Studio Newborn Sessions – What to Expect

Studio Newborn Sessions are one of my favorite types of sessions to shoot, and you may be wondering what to expect…and how we pose those tiny perfect humans! 

I decided to break this blog post up into 3 categories. 

HOW TO SCHEDULE

WHAT TO EXPECT

HOW TO PREPARE

Scheduling

Sessions are scheduled Monday-Friday at 10:00am in my dedicated home-based studio in Leesburg, Virginia. 

If you are pregnant and wondering when you should schedule your newborn session, the answer is now. I do have some clients who tell me before their own parents that they are expecting (true story!). 

Typically I schedule studio newborn sessions one week after the due date. I prefer to shoot studio newborn sessions between 5-14 days of life. There are other factors that come into play with this timeframe (gestation, twins/NICU time) that could extend this period. But 5-14 days is my general rule of thumb. 

Does this date always work?!!? NO! But it’s a good estimation and it helps me balance my session load. Often this date works, and sometimes it doesn’t. If you know you are going to be induced, then you will likely be scheduled earlier. All factors come into play when scheduling your session (past births, birth plans, etc.) but as you know, sometimes babies are on their own schedule. I do leave holes in my schedule weekly to prepare for early and late arrival babes!

What to expect

When you schedule your session, you will be sent a questionnaire. This helps me gather information pertinent to your session. Example, are you having a boy or a girl? Are there siblings? Do you want family pictures? Are there any “must have” photos. What color scheme are you thinking of? All this information helps me plan for your session so I can have a workflow setup prior to your arrival. This helps the sessions run more smoothly. 

All props/headbands/hats/bonnets are provided to you. There is no need for you to bring anything for the baby to wear. 

When you arrive, you will be asked to feed your baby. I do ask that you try and hold off on feeding the baby until you arrive in the studio if possible. (Your last feeding would be @2 hours before your session time). This ensures that your baby receives a full feeding and will drift back to sleep in the studio, leaving us the majority of sleepy time to shoot. I do ask that you do this feeding IN STUDIO. (Please don’t feed the baby in the car.)

These sessions run 2-3 hours depending on if you are adding sibling/family/mom and dad photos. 

My workflow is:

1. Siblings
2. Family
3. Parents with Baby

At this point in the session, if there are siblings, Dad will take the kiddos on a Daddy/Daughter/Son date day. (Some parents take siblings to school, some to Chick Fil A – where dads can work while the kids use the play area, some to Target. You get the idea. 

The newborn portion of the session is roughly 90 minutes. 

We will capture:

1. Prop Shots
2. Detail Shots
3. Posed/Bag Shots (Naked or with wraps)

How to prepare for your Studio Newborn Session

The most important thing is the baby’s feeding. Feed the baby 1.5-2 hours prior to the session and try to hold off feeding again until you are in the studio. This way baby can get a full feeding, leading to a longer sleepy time. 

What to wear: 

• I do recommend solid colors for this type of session. I prefer neutral colors
• Soft neutrals ALWAYS work well (whites, ivory, tans…avoid black)
• Lacey details are always beautiful when photographed. 
• Pastels are preferred as they provide a softer feel to the image. Bold colors tend to be harsh. 
• I ask that clients avoid wearing red or any shirts with words, logos or pinstripes. 
• Sleeves tend to help cover up bruising from IV’s. There will be side posing involved, so keep that in consideration when wearing sleeveless tops. 

What to bring:

• Milk/Bottles if pumping. Bring double what you think you will need. If formula feeding, bring bottles and extra formula.
• Diapers
• Wipes
• A pacifier – even if you aren’t using one yet…sometimes these can soothe a cranky babe and allow us to continue with the session in a timely manner
• If pumping, bring your pump and accessories to make a bottle if needed
• A change of clothes for yourself – in case baby has an accident
• Snacks for yourself and a big water bottle especially if nursing. The studio is warm to make baby extra tired…so it’s best to stay hydrated!

As always, if you have any questions, please let me know! I look forward to seeing you, and meeting your new bundle of joy soon!