Please review these instructions in its entirety and follow them for a smooth newborn session. Please be prepared for a possible lengthy session…some newborn sessions can run up to 2 hours…we work on baby time…with diaper changes, feedings, rocking the baby, etc.
Newborn sessions should be scheduled at a time when the baby can be fed and then immediately placed in the car to come to the studio…this helps to ensure that the baby will fall asleep in the car and remain asleep once you arrive at the studio for the sleeping newborn poses.
Often newborns and babies can be fussy so I ask moms to be prepared to be in some portraits…the following are some guidelines that will help you to get the most out of your session:
I know some parents aren’t excited about being in the portraits…please know that I can photograph around not having a full frontal, facial portrait of the parents, but still capture the bond between parent and baby!!
Mom’s list to wear: wear solid black (or any solid, dark colored shirt), no lace, jeans are great, small stud earrings, no necklace, keep jewelry to a minimum…wedding rings are okay…no watches. Please be mindful of low cut or V-neck tops. No sweatshirts or sweaters please. Bright colored nail polish really stands out…keep nails simple. No makeup with sparkles…including eye shadow…the sparkles catch the light of the flash and you will have silver sparkles all over!! No lipstick with a high gloss…the reflection of the lights from the studio will show on glossy lips. Bring your make up bag for touch ups. Consider bringing a change of clothes for after the photo shoot just in case there is an “accident” during the session!! Black (or dark colored shirts) and jeans work best. Khakis do not photograph well in these sessions.
Dad’s list to wear: can wear solid black (or any solid, dark colored shirt), no stripes, jeans are great, no necklace, and keep jewelry to a minimum…wedding rings are okay…no watches. No sweatshirts or sweaters please. Consider bringing a change of clothes for after the photo shoot just in case there is an “accident” during the session!! Black (or dark colored shirts) and jeans work best. Khakis do not photograph well in these sessions. And please do not wear a white t-shirt under your black/dark shirt.
Before leaving your house, it’s a good idea to clean the baby’s eyes with a warm wash cloth and to check baby’s nostrils for anything unsightly that you don’t want photographed! Please do this before leaving home…we don’t want to upset the baby upon arriving for the photo session!
If we are photographing baby with no clothing on…I suggest unclothing the baby and leaving a loose tab diaper on the baby and placing them in their car seat and covering them with blankets. This is an assurance of no clothing marks or indents on the skin…plus if you are wanting to do some sleeping baby portraits, it’s super easy to undo the diaper and place the sleeping baby (sleeping from the car ride) right on the table and start shooting once you arrive. So if the baby is sleeping when you arrive for your appointment, please DO NOT wake the baby…we will try to snap a few portraits first!! **Upon arriving at the studio, I recommend placing a blanket over the entire car seat before removing it from the car so that the sun beaming into the baby’s eyes does not wake them. Once in the studio, we will place the car seat close to the newborn table used for sessions and I will gently attempt to place the baby on the table without waking up the newborn. ** No clothing with elastic should be on the baby…IE: socks, booties with elastic on the ankle, elastic on the wrist, no booties over hands, etc.
Please bring a blanket that may be photographed with your baby….and one that they may be swaddled with. Be sure to bring bottles, water, formula, baby wipes, and a change of clothes for baby, a white t-shirt, extra diapers, burp rags, hair brush, pacifier, and anything else you think you may need.
If you are planning to have the baby wear clothes, keep the following in mind: Simple clothing works best for creating successful, timeless portraits. Avoid patterns, busy prints, stripes, and logo clothing as they can be very distracting and tend to draw focus away from the faces. If siblings are being photographed together, please have them dressed in similar toned clothing for a more unified look. If possible, keep pants darker than tops…this draws attention up to the face. Think of every detail, down to socks and shoes…however, barefoot is always the best choice!! And if your child is a young child and not walking, avoid large collars and suspenders that gather up at the neck, as they tend to overwhelm and hide the jaw line and face. Big kids clothing like blue jeans does not look good on newborns…newborns simple do not look good or comfortable in them.
Please feel free to bring anything that you would like to incorporate in the portraits…IE: a blanket, blocks that spell out babies name, a stuffed animal, jewelry, toy, etc. I am happy to personalize your portraits!
On the day of your session, please allow at least two hours…if not three hours!! I ask that just parents come to the session…please do not bring personal assistance, grandparents, nannies, or friends….And only bring siblings that are being photographed. I would like to focus all attention on your child and build a rapport with them and ensure that the photographer isn’t competing for eye contact. Distractions for your child during the session will limit the success of your session.
Please be sure that you take into consideration nap time and meal time for young ones when determining the time of day for your session. It is best to have fed a baby right before your session and please do not schedule a session during normal nap time hours for siblings.
Please consider bringing a change of clothes for Mom, Dad and baby. Also be sure to bring lots of burp rags and blankets…for drool, spit up and accidents. If you aren’t nursing, I ask that you bring preparations for a bottle…depending on how long the session is, or how fussy the baby may be, we might need a few bottles!!
Absolutely no cameras or recording devices of any kind are allowed in the studio.
I understand this is an investment for your family and will understand if your child is sick. A sick child isn’t a happy child and doesn’t photograph well. Please call and reschedule if needed…I will understand!
The time you spend on planning your session and clothing will pay off in the end with a beautifully coordinated portrait…one that will never look dated. It is worth the effort! Again, I am happy to discuss with you any questions or additional clothing options…please feel free to call me or e-mail me with any questions!!! And please check out the newborn gallery on my website…www.jackandjillportraits.com.
