One of the biggest questions I hear from clients is “What should I expect at a newborn session?” This is a totally valid question! I want parents to feel 100% comfortable throughout the process, especially with their precious little ones. So today I’m going to break down what you can expect from a newborn session with me.
Here’s What to Expect at a Newborn Session:
First: Baby’s Individual Portraits
Typically, I will start with individual portraits of baby. If I’m coming to your home, I will arrive 10-15 minutes early to assess the lighting in your home and set up. Prior to your session, you will receive some tips to make sure baby is sleepy for this portion. I recommend that baby is dressed in a simple white onesie, and I will bring plenty of wraps to swaddle baby. This is a great time to finish getting yourself or other family members ready for the family portion. I will get a few portraits of baby all swaddled and comfy then work down to the timeless, simple white onesie.
Second: Siblings
If you have older children, I will add them in to get a couple of white background portraits of all the children. I always move at kids’ pace so if a child seems interested in what I’m doing, I could start by taking a few individuals of older children. This helps to get them interested and excited about the session.
Last: Family
Now it’s time to add the whole family! I know little kids have short attention spans so we will work to get a few variations of the whole family together first. Then just mom and dad with baby, dad + baby, and mom + baby. I understand that the next person to lose patience during the session is dad. At the beginning of each session, I always let dad know that his part takes about 30 minutes total, easy peasy! Lastly, I like to spend a little extra time with mama at the end of each session. I’m always up for a little bonus time if older siblings have had a break and are willing to jump back in!
A Typical Newborn Session
Overall, what you can expect from your newborn session is about 1-2 hours with me. As mentioned above, I always move at baby/kids pace so there is time for a feeding, diaper or outfit change. My client closet is growing so feel free to reach out to me about newborn outfit selections. I always bring plenty of swaddles and headbands for baby girls. All items from blankets to wraps and my clothing is always washed in baby-safe detergent. Lastly, I will reach out after our time together to share a rundown of what to expect next. And don’t the best part, a little glimpse of your session before the full gallery is delivered.
I hope this gives you more insights of what to expect at a newborn session. If you still have questions please reach out to me! I’m always happy to connect with my clients before booking. Ready to book? Yay, I can’t wait to work with you. Just fill out my contact form and I will be in touch with you asap!
