It isn't just a regular day....
It's a Newborn Session day! All of my Newborn Sessions are scheduled in the morning because I have found that this is the time babies are the calmest. If you've ever heard of the term "witching hour," you know what I mean. When 6:00 rolls around and baby is a fussy mess we certainly do not want to be trying to shoot a newborn session!
As my clients are getting themselves together to leave the house for one of the first times with their new baby, I remain super calm at my home and studio to provide my clients with a calm and cozy environment when they arrive. As a mother of 6 sometimes this is hard, but I usually let my husband tend to the kids while I get ready for my session. Believe it or not, babies can feel if someone is nervous or uneasy, so it is important for me to keep a calm demeanor throughout setup and the session. This calmness will certainly set the tone for the session. As a seasoned professional I am never nervous about handling your baby or coaching young siblings. I have done this many times over and have plans A-Z in place to make sure no matter what baby throws at us, we will end up with a beautiful gallery. Consistency is key and I have really mastered that with newborns!
As I get myself ready for our shoot, I am thinking of every last detail. I do not use any strong perfumes the day of our session because I certainly don't want your baby to leave smelling like a big spray bottle of perfume! I didn't like that as a new Mom, and I know a new Mom's sense of smell is heightened. I also am very conscious of my clothing choices as my studio tends to run a bit hot at newborn sessions. Usually I wear a comfortable, loose fitting shirt and leggings that I can bend and move around easily in. A lot of newborn sessions tend to be on the ground so jeans are no-go and personally I hate jeans put me in a bad mood anyways. I HATE THEM. If you have kids, you just know. Before I leave I always check my camera, make sure I have my camera card, a backup card, and a charged battery. I always have my battery charger on me to just in case. On the way to my studio I'm definitely getting a coffee that I may or may not even drink. When I get busy I just forget it is there but it's my emotional support coffee and I need it! haha
On session days I also tend to stay away from any bright colors that may cause a color cast when I am standing right in front of baby. Bright reds, pinks, blues, greens... they aren't a good idea. Black is usually my go-to color and this is perfect for newborn shoots. Along with my black or neutral shirt and black leggings, you can usually find me wearing black socks and sandals. I don't just have bad style, this is on purpose! haha At my studio I tend to take my shoes off a lot so wearing socks and sandals just makes sense. I walk around a lot in socks and so I can easily slip my sandals off. I also have materials at my studio that I don't want to step on with dirty shoes, so socks it is! Comfortability is key so believe me when I say, I do not dress up for sessions.
When I arrive at my studio calm and comfy, it is time to set up! Mom and Dad have already shared baby's gender so I will put together several different setups for Mom and Dad to choose from. I always tell parents I am never offended if they don't like something I have chosen, that is why I have a variety of different things. I LOVE monochromatic setups so I will pull a bunch of stuff and have it all waiting for when Mom and Dad arrive. I love when parents arrive and see all the beautiful things waiting for the session. Oh wow! Is usually the reaction I get and I love that.
I also have a beautiful client closet filled with flowy dresses and shirts for Mom and adorable dresses for siblings so that Mom can focus on the needs of her baby instead of what they are going to wear to their session. If you've ever given birth you know the first couple weeks your body is feeling a little foreign so covering all the thing we don't want to see in an elegant way is key. I have chosen these dresses and shirts with these things in mind. Clients are always welcome to bring their own wardrobe too!
Sometimes client say, where did you get these things!? I do a lot of client closet shopping on different websites that are geared toward photography. I have specific brands that I really love and that I feel photograph well so I'm always patiently waiting for sales to buy all the things! I also shop on Ebay for new with tags items and you'd be surprised how many things I have gotten for dirt cheap making offers on Ebay! It's a fun little hobby of mine that helps me stock my client closet with beautiful, timeless pieces.
Shopping for props is very similar. I use vendors who are making props specifically for newborn photography. This is important for safety reasons, and these prop vendors know the exact dimensions photographers are looking for. This way, I'm not looking for items in stores wondering if they will fit a baby or work for a session. It takes the guesswork out of it for me and that saves me time and money.
Once I have everything setup I will sit and wait for my clients to arrive and go over some "session flow" things on my phone. This means I know exactly what poses I'm going to do in what order. I know what I'm going to do next so that we can keep the session running and parents can get home to the comfort of their own home sooner. Again, as a seasoned professional it is so helpful to know exactly what I'm doing next, especially with siblings.
When my clients arrive it is time to talk about the session, desired colors, and meet the baby and family! I will go over everything we are going to do with my clients and while Mom, Dad, and siblings get dressed I start with posed photos of just baby. After posed photos we will go to parent and sibling photos, and finally prop shots.
After the session I will start cleaning up and putting everything back where it is stored. I am always so excited to get home to look at all the beautiful shots we got! Sometimes I post a sneak peek on Facebook for parents to see something from the session right away.
That sums up a day in the life of a Newborn Photographer and all the things that I'm thinking of before, during, and after the session. A newborn shoot day is always a good day and I absolutely love my teeny tiny clients!
