Session Prep

Fresh 48 Prep | Indianapolis Newborn Photographer

in

I’m honored to capture these raw and emotional moments for you. As a mother myself I know how crazy and emotional those first few days in the hospital can be. You may be a new parent, trying to figure it all out. Or you may be seasoned and this is your 2nd or 3rd…..or 4th. (: Either way, there is a new little human in your life and I want to document your love for this new being soon after he/she arrives. These will not be the images you print and hang on the wall - they will be the ones you put in a book and look over several times as your baby grows up and remember the time surrounding his/her arrival. This moment will only happen once and I’m so happy you decided to have quality images taken to document it and to keep forever.

PRE-BABY:

  • Once you book, please put my number in your phone (765-749-4388)

  • I ask that you keep me posted about your due date if anything changes. If your doctor schedules an induction also please let me know.

  • Text me when you are on your way to the hospital

BABY IS HERE!

  • Text me to let me know once baby arrives.

  • We’ll discuss the best time to hold your Fresh 48 session. Fresh 48 sessions will occur during the day to maximize the natural light available. Let me know if there are siblings you want to include and I’ll try to coordinate with you when they will be at the hospital.

  • Text me your room number and if there is a security code I need to enter the ward. (or sometimes it’s easier for Dad to come get me)

PREP:

  • Pack away your bags and put them in a closet or bathroom so the room is "tidy" for pics.

  • As for dress, for mom I recommend something simple like a plain tank top and comfy pants or I have some mom's that wear a nice robe from home.  For baby- he/she can be in anything - diaper, swaddle, onesie.  Really can't go wrong with baby and it's all about remembering the time so whatever you have him/her in when I get there will be fine I'm sure. I do like to get some shots of fingers, toes, etc. so at some point we'll strip down to diaper and get some close ups of features.  Sometimes we wait until the end for that as it might upset them. For dad I also recommend something simple.

  • Try to time a feeding so that he/she eats before I get there. (if you do want some nursing photos, please let me know and I’m more than happy to capture that for you)

WHAT TO EXPECT:

  • The session will last 30-45 minutes.

  • Once I arrive I’ll open up the blinds to try to maximize the light in the room.

  • There is not much formal posing but I will help direct you to get the best images. I will place you and baby in the best light but sometimes light in a small hospital room can be sparse. We will spend a lot of time near the windows but in some cases the overhead lights will have to do.

  • I don’t mind if a few extended family members join but I recommend they are only there for a short period and not the entire session. Most hospital rooms are small!!

POST-SESSION:

  • I will post a sneak peek on Facebook & Instagram within 2 days unless you opted out (in that case I email them to you).

  • Final images will be delivered to you via online gallery within 2 weeks of your session (3 weeks max if your session was during fall busy season).

2020-01-10_0010.jpg

Prepping for a Studio Newborn Session | Indianapolis Newborn Photographer

in

Thank you for choosing me to capture your little one at this precious, amazing, crazy time in your lives.  This phase will go by quickly so having these images will be wonderful reminders of how tiny your little one once was and how you felt when you brought your baby home. 

I'm looking forward to hosting you in my studio and I want to make it a comfortable and painless process.  Please use these tips and information to prep for the session to ensure it goes as smooth as possible:

*Try to keep baby awake for a couple hours before you leave for the session. Give baby a bath to keep him/her awake, interact with him/her, tickle feet. I know - so counter-intuitive to what you want to do, but again, we want baby nice and sleepy (:  Maybe even ride next to baby in the car on the way over to keep him/her entertained.  

* The goal is to have baby nice and full for the session, so I HIGHLY recommend feeding baby when you arrive.  This makes a HUGE difference and will make the session much smoother. I have a boppy you can use. (I will remind you when you arrive but strip baby down to his/her diaper for this feeding and please take a wet cloth during this time and wipe down baby's face/body to eliminate skin flakes and "eye boogers." If baby is super flaky you may consider using a baby-safe lotion (nothing greasy though!).)

*Please bring an extra bottle of breastmilk or formula. It’s easier to feed baby quickly in the studio if he/she becomes unsettled.

* If baby takes a pacifier, please bring it with. And even if baby does not take a pacifier, bring one and if you are comfortable, we may use it if baby appears that they just want to suck. I have some new ones in the studio as well. Newborns are so fresh they haven’t developed real patterns of liking/not-liking pacifiers. I know new parents are often reluctant and again I would never force a baby to use a paci if parents don’t approve, but as a mom of three, pacifiers were often a helpful tool.

*If you use cloth diapers please plan on bringing disposable ones for the session or I have some in the studio. The diaper stays on for the majority of the session and cloth diapers are too bulky.

*MOMS: This one’s for you! Take care of yourself! Don’t forget to eat and bring water (or I’ll have water here). I know you usually carry the heavy load getting everyone ready for photos but don’t forget about your own self-care.

* My studio will be quite warm to help keep baby asleep and comfortable - so plan for that. 

* I have plenty of hats, wraps, blankets, etc so you don't have to worry about providing anything.  My studio sessions are completely planned out based on the colors and info you provided in the questionnaire.  My workflow revolves around the props, wraps and accessories I will be using and I work in a manner that helps babies stay asleep the entire session, after he/she initially falls asleep.  If you have a special outfit you want photographed on baby, please let me know beforehand, but understand that will probably compromise one of my other setups. 

* As for what to wear for mom, dad, and siblings (if applicable) - I suggest something simple.  Solid colors are good - patterns or wording take focus from the baby.

* Session flow: I will wrap baby first and rock out a couple sets. Sibling shots (if applicable) will be next and then some parent & family shots. Next will be more wrapped/half-wrapped baby sets and I save the naked shots for last. Please let me know if naked shots are desired or not. Note: naked shots are the least priority on my list - if baby is awake and/or fussy they may not be possible. If baby is calm we’ll get some eye-open shots which are always awesome to have in your gallery. We may need a feeding break at some point if baby becomes unsettled. NOTE: if several siblings are involved, we may discuss tackling sibling and family shots first to get those out of the way. I like to minimize distractions in the studio so I suggest keeping younger siblings in the playroom until they are needed for photos.

*The questionnaire you fill out prior to the session is the time to let me know if you have any specific poses you want.  Also PLEASE do not arrive and show me a bunch of Pinterest ideas on your phone.   I already will have a detailed workflow planned out and I don't like to be mean and say "no."  (:  It’s better to send me photos from my own portfolio beforehand that you like.

*Normal session time is 2-3 hours but that is just an estimate - sometimes they are quick and easy, sometimes they last longer than planned.   Don't stress if it's taking awhile to get baby settled - it's all part of the process.  I will never rush through a newborn set, pose, etc. just because it’s taking a long time. Patience is key and necessary when dealing with babies. I can never guarantee we will be done at a certain time to accommodate older siblings’ schedules, work schedules, etc. We are on the baby’s schedule. I suggest you clear your schedule for the part of the day you’ll be with me. Enjoy the process. It’s actually pretty fun to watch. (:

*Just to be upfront, my family or portions of my family might be home (my husband works in the basement and depending on the time of the year, my kids may be home).  They are used to this routine and will be completely out of the way as my studio is closed off. We do not have any pets. 

*Depending on availability, I may have an assistant who is trained and has worked with me several times before. In the absence of an assistant there may be a couple poses I ask a parent to spot or help.

*Regarding Covid, my assistant and I are fully vaccinated. We wear masks and sanitize throughout the session to ensure we are taking all measures to keep everyone safe.

*Lastly, you need to know how to get here!  My address is 6525 Briarwood Place, Zionsville. 

*After the session I will post a sneak peek on Facebook and Instagram within two days, unless you opted out.  An online gallery with all images will be delivered to you within 14 days (21 days max during peak fall season).

*Please let me know if you have any questions and I look forward to meeting you and your new addition! 

Rescheduling Notice: Please note that if I am sick, I will reschedule our session. Per my contract, if that puts us outside the window of 3 weeks of age, you have the option to cancel your contract and I will return your deposit. Babies can be photographed successfully outside of the 3 week window but I don’t want to compromise your desired results and I definitely do not want to risk the health of your baby. I will always be open and honest about my health (which good news, I am typically a healthy person - but I have kids and kids tend to bring those germs home). (: Since my studio is in my home, I also will have an open discussion with you if any of my family members are sick and we can mutually decide how to proceed.

Prepping for a Studio Mini Newborn Session | Indianapolis Newborn Photographer

in

Thank you for choosing me to capture your little one at this precious, amazing, crazy time in your lives.  This phase will go by quickly so having these images will be wonderful reminders of how tiny your little one once was and how you felt when you brought your baby home. 

I'm looking forward to hosting you in my studio and I want to make it a comfortable and painless process.  Please use these tips and information to prep for the session to ensure it goes as smooth as possible:

*Try to keep baby awake for a couple hours before you leave for the session. Give baby a bath to keep him/her awake, interact with him/her, tickle feet. I know - so counter-intuitive to what you want to do, but again, we want baby nice and sleepy (:  Maybe even ride next to baby in the car on the way over to keep him/her entertained.  

* The goal is to have baby nice and full for the session, so I HIGHLY recommend feeding baby when you arrive.  This makes a HUGE difference and will help ensure a smooth session. I have a boppy you can use. (I will remind you when you arrive but strip baby down to his/her diaper for this feeding and please take a wet cloth during this time and wipe down baby's face/body to eliminate skin flakes and "eye boogers." If baby is super flaky you may consider using a baby-safe lotion (nothing greasy!))

*Please bring an extra bottle of breastmilk or formula. It’s easier to feed baby quickly in the studio if he/she becomes unsettled.

* If baby takes a pacifier, please bring it with. And even if baby does not take a pacifier, bring one and if you are comfortable, we may use it if baby appears that they just want to suck. I have some new ones in the studio as well. Newborns are so fresh they haven’t developed real patterns of liking/not-liking pacifiers. I know new parents are often reluctant and again I would never force a baby to use a paci if parents don’t approve, but as a mom of three, pacifiers were often a helpful tool.

*If you use cloth diapers please plan on bringing disposable ones for the session or I have some in the studio. The diaper stays on for the majority of the session and cloth diapers are too bulky.

*MOMS: This one’s for you! Take care of yourself! Don’t forget to eat and bring water (or I have water here). I know you usually carry the heavy load getting everyone ready for photos but don’t forget about your own self-care.

* My studio will be quite warm to help keep baby asleep and comfortable - so plan for that. 

* I have plenty of hats, wraps, blankets, etc so you don't have to worry about providing anything.  My mini studio sessions are completely planned out based on the colors and info you provided in the questionnaire.  My workflow revolves around the props, wraps and accessories I will be using and I work in a manner that pretty much guarantees that baby will stay asleep the entire session, after he/she initially falls asleep.  I typically do not allow special outfits for mini sessions. If you want more flexibility with such things, consider a full session as it provides more time and flexibility to get more special requests in.  Note: hats and headbands are easy to slip on and off so those are no big deal to add as long as they match the wraps I'm using. 

* As for what to wear for mom, dad, and siblings (if applicable) - I suggest something simple.  Solid colors are good - patterns or wording take focus from the baby.

* Session flow: I will wrap baby first, layering a few different wraps so I can interchange wraps when needed without fully unwrapping baby. One set up will be a fully wrapped babe, next will be a sibling set up (if applicable), then parent/family shots. We’ll end with a set up with my first layer that will showcase more of baby (typically revealing baby’s legs).

*The questionnaire you fill out prior to the session is the time to let me know if you have any specific poses you want.  Remember - this is a wrapped session so do not plan on any naked shots.  If you want naked shots, then lets talk about upgrading to a full session because those take longer both posing baby and during post processing.  Also PLEASE do not arrive and show me a bunch of Pinterest ideas on your phone.   I already will have a detailed workflow planned out and I don't like to be mean and say "no."  (:  It’s better to send me photos from my portfolio that you like before the session.

*Normal session time is 60-75 minutes but that is just an estimate - sometimes they are quick and easy, sometimes they last longer than planned.   Don't stress if it's taking awhile to get baby settled - it's all part of the process.  I will never rush through a newborn set, pose, etc. just because it’s taking a long time. Patience is key and necessary when dealing with babies. I can never guarantee we will be done at a certain time to accommodate older siblings’ schedules, work schedules, etc. We are on the baby’s schedule. I suggest you clear your schedule for the part of the day you’ll be with me. Enjoy the process. It’s actually pretty fun to watch. (:

*More than likely, I will have an assistant helping me that has worked with me several times.

*Regarding Covid, my assistant and I are fully vaccinated. We wear masks and sanitize throughout the session to ensure we are taking all measures to keep everyone safe.

*Just to be upfront, my family or portions of my family might be home.  They are used to this routine and will be completely out of the way as my studio is closed off. We do not have any pets. 

*Lastly, you need to know how to get here!  My address is 6525 Briarwood Place, Zionsville. 

*After the session I will post a sneak peek on social media within two days.  My typical turnaround for proofs is one week or less.  Once you choose your 10 favorites (or all of them), expect a 7-14 day turnaround.  Turnaround times are subject to change depending on my workload at the time but I will communicate expectations with you. NOTE: Proofs will not be fully edited.  They will be cropped and have basic exposure and color corrections.  I will complete all of the detail editing for the images you select, including redness removal, extending backgrounds, blemish removal, etc. The final images will be much more polished than the proofs. 

*Please let me know if you have any questions and I look forward to meeting you and your new addition! 

Rescheduling Notice: Please note that if I am sick, I will reschedule our session. Per my contract, if that puts us outside the window of 3 weeks of age, you have the option to cancel your contract and I will return your deposit. Babies can be photographed successfully outside of the 3 week window but I don’t want to compromise your desired results and I definitely do not want to risk the health of your baby. I will always be open and honest about my health (which good news, I am typically a healthy person - but I have kids and kids tend to bring those germs home). (: Since my studio is in my home, I also will have an open discussion with you if any of my family members are sick and we can mutually decide how to proceed.

Prepping for an In-home Lifestyle Newborn Session | Indianapolis Newborn Photographer

in

Lifestyle newborn sessions are one of my favorite sessions.  They feature more of a documentary style than the traditional posed sessions.  The goal is not to make everything look perfect (although many families make it look like adding a child to their household is a piece of cake) - the goal is to capture the emotion of those first couple weeks after birth.  Most of the session is unposed. I may direct you based on lighting, but most of the session is meant to be natural and free-flowing. Speaking of lighting, if your house does not have much natural light and is on the dark side, then we may want to reconsider the type of newborn session you want. If it’s summertime, we may consider an outdoor session. At other times of the year, consider a studio option. If anything, let’s discuss and you can send me some pics of your house to assess the situation.

Scheduling

Since it is pretty much impossible to know exactly when your little one will be born, at this point we will just set a tentative date based upon your due date.  However, once your little one arrives, make sure to email me or text me (765-749-4388) so we can agree on a session date that works for both of us.  I like to schedule lifestyle newborn sessions during that first month. 

Session Length

Lifestyle newborn sessions typically last about 1.5 hours.  If baby is upset, we'll take a break.  Feeding time is also a great time to get some photos taken, whether mom is breastfeeding or dad is feeding with a bottle.  Trust me - you will want to remember everything! 

Session Prep

TIDY UP - I completely understand that you just brought a little human home and babies need so many things!  And these new things are probably scattered throughout your home.  If you can, please tidy up in any rooms that we may use during the session.  Your bedroom and the nursery are popular spots, if they have ample light.  Make the bed, pick up any random bedside table items, etc.  Less is more.  If conditions are good, we can also venture outside. 

AWAKE - Try to keep baby awake for a couple hours before I arrive.  Give baby a bath, play with baby, tickle his/her feet.  It will help assure that baby will be tired when it's time to sleep for the session. 

FEED - I recommend feeding baby right before I arrive, that way we have the best chance of a cooperative and happy baby during our session.  As I mentioned earlier, if we need to take a break for feeding, no big deal!

WARDROBE: As for what to wear for mom and dad - I suggest something simple.  Solid colors are good - busy patterns or wording take away focus from the baby.   (:  As for baby's wardrobe, a plain white onesie is perfect. We can also do some in just a diaper if you want. I HIGHLY discourage putting the baby in any complete outfits (pants+shirts, dresses, etc.).  Newborns don't fit in any clothes very well and they just end up being baggy/awkward and covering the baby's face and cute features.  Newborn sessions are about the newness and tiny little features - clothes cover all of that up. 

Go-Time

WALKTHROUGH - When I arrive, I will first perform a walkthrough of the house to determine the best rooms for photographing your family and little one.  Lifestyle sessions are shot with all natural light so I'm looking for rooms with nice and ample light.  We may even use a guest bedroom that you never use, if the lighting is good.

NATURAL - I try to let the session flow naturally.  I will definitely help pose and direct you into the best light but I look for cues from baby and mom and dad to get some great natural shots.  We will get a variety of images and groupings from the session.  If there is any specific shot you want, please let me know.  Lastly, relax.  Gaze at your newborn and smile and trust me, the session will come together perfectly.  Lifestyle sessions are so amazing because the emotions are so real. 

After the Session

I will post a sneak peek on Facebook and Instagram within 2 days, unless you opted out.  Post processing of all of the photos will be completed within 14 days (21 days max during peak fall season) and I will send you a link to your online gallery.

If you have any questions at all, do not hesitate to email me or give me a call at 765-749-4388.