Thank you! I am so excited about our upcoming newborn session. I made this guide to help you get prepared and know what to expect. This will help you feel more comfortable the day of our session.
From the bottom of my heart, thank you for entrusting me to photograph and handle your precious newborn baby. I handle many newborn babies each year and I am very careful and patient with them. I never force a baby to pose in a way he/she is resistant to. Having you relaxed during the session is key. Your baby will feed off your energy.
Session Prep
Just before we start the session, your baby should be well fed, we want your baby as content as possible. When possible it is helpful to keep the baby awake as much as possible before the session. Newborn sessions are typically 3 hours long. Sometimes we finish earlier and sometimes run over. It all depends on how your baby is feeling that day. I recommend not scheduling any other appointments immediately after your session.
Most of the time will be spent getting the baby to relax for posing. It can take a little time, and this is completely normal. This allows for plenty of time for cuddling, feeding and diaper changes as needed. I capture babies using custom wraps and speciality newborn clothing. I do not recommend store bought clothing, it will likely be baggy and hide the tiny features of your newborn. I have hundreds of speciality made items in my studio you can choose from. You can also shop on places like etsy for items made specifically for newborn photoshoots. Keep in mind I design your session around your preferences, so you don't have to do the work of figuring things out.
Tips for a Successful Session
The trick for getting successful newborn photos is a very warm and well-fed baby. There is something about the photographic process that makes newborns extra hungry so please bring extra formula or expressed milk and be prepared to nurse more than normal. If possible please time it so that your babies feed will naturally fall at the start of the session. If the session is to take place at your home then I would like you to start nursing baby 30 minutes before I arrive, without any clothes, just a diaper and wrapped in blankets. If they keep falling asleep while nursing then remove some of the layers of blankets to keep them awake and feeding longer. It can also be helpful to use a pacifier during our session. I recommend Jollypop pacifiers. If you do not plan on using pacifiers please be assured that babies don’t get attached to them after our session and they really do help calm a fussy baby in between posing.
Temperature
Be advised that the newborn studio will be VERY warm- I set the thermostat to 80 degrees. Babies are fussy when cold. The warmth you help your baby to relax for his/her session. You and I will not be so comfortable with this temperature. I promise you it helps so much with the session. You can laugh at me while I melt! Please remember that your baby was just in a very warm environment for 9 months. This is a very important part of the session and making sure it goes smoothly. Even if we are hot your baby will be very comfortable. I recommend dressing accordingly. I am typically wearing a cotton tee shirt, with my hair up.
Posing and Session Flow.
If you booked a session that includes family portraits we will complete those first, followed by any sibling portraits. At this time it's best to have any of the older siblings taken home with a family member. 3 hours is a long time for a toddler/child to wait in a very warm small space. Next we will move on to capture your newborn. I'll start with swaddle poses on my newborn platform area. I have a variety of blankets and swaddle wraps to choose from. (Everything is laundered in the hypoallergenic Dreft Newborn Detergent.) From there we can switch to bucket, basket, and prop poses. Everything is tailored/designed to coordinate with your preferences from your newborn questionnaire. I typically do 3-4 sets for each session with some variations with in each. (Like switching out hats, headbands, colors ect..) Sometimes things are done out of order if needed. It’s ok. Your baby calls the shots, and I will go with the flow of what your baby will allow.
Blemishes
If your baby has blotchy skin or newborn acne I can remove the blemishes in Photoshop. Please let me know if you would prefer me not to. I do not remove birthmarks or features are permanent. If your baby has a clogged tear duct, which means there is a crusty discharge around one eye, here’s what I recommend doing. Take a few drops of expressed breast milk and put that on the eyelid to help clean the eye. Breast milk is safe to go in the eyes and is anti-bacterial so also helps with infections. Once the milk has softened the discharge you can wipe it away gently.
After Your Session
I go through the images from your session and select only the best. I am looking for the cream of the crop and usually narrow it down to 30-40 images. I typically post a sneak peek within 24-48 hours on the Cheryl Logan Photography's Facebook page. Once I have the best images selected I go through and edit each individual picture. As soon as I’ve finished the editing process (usually within three to six weeks), I will contact you and set up your password protected proofing gallery. Your gallery will contain all the edited images for you to make your selections from.
Printing
I will provide the usage license so that you can print your images at the lab of your choice without any hassle. I would recommend you have this with you when you order the images and/or when you go for pick up. I recommend printing with MPIX.com. Big box stores have less than stellar color and print quality.
Credits:
Cheryl Logan Photography LLC