What to Expect
JULY 30, 2023
As a newborn and infant photographer for the past decade, I have lots of experience obtaining beautiful baby photographs. I’d like to share my secrets, so that parents can anticipate what will happen in a newborn photoshoot, and then sit back and relax or take a nap during the session! Our target date is 9-10 days after the birth, so that we are past jaundice, but baby is still sleepy! I’ve been collecting props for years, so you only need to bring the baby to our custom studio. I ask parents to feed their baby as much as possible before they leave for the studio, so that baby will hopefully fall asleep in the car. My studio is located behind my house, so my clients can pull all the way in to the driveway and park right in front of it. When they come in, they can just set their baby down, undo the car seat straps, and leave them in the seat. I will try to get them out without waking them. Depending on the session, it can take up to 3 hours total; so we have snacks, water, and a bathroom available. All babies are different. Some will snooze the entire time, and others will be the most awake they’ve been in their short lives! Ultimately, baby is in control and no matter what, we will still get beautiful images. If older siblings are involved, I like to photograph the baby with them first. After that, we take family images. Then on to baby time! Parents can relax, nap, scroll through their phone, or pull up a chair to watch the whole session.
This is where we crank up the heat in the room, and it gets warm! We want baby fast asleep and cozy and warm in their wrap. This is when I do “table poses”, with their diapers off briefly for the tiny, squishy, naked newborn photos. Everyone worries their baby will poop or pee, but don’t be concerned! If that happens, we just clean up and keep moving on.
Next we will do prop posing, which could be a basket, bucket, bowl, mommy or daddy’s arm, or a particular request (the golf bag was hard!). Baby will likely get hungry, so we recommend bringing a bottle to the session if possible, or you are free to nurse as long as needed. We want a milk-drunk, sleepy baby!
I can spot when a smile is coming, so I always try to get one. I’ll tell you the secret later! If you want a particular pose, I will try to accommodate that, but baby is in control of everybody. If they don’t like a particular pose, we’ll all know it! I can usually get an open eye photo, but some babies will snooze and never open their eyes. No problem. We will get absolutely gorgeous newborn photographs either way.
Once we have all the images we need, payment is collected and we say our goodbyes with promises of a sneak peek and parents begging me to come over tonight to soothe their baby so they can get some sleep! All sessions are delivered via digital download within 2 weeks. If you are looking for the premier infant and baby photographer in Richmond, Virginia, reach out to me. I’d love to meet you and your beautiful baby!