On Thursday of last week,  I had the honor of photographing Miss Vivian for her newborn session.  What a little doll, and her mommy and daddy were quite sweet as well.  What a cute little family!  Vivian is 2 weeks old, and was bright-eyed through most of her session.  We photographed at her home, which was stunning.  Her nursery is so beautifully decorated, and made a gorgeous backdrop for most of the photos.  She was very easy-going and cooperative as we did several outfit changes, angles and poses.  Are you thinking you may want newborn photos of your little one?  Here are a few suggestions when planning: 

1.  Book early- booking early (2nd trimester) will not only ensure that you have a session lined up, it will also alleviate any last minute stress of finding an available photographer (hopefully me).  It's best to photograph your newborn in the first week to week and a half after birth.  The baby will likely be sleepy, easy to pose and give you those angelic photos.  Obviously most people don't know the exact day they will deliver so we can estimate when booking.  

2.   The location- You put all that time, money and effort into creating the perfect nursery for your little one, why not photograph there?   I will happily come to you for your session.  We will plan your session for when the natural lighting in the nursery is optimal, and take advantage of the work of art you have created.

3.   Not sure what to wear?  Of course the session will include photos of not only the baby, but his/her parents as well.  When you book ahead you can think about what you may want to wear for this session.  You won't feel up to clothing shopping 2 days after birth, so this will allow you time to find the perfect outfit in advance.  I recommend simple/ solid outfits.  By wearing something simple, the focus will be on the baby, not on the patterns in your outfit.

4.  Pamper yourself!  Take a few minutes to do your hair, makeup and freshen up before the session.  You will feel beautiful and that will show in your photos.  After all, you definitely deserve it!

5.  Relax-  This is a happy time, and my goal is to create beautiful images that you will have to reflect back on for years to come.  Just sit back and relax and trust me, I have 4 kids, and plenty of experience with newborns.  I will be gentle with your little one, and will not attempt any crazy poses that could in any way hurt your little one.  Some parents have ideas from photos they have seen.  If I don't feel like a certain pose is safe, I will respectfully say so, and we will move on to another shot.  If you have ideas or questions, it's best to communicate them ahead of time, so we can make a plan for what you would like me to capture.  

6.  Plan on up to 2 hours for the session- I am also in no rush, so if you need to feed/ change or soothe the baby, I can wait.  This is all about your family!  It's best to try and feed baby before the session (so they are full, and sleepy), but I know that babies have minds of their own, and appetites as well, so if you can't feed them, don't stress.  If they need a mid-session snack, that's fine too!  

Here are a few images from this last newborn session... I'm in love-