welcome, i’m so glad you’re here!
I’m so excited that you’re interested in a lifestyle newborn photo session and hope to be apart of welcoming your new baby into the world! I’m sure that you’ve done plenty of research on finding a photographer that is the right fit for your growing family. Because each photographer has their own unique approach to providing you service, this guide is designed to help you understand my process and what you can expect from me.
This is why it’s important for you to read through this guide, so that you can decide if my style is what you want and if we are a good fit. I hope this guide answers all of your questions/concerns, but incase it doesn’t- please reach out and let me know!
what is a lifestyle newborn session?
This approach to photographing newborns is less about capturing the baby alone and more about photographing your family with your baby. It takes a newborn and their family exactly as they are - without expectations. Lifestyle photography is a chance for you to embrace how much stinkin’ love you have for your baby and capture those sweet, candid moments with them.
During your session, I capture you and your baby in the comfort of your home. I have you snuggle up and hold your newborn as you naturally would. I do add in some posed pictures, here and there as well for a good variety. It’s a very go with the flow session, because each baby and home is different.
I do not do any studio newborn posing (I mostly do not have the equipment, education, and props to create these), but I do love to wrap your baby in a swaddle and capture their sweet face, their eyes just like dad’s, and their tiny toes in a natural way.
where does my session take place?
Your session will take place in the comfort of your home. I absolutely love coming to your home to capture real moments of this season of your life. This allows me to capture the most raw and organic pictures. Also, think of it as a time capsule. (Imagine being able to view your own newborn pictures in your nursery and seeing the decorations used back then. So cool!)
We use the nursery, master bedroom, and living room the most. The brightest and sunniest lighting will help me produce high quality professional images. We will open up the curtains and blinds and turn off all lights. If it’s overcast or raining, I do have flash to help brighten things up if needed.
what is the cost?
A lifestyle newborn session is $575. They take place on weekdays between 10am-1pm. If you live more than 40 miles outside of 70754, I do add on $.50 per mile beyond those allotted miles. If you live further out, provide your zip code and I can give you a travel rate.
Included in your session:
-A questionnaire to fill out that helps me get to know your family and expectations of your session
- 1.5-2 hour session in the comfort of your home
- A minimum of 80 images
- A private online gallery of your final images
- Permission to print your images elsewhere, *although I can not guarantee the quality and correct colors if you do not print through the lab attached to your gallery.
However, since you’ve spent hundreds of dollars on your session, invested time into deciding outfits, and poured out your love for your little one on the day of your session, I would hate to see your investment go to waste by ordering low quality prints through places such as Walgreens, Target, Walmart, or Shutterfly.
If you decide not to print through my online print shop, I highly suggest that yo order through MPix or Artifact Uprising.
how do i book?
I’m so excited if you have decided to book your newborn session! I cannot wait to help you welcome your new baby into the world! I only book a limited number of newborn sessions each month. This way I can be 100% committed to scheduling a time that works best for your family. If you reach out to me after your baby is born, there’s a chance that I will not be able to schedule your session. Because of this, I always recommend reaching out at least a few months prior to your due date, so I can make sure to not overbook around your due date.
To book your session, a $75 non-refundable retainer fee is due and a signed contract. The contract simply sets clear expectations from the both of us, concerning payment details and how to handle your images. The remaining balance is due 2 days before your session date.
Once your baby is born, you will have someone notify me via email. From there, I will send you the newborn calendar that you can view dates and book your session through. If you will be induced or have a c-section, you can inform me before your baby is here and you can schedule your session earlier!
what do we wear?
It is SO important for you to stay true to your style and dress for comfort. White, grey, and beiges photograph beautifully against a baby’s skin tone. Choosing neutral tones for your clothing also keeps your images timeless and allows the focus to stay on your baby.
For mama’s, comfort and feeling beautiful is key. If you decide to wear jeans or leggings, avoid tight fitted tops. Camisoles are great for skin to skin contact with the baby, so a cardigan pairs perfectly with this option. Do not be afraid to dress casual and go barefoot. You are in your own home, after all!
For dads, casual is best. Jeans/shorts and a plain t-shirt or button down is best. Avoid large logo’s and bold colors.
For sister siblings, I recommend a simple dress, romper, or a non-distracting top and bottom.
For brother siblings, the same guideline as dad!
For the baby, plain white onesies are one of the most classic outfits you can choose. But most of the time, the baby is only in a swaddle. I recommend only 2 changes for the baby, since changing them usually wakes or upsets them. Sentimental outfits/blankets are welcome!
Tidying up: Being a mother myself, I completely understand how crazy things are during those early days. Please do not worry if your home is dirtier than usual or simply a mess. Trust me, it is fine. All I ask is for you to remove any clutter from the rooms that we will be using. Such as clothes on the floor/chair, items on the nightstands/dresser, etc. I always request that diaper pails be put away. If there’s anything that I think will be distracting or may have been overlooked, I’ll move it out of the way for you.
Home Temperature: Living in Louisiana, I know we usually have the AC right under 70 degrees. But babies love to be warm, so try to have the temperature a little warmer during your session. But not too warm where you are uncomfortable!
Before your session: Try to allow your baby to have some awake time. Feed your baby right before I arrive and make sure they have a clean diaper. We will have at least another diaper change and feeding before I leave, this just helps us have a smooth start.
An interactive activity: Think of something routine that you do with your baby that we could photograph during my time there. Maybe it’s just a simple diaper change, feeding, or even swinging your baby on the back porch. It may sound silly to photograph something so simple, but you will cherish those moments when they are older and you have them to look back at.
Music: I love to play music as I photograph. It helps fill the silence, creates a happy vibe, and helps calm your family. If you have a playlist that you prefer, let me know or we can even set it up on your tv/phone.
preparing for your newborn session:
Upon arrival, I will meet your family and take a look in the rooms that we will be using during your session. In the first few minutes, I like to photograph the details in the nursery. The next priority is usually photographing siblings while they are interested/in a good mood. From here, we go with the flow; photographing your baby alone, with mama + dad, the whole family, an activity, moving to another room, etc.
Your baby may be overstimulated on their photo session day, so expect them to be a little out of their routine. They may stay awake the entire time; sometimes they can be fussier than usual, etc. If at any time you think they need to eat, just let me know. Even if it’s earlier than they normally do. Most importantly, relax, and enjoy yourselves. Soak these moments in!
**In the case that anyone comes down with a sickness (you, little siblings, me, or my own family), we can and will reschedule. I’ve unfortunately had to cancel once, on the morning of due to waking up with a cold. I will notify you if it happens on my end and I ask that you notify me if any of you get sick. It’s as simple as me resending you the link to the calendar and you picking another date that works best for you!
after your session:
My turn around is anywhere from 2-3 weeks. If for any reason it will take longer than that, I will notify you to let you know. Once your gallery is ready, I will send it to the email that you’ve provided.
You will be able to download them all to your computer. I highly suggest uploading them to a USB drive or a cloud option for backup. You can share your gallery with family and friends easily through the gallery, along with the option to order products directly through the gallery.
