Congratulations to you!!! Thank you for allowing me the amazing and rewarding job of photographing your new baby in his/her first few days of life. I am truly honored to be able to capture this incredible time in your lives and look forward to getting to know you and your sweet baby!

This newborn session guide will help you prepare for your newborn session.

WHAT TO EXPECT

For the baby, clean away flaky skin and eye boogers with a wash cloth. Trim those tiny fingernails and toenails with baby trimmers.

If your baby has any band-aids on the foot, thigh, etc., please remove them as soon as you possibly can to allow the imprint marks to disappear.

Do not change the baby’s diet the day before or during the session. Continue to feed your baby how you normally do (breast-feed, formula-feed, or both). Do not make any sudden changes to the baby’s diet that may contribute to fussiness.

Before the shoot, please feed baby right before you leave your home and try to keep baby awake on your drive to the studio. Recruit your spouse or family to help you with these tasks. Bring a bottle or plan to feed if baby gets fussy at the studio. We can always take a quick break!

AT THE SESSION

When you arrive at the studio, be prepared to feed your baby if needed, if you fed right before you left home, I will get going as soon as we get baby settled. We want the baby to be full, content and sleeping after the feeding to ensure those sleepy newborn pictures.

Be sure to burp baby really well after the feeding. Gas can make a sleepy, happy baby into an uncomfortable one in seconds. I always recommend bringing some gripe water just in case. New moms, if you’ve never heard of this, check it out, it’s a life saver sometimes for hiccups and gas!

Be patient. If your baby is fussy or alert, do not stress out. Your newborn can sense your anxiety and we want to keep the environment as mellow as possible.

WARDROBE

Nothing is the best wardrobe for a newborn. No outfit fits a newborn well and they often look swallowed in clothes. Accessories are good though– little hats, dainty headbands, etc. I have a wide selection of props that you can choose from or if you prefer, bring your own.

FOR MOM AND DAD

Photographing the connection between you and your baby is one of my favorite things. Just as they encourage in the hospital or at home birth, skin to skin contact creates the most beautiful images.

Mom: A subtle application of makeup can soften your skin and accent your facial features. Neutral looking fake lashes can really flatter your eyes.

Keep your wardrobe color neutral and design simple. Be sure your nails are tidy and clean (no nail polish) as your hands will make their way into the images. Also, rest assured, I aim to photograph using flattering angles and lighting to bring out the natural beauty in you and your family.

Dad: Be freshly shaved with a new razor, shaving cream and moisturizing after-shave lotion to avoid bumps and redness. Trim your beard, sideburns, mustache or goatee. Look especially for wiry stray hairs. Make sure your nails are clean and trimmed.

SIBLINGS

Including older brother/sister(s) in your newborn’s portrait is the perfect way to document this fleeting time in your lives.

Clean, clean, clean- clean nails, clean hair, clean feet, fresh scrub teeth, and wipe away eye boogers and snotty noses. The cleaner the child, the better their photos will turn out. If your child is still of napping age, make sure they nap before the shoot.

It is perfectly okay to bring bribes to a photo-shoot–some cereal, snacks or candies that won’t stain their teeth. Avoid colorful drinks or lollipops within 24 hours of your shoot. Do not let them eat or drink anything will stain their cheeks, mouths or teeth.

Due to the duration of the newborn session, I recommend bringing young children into the studio either in the beginning of the session for about 30 minutes.

Please arrange for childcare for them when they are not being photographed. Young children do not have long attention spans (1+ hours is way too long for them). They may not do well in unfamiliar places and will disrupt the environment in the studio necessary for newborn photography.

These tips in this Newborn Session Guide will help you prepare for your newborn shoot and ensure that your session runs smoothly so we can focus on capturing your newborn baby’s portraits.

Please note the studio space is located at 9798 3rd street Road, St 2F, Louisville, KY 40272. The studio is located upstairs above the coffee shop and barber shop.

I look forward to capturing these memories for you and your family. Please reach out if you have any questions or concerns!

See you soon!

Ryan