Here’s answers to some of the most common questions I get asked about newborn sessions. If your question isn’t here please contact me and I’ll be happy to help.

When should I schedule my newborn session?

I’ve had moms contact me from their birthing rooms to schedule newborn sessions—no kidding—and I’ve had dads call once everyone is home and settled. Because the window for true newborn portraits is so small I always make room in my schedule for them, but the earlier you contact me the better flexibly I’ll have in getting a time that works great for your family. I like to photograph newborns before they’re two weeks old as this helps ensure they’re still curled and wrinkly from the womb.

In-home or in the studio for our newborn session?

This is really personal preference. I do most of my newborn sessions in my studios. I do so many of them in fact that I have a studio dedicated to newborns and it has everything we’ll need to make beautiful portraits. But sometimes clients prefer the background of their own home because it adds personalization to their portraits. No matter which you choose you can count on having a beautiful newborn session with gorgeous portraits.

Can I bring older siblings to the newborn session?

Absolutely! Your newborn’s portraits will likely be your family’s first family portrait with your newest member so definitely bring older siblings along. I wrote a blog post about including older siblings in the newborn session, you can read it here.

Do you pose newborns?

Newborn babies are stunning just as they are and that’s what my photography captures—your beautiful baby just as he is. Every infant has their own little gestures, their own way of holding their arms and tucking their legs, their own lip pouts and face scrunches, even sometimes little smiles. I photograph those things so you’ll remember how your newborn really looked, not how I contorted them into unnatural poses.

What if I need to reschedule my session?

I’ve been photographing babies and children for many, many years and what I’ve learned is things can change in a hurry. If something happens that makes you think your child won’t be her best for portraits just call and we’ll reschedule. I never charge for rescheduling.

What clothing should I bring to my baby’s session?

You bring the baby, I have everything else we need! Parents love that I have everything needed for their baby to wear—all the white onesies, swaddles and diaper covers we’ll need are right here in the studio. I photograph older babies in my classic white diaper cover because it shows off their fabulous baby skin. If grandma has knitted a special sweater or your child will be baptized in a family heirloom gown—feel free to bring those along for once-in-a-lifetime portraits. You can learn more about dressing your newborn for her session here.

How long will my session take?

Some babies take longer to warm up and some come in ready to go! Plan to be with me about an hour—sometimes a bit longer, sometimes not quite so long—it really depends on your child. Typically the older the child the faster the session goes. Because newborns may need a break to eat or have a diaper change their sessions can sometimes run a bit longer than an hour.

What’s the best time for my baby’s portrait session?

I recommend scheduling your session around your baby’s eating and napping schedule. Most babies do best in the morning, but some are better just after lunch, or after their afternoon nap. Very young babies who aren’t on a schedule can be woken easily for portraits.

Can I bring my dog or cat to the studio?

I learned this one the hard way but because some children I photograph have severe allergies to dogs and cats I don’t allow animals in the studio. If you’d like to include your pets in your portraits let’s talk about scheduling a session in your home or outside at a local park.