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.
