A Comfortable Newborn Session
Newborn sessions are by far the hardest sessions for most photographer's - whether it's a fussy baby or just the amount of equipment needed for the session, they are always intense. Even though a lot of work goes into these sessions, the final product is completely priceless. Babies are newborns for such a short amount of time and usually when we conduct these sessions, the little babe has hardly adjusted to his or her new life yet.
Here is how I suggest having a comfortable session - for the parents, babe and photographer:
1. The little babe runs the show.
Seriously. From session timing to posing, the baby is what is important and I always let them tell me what I can and can not do. Some babies will sleep the entire session, stay snuggled up for every pose and be done within an hour. Others will want to feed, play or, in general, just be restless the whole session and I will work with them for the full three hours I allotted.
2. Heat is a good thing.
Don't be afraid to have the heat turned up wherever the session is taking place. I always bring a space heater with me to keep the baby nice and cozy since some of the photos are in little to no clothing.
3. Think about how the photos will be displayed.
When styling a session, I always try and look around my clients' home and see their color schemes. I try and picture if the style I chose would be hung in their house. I let my clients pick out as much as possible but I am also okay with suggesting wraps, baskets and more!
Newborn sessions can be easily overwhelming for any photographer, sleepless parent or brand new baby. In the end, it's all about capturing those initial moments of life for the new little babe because it literally goes by in the blink of an eye!
