Hi there!

But first, Congratulations!

Having a baby is a whirlwind of emotion, exhaustion, and celebration. Sometimes getting things together to just put pants on is a struggle, and I completely understand that! So I thought I'd share a few easy tips to preparing for your session at home. I want having these precious and fleeting moments captured to be the easiest thing on your list of things to do postpartum.

Preparing your home

First off and most importantly, I am NOT judging your home. Whether it's in the city, in the woods, large, small, filled with dogs, filled with art, filled with children... it's yours and it is special. Your home does not have to be perfect or clutter free. It's your home and you just welcomed home a new child. It would not be fair for me to ask you to clean every ounce of your house. If you are able, focus on de-cluttering two of the rooms with the most natural light. This might be your living room and your master bedroom. It's completely optional for us to shoot in the nursery. Spend your time putting things like your breast pump, extra burp cloths, toys and other distracting things away (throwing them into a closet or tossing them into a basket is more than fine with me)! When I arrive, I'Il spend some time preparing the areas where we'll be shooting. I may move some furniture or clean off surfaces. Please don't be alarmed or offended! I see things that you may not and a home that's well lived in doesn't always equal a home instantly ready for photography - that's a part of my job. Anything I move will not go far, I promise, and I'm happy to move any furniture back where it was when I arrived.

I'll also open up your curtains and turn off lamps and artificial overhead lighting. It might seem dark but artificial lighting can both be unflattering and ruin an image with orange or yellow color casts.

If your nursery is ready and you'd like to spend some of our time shooting in that room, please consider putting on a white crib sheet as colored crib sheets can cast an unnatural color onto your baby's face.

Please also turn up your heat to 75 degrees about 30 minutes prior to our session if your session takes place in the winter months. The warmer temperatures help baby relax and keep them sleepy during our time together. If your session takes place during the warmer months I just don’t suggest having your A/C at full blast. I will also bring along a space heater (if needed) and use white noise app to use when we're photographing baby solo.

Please have anything nearby that is important to you that you want incorporated into the session; IF items, family heirlooms, specific hats or headbands etc. And finally, if you haven't already set up a diaper changing station in a warm, common space, do yourself a favor and set one up for our session! Have a few diapers, burp cloths and wipes ready to go because needing to change one is unavoidable during most sessions. Plus, explosions do happen. Make it easier on yourself by not having to go to the nursery each time. If your baby uses a pacifier please have that handy as well.

Preparing Baby

Please have a solid, well fitted outfit ready for your baby to wear for your family portion of your session, this is what we will start with, (tap the Pinterest icon at the bottom of this page for ideas) It’s very important that your baby’s clothing fits well so they are comfortable (no baby jeans obviously) and not drowning in an outfit that is too bulky, w need to see all of their tiny features. As for parents and siblings, I recommend neutrals and earthy colors (Light grey, tan, creams and whites, even pastels) If you’re comfortable wearing a flowy dress it photographs beautifully. Otherwise I suggest wearing soft, flowing clothing, nothing overly fitted and restricting. I want you to be comfortable! (Tap the Pinterest icon at the bottom for ideas)

I bring several wraps of my own with me to your session but you are more than welcome to have any you love out and ready for me to use. These wraps are another great addition to the well fitting outfit we stated above for the family and sibling shots.

Aside from prepping your outfits for baby, preparing your baby for a peaceful state of sleepiness is very important. It’s the ultimate goal here but it does require a bit of help from you before I arrive. Try keeping your baby awake in the hours before my arrival, try things like a bath, simple playtime together. Another great tip is planning the session around a feed time, try to have baby fed shortly before I arrive so they are able to start getting sleepy.

If you add on a posed portion - I always start with family, siblings and pet shots first - that way dad and siblings are free to go play and not wait around for more photos. If baby is starting to get restless (it can happen) I will have you top them off so their belly is nice and full while I set out wrap, headband and hat options for their posed shots.

Siblings

Documenting the addition of a new sibling is very important to families but can also be….yep…challenging or stressful for parents. One of the things I recommend, depending on the ages of your other children is to talk to them about what to expect, tell them my name, have them practice taking photos with you. Kids often just need to be prepared and informed! Giving them something immediate to work towards if also nothing to be ashamed of! I am here for the fruit snacks, toy and candy bribes, I still do it with my own children for some sessions of ours. There is NO judgement whatsoever. Their clothing should follow the guidelines of yours from above - free of characters, words and well fitting.

Lifestyle sessions usually take about an hour depending on baby and siblings, if you have added on the posed portion of your baby you can expect up to 2 hours if needed. (I try to be done sooner, but I leave that time if it is needed)

We can take as many breaks as you AND baby need - I will not rush you in any way.

When I am photographing the baby during the posed portion it may seem like time is going SO slow. It often takes many minutes to get babies settled and sleepy enough to be posed safely. I am extremely patient and will not give up if your baby is uncooperative. If your baby gives me a run for my money or even better yet pees, poops or spits up on me and my things - just know - your baby is NOT the first and please do not feel bad. I have lost count of the number of times this has happened.