NEWBORN PREPARATION GUIDE for your home session with The Fitzroys photography
I thought it might be helpful to write down few points on how to prepare before the home session - hope this will help a little.
Just a simple thing to remember with newborns, the more they sleep the easier it is for us to move them around into the sweet sleepy newborn poses on their own and with siblings and parents. I will work around everything, so do not worry.
You are also welcome to use any of your own props. Items with colour and texture help make unique images. If you have toys, hats, props or family heirlooms you would like to use in the session, please let us know so we can advise on what will work best on the day. Just gather all the props you would like to use during the session.
“whooping cough”
I am up to date with my whooping cough vaccinations. I do not photograph newborn babies if I am even remotely unwell, so if I contact you to reschedule, please know it’s in the best interest of your baby. I will give as much notice as possible.
“working with children check”
Tick! I have a current WWC check
“safe session”
I hope this puts your mind at ease knowing that to update my training I recently spent the day refreshing my First Aid and CPR. I can say:
- I am insured
- I am trained in CPR & First Aid (baby, children & and adults)
- I have completed workshop on Newborn Safety and received training on Safety Management, Risk Management, First Aid Risk Assessment
- I am up to date with the seasonal Flu vaccination (latest booster administered in May 2019)
It’s my goal to make sure you walk away with not only beautiful photographs, but also having had a beautiful experience and a big part of that is you knowing that your children’s safety comes first, and that your little one will be safely handled at all times.
Your baby and your family are my number one priority.
“Sickness”
I do not photograph newborn babies if I am even remotely unwell, so if I contact you to reschedule, please know its in the best interest of your baby. I will give as much notice as possible, and will arrange an alternative day for you to come in that works for you. Please be aware this may fall outside of the 6-14 day range I typically photograph babies however given my experience in photography I am able to create beautiful images for you regardless. I will give as much notice as possible.
What to expect:
When I first arrive, after saying hello of course, I will scope out your home for areas with the best light and the most picture friendly colours/decor. I primarily shoot newborn lifestyle images in the master bedroom and living room (sometimes nursery), however it’s more about finding the rooms with the best light and colour scheme.
The baby will typically determine the flow of the session. If she/he is hungry when I arrive, then I will start with some feeding shots. If sleeping soundly in the crib then I’ll start with some crib and nursery shots. So really, there is no set schedule or plan; as a parent myself, I’ve learned to adapt.
Although this is lifestyle session, I do offer gentle guidance for posing to get the ball rolling and help clients settle in. But I will mainly hunt for moments between parents and new baby, so any directions from me will be kept to minimum.
With all above in mind, I will guide you what to do or advise if sitting/standing position isn't working etc. so please don’t worry -your images will be naturally beautiful and about you.
I will make use of your home, your décor, your furniture, etc… I may need to move some things around or take a frame off the wall; I promise to move everything back. It’s really about getting THE shot and avoiding distractions in the images.
“keep your new routine”
Feeding your newborn baby will become your biggest priority once they are born. You may find yourself in a semi-regular pattern of feeding by the time it is time for your session (generally every 2-4 hours).
On that note – please keep in mind that your session will take up to 3 hours, sometimes even 4, especially with siblings. Yes, you heard right! Please don’t make any other appointments to follow your session, as you may become anxious and put pressure on yourself to rush through. My whole aim for your duration is to maintain a calm environment and to enjoy watching your baby in their very first photo shoot.
If you have an older child, I do understand that this is a long time for them: the best way to manage this is to keep them busy and at play the time we carry on with the new baby. I let older siblings settle in and become comfortable before I start photographing them if they are a little shy. I’m not about pushing small children into getting their photo taken, I prefer to get them interested and involved so that they are willing participants. I adore interacting with older siblings and getting their portrait too.
If your toddler still has naps, then the early start time of around 10am should be ok to get images in time for them to have their sleep afterwards.
I can almost guarantee you that siblings may be reluctant participants. Bribes are a necessary evil, so have a think about what currency works for your children!
How to prepare:
Prep your space: Your home does not have to be perfect. I promise. It’s your home and it’s supposed to look lived in, and if you have little ones, it's VERY well lived in. You don’t have to hire a professional cleaning company before your session or redecorate the living room; I’m there to focus on you and the interactions with your new baby. Instead, focus on uncluttering your home which means just tidying up a bit and basically putting stuff in the room where it belongs (no coats on couch or towels on bed sort of thing) and just toss the rest in a closet until I leave. Giving windows or mirrors a quick wipe does goes long way because streaks or dust on these surfaces can be very obvious in photographs. If you happen to love plants, display them - green looks incredible on photographs. Same with flower arrangements (simpler the better).
I love taking family photos on mom & dad’s bed, so please make the bed. Prepare bed throw (if not already in use), and keep bed linen plain. Cushions and bed throw will pop more on plain bedding. The couch, anywhere comfy and snuggly is where we will shoot too so let’s have the spaces clutter free. No need to clean, but just try and make sure the clutter has found its way to a closet in the spare rooms.
Generally, try to clear surfaces out of everyday items, leave anything that has decorative purpose.
You can collect any items you want used in the session beforehand such as blankets or stuffed animals. We’ll go through these together to determine what and how we can use the items in your session.
What to Wear
Keep in mind that I'm documenting a day in your life, so keep it real by wearing what you’re most comfortable in and by being yourself. I encourage neutral colours, steering away from t-shirts with logos or bold patterns. Casual clothing is perfect and bare feet look most natural in a home setting. Complement colours with all family members opposed to match.
I have put together a seperate guide for clients that would like to read more about the ideas on how to dress for the shoot.
For baby I recommend just a neutral coloured onesie. I realise there are tons of really cute baby clothes but it’s rare to find any that fit properly or that won’t be distracting in photos. You can swaddle baby in a warm blanket until I arrive; they tend to like that and it’s a sweet photo op for me.
I Love Light!
Natural light is the most flattering. Before we arrive, please have all your curtains and blinds open. Once I arrive, I will do a quick walk through of your home looking for the best natural light for us to get familiar with your space and best places with pockets of light, usually wherever there is a large window.
Prepping Baby
Interact with and keep baby awake for1-2 hours before your session to ensure he/she is good and sleepy for the session. We love “milk drunk” babies! Please feed and burp the baby right before the session to ensure baby is happy and sleepy.
Also, baby should be fed as much as possible in the 12 hours that precede the session. This will allow for baby to sleep as deeply and as long as possible.
Safety!
Safety is my utmost number one top priority when handling your baby, so either mom or dad will be my spotter/assistant when we prepare baby for the shot on their own.
Munchies!
Chances are I will be with you close to4 hours so I highly recommend eating a good hearty breakfast before my arrival and have snacks ready for when you get peckish.
Relax
I know this can be a very exciting and stressful time for you, especially when adding the lack of sleep in the mix! As much as my goal is for baby to be comfortable, I also want you to be comfortable and at ease! A baby can sense your anxiety and we want to keep the environment as mellow as possible. I am not in a rush and I will not bail because the baby isn’t sleeping or cooperating. Take some deep breaths and enjoy this time with your new baby.
The baby may get fussy, but we will get great shots; sometimes it just takes time to calm down the little bundle of joy. We let the baby take the lead. Sometimes the baby will need to eat, get anew nappy and just need to cuddle with mama.
Ultimately, I want you to enjoy this experience as much as I enjoy capturing it. It’s ok to be a bit nervous. I have to admit that I don’t get in front of the camera much myself! But I can guarantee you that you will not regret having these memories to cherish.
Having me photograph these precious moments for you, means a lot to me so anything I can do to make it a smooth journey for you, please don’t hesitate to let me know!
Aga x