What Should I Bring To My Newborn Session?
You're little bundle of joy has arrived and your newborn session is booked. You are so ahead of the game! Booking your newborn session at least a month out means that your spot is reserved and moving the date based on babies arrival is no big deal, so yay you you're ready to go!
As the day approaches you'll want to have that diaper bag packed and ready to go. Lots of times this may be babies first big outing since leaving the hospital so here are the essentials for your babies session!
Baby Essentials
What should you bring besides your beautiful new bundle of joy? Well a few things will help to make the session go smoother and easier.
1. Bring baby in a zip up jammie or one piece outfit. Something that I can easily remove and keep them nice and sleepy. The more buttons and layers, the more likely I'm going to wake them right up out of their deep sleep.
2. A binkie, yes even the babies that aren't binkie babies, bring the binkie. Having a nook for a session helps to give your little babe that sucking feeling while not feeding and can be the difference between calming them and getting the shot and not. We all know that sucking is a natural reflex for babies, allowing them to do that while being posed (when they aren't able to have a bottle or nurse) absolutely helps them get through the session with ease!
3. Spit rags, diapers, wipes...you know the essentials. Pack that diaper bag with extra diapers, wipes and spit rags anything needed for feeding and changing your little babe!
4. If baby takes a bottle be sure to have one or two ready to go and if baby nurses you may want a cover if you'd like, my studio is private for your comfort but everyone's level of comfort while nursing is different and I want you to feel your best.
Mommy & Daddy Essentials
Moms and Dads have stuff to bring too! Even though you may or may not be in the session based on your desires, it still can be a long time to sit so here are my best tips.
1. Your phone. While I am busy posing and soothing your newborn I don't want you to stress or worry, while I do have a client lounge with a tv for you to hang out and watch on if you'd like, if you prefer to be in the shooting room I promise you will get bored. So bring the phone, throw it on silent and begin the death scroll.
2. Drinks or snacks. I do provide drinks and snacks for my clients, however I may not have your specific drink or the snack you're craving. With newborn sessions starting at 10 am we routinely run through lunch hour till 1 if baby needs all 3 hours, so bring the calories and drinks to keep you feeling your best.
3. If you are in the photo session I recommend bringing your clothes along to change into if they aren't extremely comfortable and sticking with solid color neutrals. I like to shoot mom and dad with baby on a black backdrop so I do recommend avoiding black, however white, cream, brown, or any other solid colors will do the trick. I do have a client closet full of dresses for mom if you want a special high end shot!
Sibling Essentials
Siblings are a fun addition to your newborn session. What a better way to capture all the little loves in your life. Your heart is overflowing and these moments are precious and fleeting. Bringing a sibling along to a newborn session can become stressful if not done correctly so here are the essentials and tips for making your sibling pictures a success.
1. Have dad or another parent or grandparent bring them later to the session. Newborn sessions can last as long as 3 hours and that is a long time for a little person to be sitting around waiting for their time to shine. I recommend having them in the area, maybe at a local playground or play place and then we can text them and let them know when it's just about time. This prevents meltdowns and too much down time.
2. Bring a neutral color outfit, this can be a dress for a little girl or solid khaki's and a nice cream sweater for a little boy. If you have more than one sibling keep them all in different shades of neutral colors, this way we can put baby in whatever backdrop/wrap color we like because they will match no matter what.
3. Don't make a fuss or get frustrated with them, this is a whole new experience for them too and I have tips and tricks up my sleeve to help this part of the session be successful and the last thing we want is for you to be stressing. Young kids feed off of mom and dads emotions so the calmer you are, the better it will go.
4. Candy, sometimes we all need a little motivation to perform, heck even adults. It's ok to bring along some sweet tarts or other relatively clean candy that won't stain the skin or mouth to reward them with!
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