Things I Don't Want You To Stress About For Your Newborn Session

Newborn sessions are my absolute favorite. I love photographing families but newborns are my jam. But I know for some the thought of having a photographer come into their home 5-10 days after having a baby is stressful and maybe putting on a real outfit is the last think you want to do, but believe me this is not supposed to be stressful.

Here are all the things I don't want you to stress about:

1. How tidy your house is. Your house doesn’t need to be perfectly organized to be photographed. When I get there I will look for the room with the best light and we can move things around if need be in that room. If you’d like to know ahead of time where we will be taking pictures we can set up a FaceTime tour so I can tell you which rooms I think I would use that way you don’t have to worry about cleaning your whole house for the session. When I get there I can help tidy up the areas we will use. So, don't worry about making your house immaculate. You are tired what with caring for a new baby and all!

2.If your baby sleeps. I do not worry about if your baby is going to sleep during a newborn session. Babies are cute whether they’re sleeping or not, and we don’t need to waste time worrying and trying to make them fall sleep.

3. If your older child will participate. I want them to be comfortable and to have a good experience so if they are unwilling or not excited about participating then we will just see what we can get and MoveOn usually they come around and even if they’re not super excited or smiley we can still manage to get a few cute pictures.

4.If your baby will pose. This is a big one I do not post babies I think they’re beautiful the way they are I think simple is better when taking pictures of newborn I love the way they look when they’re just being myself I don’t force unnatural poses and I will not spend hours trying to get them to look perfect in a little ball or with their hands on their holding their head. I think the most important is that they are comfortable. Sometimes that means they can be on the bed being photographed and sometimes they are happier in your arms. We can go we can do the whole session with a baby in your arms if that’s where they feel comfortable and it will be beautiful. My goal is to take pictures of them how they feel most comfortable this is less stressful for you and your baby and that’s my number one priority.

5. Having the perfect coordinated outfits. Please don't coordinate. Wear what feels comfortable. That's the most important thing. You've had a baby and your body is healing. Being kind to yourself is the most important. Also, I'll be available for advice if you want! I also have a style guide and a Pinterest board that can help you find comfortable, beautiful outfits that photograph well for you and your family.

What to Look For in a Newborn Photographer

The photography business has changed a lot in the past couple of decades. It used to be the case that a typical photographer handled every type of session under the sun. We’re talking newborns to weddings to school portraits and everything in between. These days most photographers specialize in a certain style and session. Wedding photographers usually do engagements and sometimes maternity but usually that’s where they stop. Raleigh family photographers will typically do maternity, newborn and family shoots, but that’s not always the case. I know many photographers that only do newborns and some families but not maternity, or other that do families but not newborns.

So, when deciding on a Raleigh Newborn Photographer choose someone who specializes in newborn photography. You want to look for someone who has a few newborn sessions under their belt. Look for someone who shares a lot of newborn work, who shows that that is their focus and passion in their business. You wouldn’t go to a dentist if you had a broken leg, right? It’s the same idea.

Photographers spend thousands of hours in training to not only learn how to use their equipment, but also how to photograph different subjects in different situations. Just because someone has experience photographing couples or events, doesn’t mean they will be good at photographing newborns, and vice versa.

Here are some things to consider when looking for a Raleigh newborn photographer:

Location: Do you want a studio setting or do you want to shoot in your home? Choose a photographer who shoots in the location you want. Not every photographer uses a studio, so make sure the photographer offers the type of session you want. Some studios are white and bright, and some use dark backgrounds for a more dramatic look. I am a natural light photographer who does newborn sessions in your home. I do not use a studio or studio lights. Everything is done with the light from your windows. This means if it is very cloudy or rainy we will have to reschedule… but I guarantee waiting for sunshine is worth it!

Style of the poses Does it mesh with what you like? Do you want your baby in buckets and other props, or do you like the style that is more natural in nature? Are you expecting only photos where everyone is looking at the camera or do you like photos that incorporate more movement and connection (snuggling, hugging, playing). It’s important to look at the work of the photographer that you are booking and make sure you like style of the images they post because that is what you will get. If the photographer is posting mostly documentary/candid images they probably don’t use props and if they use props they will not usually photograph in a natural style.

Overall colors of the images There are several ways that a photographer expresses their style. Other than poses, photographers also control how the final image looks by the editing they do in post-processing. Cameras naturally take images with more muted color tones so photographers have to edit the pictures so they don’t look dull. But how they edit them is completely up to their personal preference and style. Take a look at the images they post on social media and their website… Do you like the overall look of the images? Some photographers edit their images to be bright and bold, while some use muted tones. Some photographers love dark and moody images, and others only like light and airy (this generally means the image doesn’t have a lot of dark tones even in the background). Some edit their images to have more yellows and golds, while others keep their images more natural looking. You might not know how to describe what you are looking for, but you will know it when you see it! I like my photographs to be true to natural colors, but bright and happy! I like some shadows, so the bright colors can pop, just like in this session below.

Want to learn about my approach? I talk about why I do lifestyle newborn photography in this post. Read enough? Interested in booking a session? Great! Contact me here and we can chat!