poland, everything is SO soft and beautiful - just perfect for my studio babies.

Enjoy scrolling through Rocco’s colorful newborn portraits in the studio from this winter! He’s so cute, I know you’re going to fall in love with him like I did!

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Gianna's Studio Newborn Portraits with Blush and Lavender

Welcome to the world, Gianna! This sweet girl came to the studio at 2.5 weeks old for her newborn session, along with her mom and dad. I loved getting to see them all and finally getting to meet Gianna! I had been waiting impatiently since Jillian’s maternity session at the stable.

For Gianna’s newborn portraits, we kept things classic and simple with a blush and lavender color scheme. She got to use some of my favorite headbands from Polkadotpoppy and she looked absolutely adorable in every single one!! After the classic setups were done, we used some of the fun props her parents brought along. We did her mom’s maternity portraits at her stable and with her horse, Zita, so it was fitting that she brought one of her saddles. Her dad has been dabbling in homemade pasta, so they brought some of it with them. Gianna makes the cutest little chef! It was a fun nod to her Italian heritage, too. :o)

I absolutely love her sweet newborn portraits and I hope you will, too! I’m so happy I got to meet you, Gianna. You are so loved!

LEARN MORE ABOUT STUDIO NEWBORN PORTRAITS!

WHAT TO EXPECT WITH NEWBORN SESSIONS

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Baby Girl Newborn Portraits with Cream and Mauve Accents

I love when I get to work with families as they grow. When Kavita reached out to share that she was expecting Baby #2, I was so excited! I had the chance to work with her and her sweet family when her first son, Kaylen, was born. Now, he’s a big brother to Baby Karina and it was SO great to see everyone again in the studio for her newborn portraits. She came in at about 4 weeks old, but she was still super cuddly and cooperative!

Kaylen is the best big brother. He’s so sweet with Karina and I loved photographing the two of them together in the studio. For Karina’s portraits, her mother requested cream and mauve accents - including my mauve floral wreath. It was the perfect way to bring all of the colors together. Her mom also wanted to use her red and gold veil from their wedding day. I always love when families bring in special items like that!

I am so glad I got to work with this beautiful family again and I can’t wait for you to see their newborn portraits!

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Best of 2021 Newborn Portraits

2021 was such a wonderful year here in the studio. I had the chance to meet so many sweet babies and I loved working with each and every one of them. Every family and baby had their own unique setups, so everything was a lot of fun to design and put together! I’m so thankful for every family and baby that came into the studio this year. These recap blogs are always some of my favorite blogs each year. I love the chance to look back at all of my sessions with you!

In this year’s best of 2021 newborns, you’ll see some gorgeous setups, lots of siblings who were incredible with their new brothers and sisters, and many happy families. It’s been such a dream to work with everyone for another year.

If you’re expecting in 2022, I’m currently booking for due dates through May 2022. I usually book sessions and reserve dates with families in their second trimester - so don’t wait on getting on the calendar. I hope these sessions inspire you and make you excited for your own newborn portraits this coming year. Until then, let’s look back at some of my favorite 2021 newborn moments!

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Studio Newborn portraits with our new Moses basket prop

This fall, I welcomed sweet baby Mitzi and her big brother Ezra to the studio for her newborn session. We planned a classic and simple session for Mitzi that featured our newest prop in the studio: a Moses basket! It wound up being the perfect prop to use in their session because Ezra was all about being around his baby sister. She was able to lay quietly in her basket while he smiled and loved on her. It was absolutely adorable how into her he was! You never know how big siblings will be feeling the day of your session, but Ezra was definitely a cutie!

I’m so excited to offer this brand new prop in the studio. It’s just great for sibling portraits and I can’t wait to use it for family, newborn, and milestone sessions soon. Having access to these fun props is definitely one perk of having a studio newborn session. Our client wardrobes are another great perk. Samantha chose a few sweet floral headbands for Mitzi to wear during her portraits too, and I think everything came together so beautifully for this baby girl!

Wondering if a studio or lifestyle session is best for you and your new baby? Use the button below to read up on what makes newborn sessions in the studio unique! And then keep scrolling to see Mitzi’s precious newborn portraits!!

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