Congratulations

YOU DID IT!

Bringing new life into this world is HARD. 

But here you are! Whether you're a postpartum mom reading this with a baby tucked in her arms, an expecting parent, a new dad wondering if you'll ever sleep again, adoptive parents marveling that your miracle is ACTUALLY here, IVF parents, first-time parents, or tenth time over parents...I am so proud of you!

Having the honor of documenting your newest family member for the first time isn't something that I'll ever get over -- even after thousands of newborns!

Over the next few pages, I'll help get you ready for our session, along with walking you through my process so you can relax and enjoy this magical time in your life! 

WHEN TO BOOK YOUR SESSION 

The last thing I wanted to do when my babies were a few days old was leave the house, so I like to give new parents at least a week to acclimate to life with their baby.

Newborns' heaviest sleep weeks are before the two-week mark, so I've found the sweet spot for recovered moms and a sleepy baby is between 10-15 days.

Sometimes schedules (both mine and yours!) make that five-day window tough to catch, but don't worry!

I've successfully photographed babies as young as 2 days up to three months with modifications for NICU stays. Your baby is in experienced hands with me. 

WHY 10 AM? 

When in the womb, most pregnant women are active during the morning/afternoon and move less in the evening before falling asleep at night.

The rocking motion during her active times is what lulls baby to sleep, and usually, when she lays down, that's when baby is most active and kicking!

During the first few weeks, baby will have a backward sleep schedule, which will make for sleepless nights for parents but usually helps for a nice sleepy newborn session for me!

Starting at 10 am is a good time to catch your newborn's deepest sleep and allow travel time along with time to do any hair/outfit/makeup prep for yourself! 

WHAT IF BABY DOESN'T SLEEP? 

If you get to the session, and baby is ready to rock and roll...please don't stress! Newborns can have awake periods of up to two hours so we'll spend this time capturing some awake shots!

There is no such thing as a "bad" baby.

My heart breaks anytime I have parents tell me that previous sessions with older children resulted in a crying baby, an upset photographer, and stressed-out parents.

Over the next few pages, I'll walk you through my method that you may have heard about, I call it unsoothing as opposed to trying to soothe a newborn to sleep.

Don't be worried about the term, this method is gentle and baby-led for sleep, and has worked for every session I've done! 

WHILE YOU'RE AT HOME 

One part to my unsoothing method is having a baby who is ready to sleep. If you want to start the process before you leave, you can do your best to create an environment where your baby is NOT sleeping.

Some ways to keep baby awake:

Feed baby 2 hours before the session start time After feeding, don't actively try to get baby to sleep-- let them be awake!

If baby is fussing, you can soothe them--we don't want a crying baby!

This is a great window of time to give baby a bath! Not only will it keep baby awake, but it will fluff up greasy hair and clean off any grimy folds newborns can get around their necks!

Letting baby kick unswaddled in a warm room is a great way for them to wear themselves out!

BUT: if any of this is stressing you or baby out, please just let baby snooze and we'll still have an amazing session! 

WHAT TO WEAR - Moms  

If you're a mom who has just given birth in the last few weeks, finding something that fits can be a challenge. My goal is to show you how beautiful you truly are - even if you don't feel it.

I highly suggest loose, flowy, and textured!

Whether it's a maternity gown you love, a favorite comfy sweater, or a color you feel beautiful in--bring it! Maternity jeans/leggings work well, the focus will be on you + baby.

I also have maternity gowns available if you would like to use one of mine! Check them out at withersphotos.com/closet

Feel free to bring a curling iron, hairspray, and dry shampoo! I do family shots at the end of the session so you'll have plenty of time to get camera ready while I'm photographing baby only!

Please be mindful of your nails, as your hands will be photographed. Chipped polish, dirty or ragged nails will cause a delay in receiving your final images due to extensive editing. 

WHAT TO WEAR -Dads 

In the spirit of keeping this session stress free, I highly recommend dads go simple with their clothes. Snug t-shirts are the way to go, excessive fabric from dress shirts and collars can hinder posing tiny babies in their dad's arms.

Don't worry about any "dad bods", because first and foremost all bodies are good bodies, and secondly, the focus is mainly going to be elbow and up with a heavy dose of cuteness happening in your arms!

Like with mom, please be mindful of dirty or ragged nails! Filing and scrubbing them will keep the editing time down for me! 

WHAT TO WEAR -Siblings 

For family photos to stand the test of time and not look dated, pick classic pieces from your children's closets or head to target and buy clothes that match your family's personalities and complement each others' color choices.

Everyone wearing the same color/shade can look too matchy-matchy, don't hesitate to email me with outfit ideas in the days before your shoot! If you need help or inspiration, I can send suggestions.

Again - avoid collars, clothing that is too large and skirts and dresses that are too short without bloomers.

And same with mom and dads...please make sure your children's nails are clean, trimmed and have no chipped nail polish! 

BRINGING ITEMS FROM HOME DO'S AND DON'TS  

I love incorporating personal items and family heirlooms into sessions! But not all items are actually appropriate sized for tiny babies!

DO: bring a special receiving blanket! Bonus points if it has a pretty matching headband like this one!

DON'T: bring "newborn sized" crocheted hats from big chain department stores. Spoiler alert: they aren't newborn sized. 

DO: bring a special prop to the session! I'll do my best to use it, but be mindful extra posing may cut into other poses that you may want me to do!

DON'T: bring cheap diaper covers or props you find online! If there's any specific themed prop you're interested in, let me know and I'll check to see if I already have something we can use, OR point you in the right direction to buy something that photographs well! 

DO: bring a helper if you need to! Grandparents are welcome, along with nannies and babysitters!

DO: bring a bottle if you've done any bottle feeding. One bottle of pumped milk or formula could make a huge difference in baby's sleepiness if a full belly is what will help them stay in a deep sleep!

DON'T: stress if you haven't bottle fed baby and prefer to stick with breastfeeding! You're doing great! 

ARRIVING TO THE STUDIO 

When you first arrive at my studio, get comfortable in the Studio or living room area!

The living room will be kept cool to keep baby awake while eating! A warm room while cuddling and getting a belly filled is a good way to have a baby fall asleep before they've eaten enough to stay sleeping!

The newborn studio will be HOT - 80-85o, so the living room will be a place for adults and older siblings to stay comfortable.

Before feeding baby, please have baby only in their diaper! Feel free to swaddle them with a blanket while they eat if needed!

We provide bottled water for anyone who needs it during the session, but due to allergies, we don't keep snacks in the studio! Feel free to bring

anything you need! 

DURING THE SESSION 

Once we're done setting up and baby has a full belly, it's time to step into the warm and cozy newborn studio!

If baby is awake and happy, I'll be sure to document the many expressions that newborns make. Remember, babies can be awake for up to two hours, so instead of trying to soothe your baby to sleep (essentially giving them a nap to give them more energy!), we'll spend however long it takes unsoothing your newborn.

If unsoothing lasts over an hour, I may have you feed baby one last time when they start to get sleepy - this will ensure a full tummy while I photograph them over the next two hours.

Speaking of behind the scenes images... Those are encouraged! Feel free to whip out your phone or camera and take as many photos and videos as you'd like! Or relax and use us as your glorified babysitters while your little freshy's gets their first photoshoot! 

FAMILY PORTRAITS 

I leave family portraits for the end for a few very important reasons:

First and most importantly, babies tend to sleep easier when wrapped or being held - both of which happens during family photos. If we "waste" this sleepy time at the beginning, baby is getting energy saved up for a potential long awake time. This could take a 2-3 hour session closer to a 5 hour session.

I like older siblings to have a chance to get comfortable with me and in my studio. Hopefully you chose me as your photographer for truly happy looking kids - this only happens if they're feeling safe and trust me!

This gives time for parents to change and get ready to have their photos taken! 

THANK-YOU. 

I have the very best job in the world.

And what I've found throughout the last 4 years of photographing newborns is that it's not just about taking pretty photos of pretty little babies.

It's about being there for new parents, and making this one day a relaxing one - not adding to your stress, but giving you a break to sit back and really marvel at this little life you've been chosen to be the parent of.

I hope the memories during the shoot are as beautiful as the photos you'll have as heirloom images for decades to come.

If you have any questions before, during or after your session with me, please don't hesitate to ask!