Charming, sweet, absolutely adorable - these are the adjectives that you would describe a precious little newborn. Don’t you just adore those tiny feet and hands, those curious little eyes and that fragrant baby smell that you wish you could take anywhere with you! Newborns may not be that small forever, but there is a way to preserve those special memories - by getting a newborn photo session to document that fleeting stage in your family’s life.
I will be very happy to work with you and preserve this special moment in your family through a very special newborn photo session. I specialise and take particular interest in portraiture, especially of newborns. Every session is guaranteed to become a memorable moment for you and the rest of your family.
Upon booking your session, I recommend doing the below-suggested tips that will help you prepare yourself, your newborn and your entire family for the photo session and make the most out of it.
1. Leave it to the Pros
Camera phones make taking photos virtually accessible and doable for everyone. For casual everyday photos, that’s okay. But for something as precious and as delicate as a newborn photoshoot, I suggest leaving it to the hands of professional photographers.
Professional photographers, especially those that specialise in newborn babies like myself, invest in a lot of things that make getting us more than worth it. Our skills, equipment and countless years of working with newborns and their families give us the advantage of knowing what to do and how to approach any situation during a shoot. When you hire a professional photographer, you don’t just hire someone to take your photos and post-process them for you, you also hire someone who will guide you, make you feel comfortable and solve issues that might come up during the shoot.
2. Schedule in advance
Having a newborn in your life takes a lot of work that sometimes, overwhelm can take over and you can’t think of anything else. Don’t let overwhelm get in the way of having your precious moments captured in beautiful photographs, check out available options, decide which one works for you, and book that.
You can choose to do the 1-2 hr photo session at the hospital (if you are at Sydney Southwest Private & Sydney Adventist Hospital) where we can focus on the happy family emotions surrounding your newborn’s arrival. You can also choose to do it at home when you’re more settled. It is recommended that the session is done during the first 2-4 weeks of your newborn’s life as older babies tend to be a little bit more active.
3. Do your research
As your photographer, I have ideas to make the shoot fun but I also welcome insights and suggestions! If you have any poses, setups or ideas that you want to see during the shoot, talk to me and we’ll see how we can make them happen.
Do your research in advance and prepare the materials needed like costumes and props for the shots you want to recreate. Please make sure that the costumes and props are ideal for newborns so we don’t encounter any problems during the shoot.
4. Physical preparations
Talk to me about the schedule of the shoot - let me know what’s your newborn’s usual timing for bath, feed, burp and nap time so we can schedule the shoot around that. Newborns tend to sleep better after they’re bathed, changed, fed and burped, so taking these into consideration is very important. Majority, if not the entire shoot will be done while the newborn is sleeping so it would be good to put them in a non-cloth nappy to minimise the need for changing as we don’t want to disturb them and make them cranky.
If the shoot will be in your home, please ensure that the environment is nice and warm as the newborn will be naked in some of the shots. If possible, try to make sure that the area is organised and free of any clutter so we can maximise the time session. If other family members are joining, I recommend wearing pastel colours or black/whites. If you have family heirlooms or any accessory that you’d like to be part of the photos, please bring them too.
5. Safety first
Safety is always my topmost priority, especially in newborn photo sessions. Newborns are so delicate and precious and I make sure to exercise every bit of caution when I’m photographing them. If you have any issues or concerns about any of the shots or poses, please make sure to let me know so we can address them.
6. Manage your expectations
Newborns are their own bosses and there’s no point stressing over a tiny hiccup during a shoot. As your photographer, I am prepared to handle these minor situations so all you need to do is relax, manage your expectations and adore your baby as they make that cute, adorable little smile for the camera.
7. Have fun!
Your newborn is only a newborn once. More than the photos you’re getting from the shoot, you also take home the actual experience of doing the newborn shoot! All the craziness, the adorable-ness and the aww-worthy giggles are part of it so make sure you have fun and take it all in.
In conclusion, newborn photo sessions are about preserving that memory of your newborn child - in all their amazing little-ness, not just in your mind, but also in beautifully taken photographs. It is a moment in your family’s life that’s meant to be made timeless, enduring and unforgettable.