At Home Newborn Sessions
Today I am so grateful that you have considered me to capture you and your loved ones. It would be an honor to document this beautiful moment in time for your family. I see myself as natural light, on-location portrait photographer. I love lifestyle photography, this is a kind of photography that focuses in capturing people in situations, real-life events or milestones in an artistic manner. The primary goal is to tell stories about people’s life. Instead of the look-at-me-and-say-cheese type of portraiture, I like to give my subjects something to do, from tickling each other, telling a joke, being playful to sweet things like look at your newborn baby. This way I am sure to capture true personalities and natural expressions. I love to see children (and adults) come alive in their natural element. My style is modern, fresh and full of sweetness! Every little moment I capture, is so incredibly rewarding.
Why photograph at home rather than in studio? …It’s the home you brought your baby to.
This may be one of my favorite reasons why I love at home newborn photography. As a photographer, it is always my desire to create the most meaningful photographs I can for the families I work with. Whether you are in your forever home, or your right now home, it’s always going to remembered as the home you brought your baby to. The nursery that hosted all those late night feedings. The bed you first snuggled in as a family of three. The window you looked out as you rocked them to sleep. Those are all special details that I love to include in the background of each photograph that become part of the story your family will tell!
The ideal time to schedule…
As a newborn photographer, one of the most common questions that clients ask about these sessions is when is the best time to schedule. Such a good question! There are so many things to get ready when a baby is on the way, and scheduling your newborn pictures ahead of time is highly recommended. It will be one less thing to think about after your baby is here!
My newborn photography is not the typical, traditional baby pictures that you may have seen elsewhere. I don’t use any props, and I never place babies in anything but the parent’s arms for their portraits. Because of this, I don’t require the newborn to be 2-3 days old like many newborn photographers. (Some photographers who use props require that your newborn be only just a few days old so that they can pose a certain way while staying asleep). In fact, since my focus is really more on motherhood and the irreplaceable moments of connection between a mother and child- it’s really important that mom has some time after the birth to feel a bit more like herself because mothers play a huge role in each of my newborn sessions.
The best time to schedule a newborn session is two weeks after the mother’s due date. This isn’t always an exact possibility, as of course sessions are scheduled around my availability. This is why I always encourage expecting moms to reach out to me early on to ensure a better chance of having a session opening around this time. Of course, babies will arrive on their own terms, but at least we have a guideline to go by of what the session day will be. From experience, when I stick to this general rule, the session date should be around the seven to twenty one day mark the majority of the time. I personally find that the sweet spot for my style of photography is around two weeks old. The younger they are, the more apt they are to stay asleep and curl easier into their swaddles. If the baby is older than 2 weeks, our only possible challenge is that the baby will be awake for more of the session, which can sometimes be more difficult as the baby is usually wanting to eat more than usual or can be fussier. But I never turn away a newborn or baby session merely because the baby has missed the “window of time” for the sleepy traditional shoots. Instead, I’ll refocus the session on the fact that the baby will be awake for most of it. I work every month with babies between a week to four weeks old, and we always achieve beautiful photos.
Where will we shoot?
The session takes place in the client's home, preferably in the nursery, master bedroom, and living room. We can also take some photos outdoors if the weather permits. When I arrive at a new home I ask for a quick tour of areas you’d be comfortable with me using and I study the light and backgrounds as we go – sometimes the best images are made next to a window seat. Do not worry about your house being a mess—you just had a baby! All you need to do to prepare is open the blinds/curtains to let in as much light as possible. I'll quickly push things out of the area I'm shooting so that your home will appear to be spotless in the photos. Don't be surprised if I move some furniture around, I'm just working to get the best light in your home. I'll put it all back where it was! :-) The only thing I will ask you to do is have your bed made with a neutral quilt/comforter on top. Your bed makes for a great place for cuddly family photos! (If you have lot's of natural light in the master bedroom).
What should mom and dad wear?
I recommend keeping it simple and comfortable. Neutral, light (creams, whites, grays or pastel tones) work best as they don't take away from the natural beauty of your baby. Solid or floral tops, and specially fabrics with lace work best. Moms look great in A-line dresses or maxi dresses, plus they are supper comfortable to pose in. Stay away from prominent logos or writing on clothing. For dad, a solid color t-shirt or button down shirt is ideal, depending if you are going for a more casual or dressed up look.
What should the baby wear?
A knitted set is the absolute best option. From experience babies stay warm, happy and comfortable in these sets during the session. Chose one that goes with the color scheme of the nursery room. There are always available at the local children's boutique 'Barquito de Papel'.
Will you help us pose?
I’ll give some posing direction but I encourage you to fall into what feels most natural. To be honest, most clients really want me to simply tell them what to do, so I will put them into flattering positions and then ask them to act naturally. Don't worry! I will let you know if what you are doing is not working the best angle for the camera. If toddlers will be part of the session, most of the times I simply let them fun and capture the moment!
Will you use any props for our newborn session like what I see on Pinterest?
I value providing my clients with timeless portraits that can be treasured for generations. I do my best to avoid current trends, and prefer to focus on photographing beautiful and authentic moments. My newborn session approach is more about capturing the connection between a new baby and the parents, showing every emotion.
How do I book a session?
A $50 non refundable security deposit required at booking to save the time and date you desire. One I receive the deposit, all other inquiries for that date are turned down, I only schedule one at home session per day, since I will end up spending all afternoon with your family .
