Choosing the perfect newborn photographer is only the first step to capturing lifelong memories. Any professional photographer you hire will work tirelessly to ensure that your newborn session is picture perfect, but there are a few things you can do to smooth the process.

Your Home

Your home is the best place for a newborn photo shoot. You and the baby are most comfortable here among familiar smells and sounds. Each home has its own perfect space for capturing the delicate beauty of your newborn. Take a look around your house. Any room that is flooded with fresh, natural light is the best place to capture those first posed photos. Pay attention to how the movement of the sun affects the light in your house at different times of day and which rooms receive the most natural light. This is often in front of a large window that lets in the most sun for the time of day you schedule your shoot. This is where I will set up my backdrop, so be sure to have space cleared.

Candid Shots

I may want to capture several shots of your growing family in action. In addition to the posed photos, I love taking shots of you about your house. One of my favorite places to photograph your new baby is in their nursery. This is their first room and I want to capture every detail of this space that you spent lots of time decorating. Another of my favorite rooms is the master bedroom. There is nothing sweeter than shots of the family piled in the bed. Many parents also like me to photograph their child on furniture pieces with special significance. A photograph of your child on heirloom furniture is a gift that can be passed down for generations.

A Happy Baby

A happy, comfortable baby makes the best photographs. Prepping your house before I arrive allows the photo session to start right away. Your house should be warm and toasty for the baby, particularly if you want birthday suit photos of your newborn. I generally suggest parents turn their heat to 78 degrees. A small space heater near the area for backdrop set up helps the baby stay warm and sleepy during the shoot. Feeding your newborn about 20 minutes prior to the photographer’s arrival is perfect for keeping the baby happy and sleepy. I suggest my clients turn on a white noise machine or app. I have found that this is soothing and helps keep the baby asleep. Be sure to keep your baby in loose clothing a few hours prior to the photo shoot to ensure clean skin with no lines.

A Calm Attitude

I will want to schedule your newborn photo session within days of the baby’s birth. I like to capture my families with their newborn when the baby is no later than 10 days old. This is naturally a time of adjustment and hectic schedules. My goal is to make your photo session as stress free as possible. Babies are very sensitive to the emotions of their parents even at such a young age. When mommy and daddy are calm, baby is much more comfortable and less fussy. Your photo session should be fun and relaxing. The pace of my sessions is dictated by the baby. Patience is the key! I will go with baby's flow, and the time is strictly up to her. We will stop as often as needed for feedings and changes. A calm attitude will make a huge difference in the quality of your experience.

Props

Photo props add a unique touch to your photos. I bring props with me for each session, but if you have any blankets, hats or other special items you will want to have them out and ready to use. If you are looking for hand made items for your baby make sure you check out my favorite prop store Lemons & Cream Boutique. Many of my parents have an item that holds a lot of meaning for their family that they want to include in the session. I am happy to add these personal touches that make your photos even more special. It is always best to have these items gathered ahead of time so you can give all of your attention to your newborn.

Parents

You and your family are unique and beautiful. I love to capture the entire family with the newborn. If you decide to be in the photos, soft, complementing colors with clean lines always look best. I suggest the mothers wear soft, natural makeup and the fathers be clean-shaven or have freshly trimmed beards. Moms should have a plain black shirt handy for Madonna photos of the mother and child. After you step in front of the camera, you should just concentrate on your newborn. Be yourself and your photos will be gorgeous!

Accidents

I expect a certain amount of bodily fluids. Don’t be embarrassed if your little one relieves themselves in the middle of the shoot. I have seen it all and am used to this. Just have towels, wipes and burp cloths an arms reach away to quickly wipe up the mess and get on with the session.

Following these guidelines will lead to a stress free newborn photography session that you can look back on with smiles. I am honored each time I am invited into a home to capture the personal memories of a family. Please let me know if I can be of further assistance to you.

One of the most exciting events in a parent's life is when a newborn baby comes along. It is also a time of change and a whirlwind of activity. Things can quickly get lost in the hustle and bustle of a new baby. One thing you don't want to forget is having photographs taken of your new baby. Newborn photography is so important because they will never be that little again and it's a time you want to always look back on and remember. I love taking photos of newborns and capturing those new special moments.

The best time to begin your search is no later than the 5th or sixth month of your pregnancy especially if you are interested in a maternity shoot. Your first step should be to decide what kind of style you want for your newborn session. Many photographers take highly stylized sessions with many props. You will also find photographers who do more of a lifestyle session with lots of candids and photos of the family around the house interacting with one another. You also have photographers who will come to your house or photographers where you will go to their studio. To get an idea of what you like you should spend some time on sites like Pinterest or do a web search. I offer my clients a combination of posed and lifestyle photos as that is the best of both worlds.

Once you have an idea of the kind of session you want you should begin the search for the photographer. In my experience, the best way to find a photographer is to ask your friends and family for suggestions. Getting a personal referral from someone will give you peace of mind that the photographer can be trusted. Your friends and family can tell you what they liked about the photographer and show you their photos to see if they match the type of photographer you are looking for. If you don't have any friends who can recommend a photographer then you should check and see if there are any local photo organizations in the neighborhood. They should be able to refer a number of photographers you can choose from. You can also check with national organizations for photographers in your area such as the Professional Photographers of America.

Once you have narrowed your list down to a few photographers whose work you admire, it is time to contact the photographers. There are a few things you want to remember to ask during the initial contact. Ask them about their availability, pricing, style and request to see a gallery from a full newborn session. It is great to see a portfolio of the photographers work online but I love showing potential clients photos from a whole session from start to finish which will give you the best idea of a photographers work. Also, you can begin to see if you will mesh well with the photographer. Remember after your baby is born it will be a very emotionally charged time and you want a patient, empathetic photographer that you will feel comfortable with.

As soon as you decide which photographer you want go ahead and book the session. Most photographers will ask for a retainer to book the session with the final payment due 1-2 weeks before the session. I tell my parents that the best time to schedule a newborn shoot is 5-10 days after the due date. You also want to make sure that you will have flexibility to reschedule if the baby is born early or late.

Hopefully these tips will help you find the perfect newborn photographer. If you are in the Atlanta, GA area give me a call or send me an email at as I would love to talk about your perfect newborn photography session!

Also check out Planning for Your Newborn Session.