You’re having a Baby?!?!
CONGRATULATIONS!!!
How flippin’ exciting!
I created a special page just for maternity and newborn sessions, in some ways they’re exactly the same as a regular family portrait, but in some ways they’re completely different and I know there’s a million different questions you’ll want to ask!
For maternity sessions, I try to schedule them between the 30-36 week mark (34 weeks is pretty great) sometime before you’re too pregnant and over carrying this parasite, but far enough along that you’re at optimal size to show off you’re big belly! Most of my clients will have their maternity session the same day as their baby shower, so that once we’re done with the portrait session you can head straight on over to your baby shower.
When baby arrives I recommend scheduling your session as soon as possible. Part of the joys of photographing newborns is showing just how tiny they were when they first arrived, and even though it might not feel like it, every single day they’re growing bigger and bigger. I always recommend booking in a shoot for the first week after you’ve arrived home from hospital.
On-going shoots One of the best parts about my job is getting to watch your family grow. Once you’re a client you no longer have to pay the photography session fee ($150) no matter how many times I photograph you. Most people will have their families photographed 3 times within the first year: Newborn session, 6 months (or when they start sitting) and 12 months (or when they start walking). Babies grow and change so much in the first year of life, so photographing them regularly is really important. Most people will take the images from those first 3 shoots and put them into a wall collection or album of “Babies First Year”
When should I have my shoot?
I'm really passionate about the way I photograph newborns. I will not do those highly stylized, babies in baskets shoots. It's definitely a skill, and I have a lot of respect for the photographers that do photograph them, but I will not.
I don't want to dress babies up like dollies and pose them like we're having a tea party. I want to capture your connection with your baby, and how tiny your babe is, and this brand new connection you have with your partner. That's the magic to me, when your child is older they'll be able to look at those pictures with you holding them and see the expression on your faces. They'll be able to see just how much they are loved.
What words sum up your style?
The process is exactly the same as a regular portrait session. The first step is to come into the studio so we can have a chat. I’ll show you some of my work and we’ll talk about what it is you would like to get out of your portrait shoot (because this is about you!).
We’ll discuss who’s being photographed, where you want to be photographed as well as what you should wear and how your pictures will end up on your walls. I’ll be able to show you the range of different options for your finished products and give you a price list which outlines the costs involved. It'll only take 20 minutes and it helps make sure everything goes smoothly and you end up with images you love!
After all that is said and done if you decide you can’t possibly live without some of my images in your home (spoiler: you can’t) we can book in a time for your Portrait Shoot.
The Process
This one is ultimately up to you, and it’s one of the things we will discuss during the pre-shoot consult. For newborns I recommend either at your own home, or in the studio. Newborn babies don't really "exist" in the outside world. They don't yet have a favourite spot and are rarely out of your arms. The studio is the perfect place to capture the connection between you and your new human, and to show just how tiny they are at this age, because it definitely doesn't last long! There’s minimal distractions in the studio and it makes for some really beautiful clean images.
If you feel more comfortable at home that’s always an option too! The images have YOUR background and you don’t have to worry about packing a change of clothes etc. as you’ll already have all of that at hand!
Where should I have my shoot?
Yes ma’am I am. It’s something that I take very seriously and I would never want to put your family at risk!
I’m up to date on all my vaccines and have a yearly flu shot too!
In this time of COVID-19 I also try to keep socially distanced from your family during the shoot and aim to touch your newborn as little as possible. I like for parents to be the one to move and pose baby. As of September 2023 I have been quadruple jabbed against COVID-19.
Are you Vaccinated?
What if my baby is cranky and cries throughout the shoot?
The short answer is you do whatever you would normally do to settle them! I don’t put a time limit on my shoots, so while most shoots take 45-90 minutes, if your baby is unsettled and we fly past that 90 minute mark, don’t worry! I’m not going to kick you out!
In all reality, babies won’t cry for 2 hours non stop, and I only need a fraction of a second of calm to capture a beautiful moment. But in saying that here are a few things you can do to help minimize crying during the shoot (adults included)
Schedule your shoot around feeding times - generally babies will be pretty happy after a feed, so aim to feed right before your session (or once you get here) if you need to feed baby during the shoot, then do that!
If you’re planning on photographing baby with no clothes then dress them in something that is easy to put on and take off.
I try to keep the studio toasty and warm, but extra blankets to snuggle up in never go astray.