So we’ve nailed down a date for your session and you probably have a million questions.
Cool! I’ve got a million answers…
Wardrobe + Hair + Makeup
The goal of these photos is to document YOUR family…and that includes your personal style! Since this session will take place in your home, my advice is to go with your comfy + cozy at home look, but bumped up a notch or two. Add a cute necklace to your leggings + sweater, or a pair of earrings to your fave jeans + t-shirt outfit. Maybe you’re most comfy in a dress…wear that! Whatever look makes you feel your best during this sleep-deprived season: DO IT.
I’m asked a lot what colors are best for photos and the truth is: whatever color looks best on you will be your ideal choice. I will say that my personal preference is to shoot neutrals: black, grey, white, denim. This really helps to draw the attention up to your gorgeous faces! But as I said above: my goal is to capture you. If bright colors and fun prints are your jam, rock it! I love to mix it up and when you feel confident, your photos will be AH-MAZING.
Finally…Your hair and makeup matters just as much as your outfit choice! If this isn’t your thing, call in a friend or professional to help! Even if you never wear makeup, I do recommend wearing at least a little bit…your face will really pop in your images a LOT more with a polished face!
As for that sweet little baby…
This is the number one question I’m asked about newborn sessions: “What should I put my baby in?” The answer: whatever you LOVE. I personally don’t think newborns photograph super well in outfits…they are so tiny and squishy, so they’re swallowed up in that adorable dress or overalls set. But if you have a special outfit from Grandma, or a specific item you want to use, we will absolutely do it!
Ideal to capture their perfect newborn-ness is three things:
A swaddle blanket. This should be a true swaddle blanket, not a knit blanket or crib blanket (these ones are too bulky and hard to wrap baby in!) A simple white or grey muslin swaddle is perfect, or any other faves you have!
A onesie. This can be solid or have a print. I don’t always photograph babies in these, as sometimes they are grumpier in just a onesie than they are swaddled, but it can be good to have on hand.
A diaper. I recommend a plain white diaper, or Pampers works too! I will almost always end the session with baby in just a diaper, so I can capture their little bellies, legs and arms!
Any hat or headband you love!
Bad Weather + Rescheduling
Rarely does bad weather affect an indoor session, but sometimes if it is super dark and gloomy outside, it can drastically affect the light in your home. This will most likely be a same-day decision, but we can chat if the forecast is calling for a major storm. The good news: weather is rarely an issue in sunny SoCal!
If you need to reschedule due to any other reason, please email me as early as you can. I’m a mom and I get that kids get sick last minute, so don’t worry about texting me night before or day of if a serious illness comes up. Don’t pass your stomach bug to me, PLEASE!
Logistics
I’m sure you value your time and I value mine as well (and I often have a sitter at home with my kids who also values her time!) For these reasons, your session will begin at the agreed-upon start time and end by the agreed-upon end time.
With that said… I schedule newborn sessions for 2 hours to allow for lots of breaks to feed + soothe baby. If I arrive and it’s feeding time…that’s what that extra time is there for! Don’t stress about beginning exactly on time, as we really only need an hour or so to get all the shots…but please understand that I will need to leave at the time we agreed on because, even though I’d love to stay and soak in those newborn snuggles ALL DAY LONG, I’ve got kids and a schedule to stick to! If I arrive and you aren’t ready but baby is snoozing away in the swing, I will most likely scoop him up and get started on his photos while you finish (and I don’t mind this one tiny bit… grab a cup of coffee while you’re at it!)
I know how hard it can be to get an entire family ready for ANYTHING (let alone photos!) with a brand new baby around. Here are some tips to help you be prepared on time:
Booking hair/makeup? Schedule that appointment AT LEAST three hours before your session time. Often, those take longer than you think!
If you can, have grandma/auntie/your BFF come over and help get the big kids dressed. Do the few things you’re picky about (like your daughter’s hair. I know, Mom…no one does it quite like you!) and have their outfits laid out for someone else to put on while you get yourself dressed!
Even if it’s not baby’s “scheduled” feed time… try to sneak in a feeding 15-20 minutes before I arrive. A baby with a full tummy will usually drift off to sleep once I swaddle them up, so top them off!
Now, about those older siblings:
Is this your biggest stressor about your session? I TOTALLY get it. Kids can be such a wild card with family photos because honestly, they just don’t care. Truth is, I’m really good at getting kids out of their shells, but here are a few tips to help you out.
Make sure to schedule your session around any typical sleep times. I know I’ve told you the ideal time of day for the best light, but if that interferes with naps for your older kids, tell me! Priority is happy kiddos.
I know this will be hard, but TRY NOT TO GET FRUSTRATED with your kids! This raises the tension and sometimes it’s hard to get kids back from being scolded! Take a deep breath and remember that even if we don’t get that perfect looking-at-the-camera-and-smiling shot, we can still get TONS of sweet candid moments between you and your kiddos if you keep the mood light! “THIS IS FUN! WE LOVE EACH OTHER! I’M NOT EXHAUSTED AT ALL!” are your mantras. Collapse afterwards. You can do hard things, mom!
Lastly…my number one, tip top piece of advice for parents to get their kids to cooperate: BRIBE THE HECK OUT OF THEM. If they are old enough to understand delayed gratification…talk it up before the session. Plan a trip to McDonald’s for happy meals, family movie night with ice cream, or a trip to the toy aisle at Target. You know your kid’s currency, USE IT! Have treats ready for the younger ones (smarties or fruit snacks are my favorite, try to avoid anything like m&m’s or skittles that will melt in or stain their hands/lips) and reward them every so often with a piece. This is the most effective tool to get your kids to cooperate, TRUST ME!