Before The Sessions

I will be coming to your home for the session but we don’t shoot in every room. I will be looking for the area with the largest amount of space and the most natural light. Most used areas for in home newborn sessions are the  master bedroom, nursery and living room. When using the master bedroom for the newborn solo photos as well as for lifestyle photos with mom and dad, so having a white, cream, light colored bedding is preferred.

Do not stress about professionally cleaning. Like I said we are only going to be in two-three locations, so your entire house DOES NOT need to be spotless. Please  put away clutter  so that we have space for the photography, and avoid messy backgrounds. If I see a spot I want to shoot and there is stuff in the way I will happily move things around or direct where things should go to give you the illusion of a spotless house.

TEMPERATURE

Turn up the heat! Set to 75-80 degrees if possible. As we will change in and out of outfits it’s important to keep the house warm to keep baby comfortable.

PREP THE FAMILY

Dad, know that I will need 1-2 hours of your time but I won’t be photographing you the entire time. In fact, you’ll probably only be in front of the camera 30min or so. If you have other children then Dad will spend a good portion of time keeping them entertained before and after their turn. For siblings tell them that someone fun is coming over to take their picture. 

Mom , give yourself an extra hour to get ready. I’m not kidding. I want you to take your time and have time to feed the baby as you get ready.

Baby , make sure they have a full belly when I arrive, or start to feed upon my arrival, along with a clean diaper.

WARDROBE

Simple is best. Comfort is key. Keep colors neutral but don’t be afraid to add a little bit of color! Whites, creams, grey, and subdued colors always photograph the best. Try and avoid bright and bold colors (neons), super dark colors like black and navy blue and big patterns and shirts with large logos on them because all that can take away from the overall feel and look of your images. We want the focus to be on you and your little one, not what your shirt said. Same rules apply to siblings. Try and avoid clothing with characters, sequins and neons.

From a cozy oversized sweater and leggings, to a pretty floral or linen dress, the options are endless for you mamas!

Prepare 1 or 2 extra sets of clothing for everyone in case of spit-ups or leaks.

The Day of The Session

WHEN I ARRIVE

I will have some things to bring in and get settled. We will  not starting photographing for at least 15 min after my arrival, so please do not feel rush when I get your home. After unloading my newborn kit, I will walk around and do some light tests, and we will chat how the session will go.

WHERE DO WE START

Typically I like to start in the nursery or living room. Starting with mom and dad or the baby by themselves - Then … we kind of flow from there. I love to document all the adorable elements of a nursery. The mobile that was picked out after hours of Amazon searches, the blanket that was handmade by an excited Grandma, the rocking chair that has been passed down for generations. Those are the elements that add to the overall design you’ve created and I want to make sure we capture that.

Typically after that, we will move to either the master bedroom or the living room. This is mainly dictated by light. I’m looking for a room with the best light that has space for the whole family to cuddle. A bed or a couch is the perfect spot to gather everyone including the family dogs for a beautiful portrait.

If you have any family heirlooms or special pieces to you and your baby, please be sure to alert me of that when I arrive. I always want to incorporate those from the beginning. Items might be jewelry, blanket, stuffed animal, or a piece or furniture as examples.

FEEDING + BREAKS

If at all possible, try and keep baby awake and stimulated an hour before our session – it’s important for baby to be tired  when the session starts if possible so they are nice happy campers. Upon my arrival is the best time for feeding and diaper change. 

Much of the time during the session will be spent keeping baby in chill mode, moving to  new positions and taking the inevitable break because baby is hungry or has a dirty diaper. I like to work as a team with the parents to keep baby happy and safe.

PROPS + NEWBORN WARDROBE

Anything is welcomed that you wish to have your new addition photographed in. If you are planning on ver specific outfits, such as grandma’s knitted romper, crocheted batman outfit, please just let me know upon my arrival so I can schedule these in the session. You are not required to provide any props, I will be brining my newborn session kit with me that has the following:

• Bows + Beanies
• Basic Newborn Outfits – ( navy, dusty pink, cream, etc.)
• Swaddles (tons of variety)
• Newborn Baskets/Buckets
• Baby Shushing Machine
• Hand Sanitizer + Wipes

WHAT TO WEAR

LOOK GOOD, FEEL GOOD

You might be REALLY tempted to go out and buy a whole new outfit (believe me, I’m all for an excuse to buy new clothes!) but you might consider wearing some of your favourite pieces that you already have! Feeling comfortable in your clothes is going to make such a huge difference to how you act in front of the camera. Wearing something that you already know you love will give you that boost of confidence that you might need! Especially for kids. Make sure they wear the outfits you want them to wear in the photos, wearing new clothes can sometimes be uncomfortable!

So then, what to wear?!

We’ve established that you must feel fabulous in whatever you’re wearing, but if the outfit doesn’t come immediately to mind, here are some tips that might help you out!

1. Think about the location. It might be hard to maneuver through a creek or woods in heels! Make sure you’re dressed in a way to make it easier to move (there will be a lot of moving around!). If your signature look is a pair of heels, remember to bring a pair of sneakers or slip ons in case we are going on an adventure to get to our location!
2. This isn’t the time to try out a new style. Wear something that you would normally wear. If dresses are not your thing and you hardly ever wear one, don’t feel pressured to wear one if you want the photos to look sophisticated! There are other ways to achieve that look without going outside of your comfort zone! You want to look like yourself in these pictures. Remember, feeling comfortable and confident is key!
3. Solid color outfits tend to look better than prints, which can be distracting and overwhelming. If you do go with a print, make sure it’s not too loud and keep the prints to 1-2 people in the group! If you are a bold person, opt for a super fun pair of shoes or showcase it with your accessories, rather than a bold print!
4. Start with a neutral base and build from there. Neutral tones are typically more flattering and cohesive than bright colours. Pick two or three neutrals to start with and then add little accents of colour if you want!
5. Avoid tight fitting clothes that might highlight areas that you’d rather not have highlighted. For example, I have a mommy tummy, so I stay away from really tight shirts when I wear low riding pants, or I layer with blazers, and tend to tuck my shirt in on one side. You’ll find out that that is my signature look!
6. Consider the weather! Make sure you’re prepared with cute coats if it’s rainy or snowy!
7. Do not match. Avoid wearing the same outfit (especially the classic white-t-shirt look. I can knock that look because that is what my family has done before! haha) and avoid putting your kids in the same shirt, it’s tempting because it’s cute but it doesn’t make each child stand out! Instead, try to coordinate. Mix and match the base neutrals that you picked out. You should also look like you’re all going to the same place.

When trying to coordinate outfits in a family I find it easy to do one outfit first (when getting our own pictures done I usually plan the entire wardrobe around my outfit or one of the kids!). Take that outfit and use it as inspirations for other outfits. Use the same base neutrals and find different ways to incorporate your pops of colour in the other outfits. Remember to think of your location. Try to coordinate with the setting, you don’t want to clash with the trees or even with your own home decor.

When dressing kids for sessions, keep these things in mind:

1. Avoid character themed clothing. Their favourite show might be Paw Patrol or Ninja Turtles but stay away from logos, images, or graphics. Even though it might be their favorite shirt, it will be a serious distraction in the image.
2. Being able to move around in their clothing is a must!
3. Bring a back up for each kid! They may fall, get dirty, spill a snack on them. Last thing you want is for you to be upset because they got their outfit dirty before pictures even started.

If you’re still stuck, head to pinterest for inspiration and you can send me pictures of your outfit(s) if you want my opinion! When in doubt, ask!

BE PREPARED

You might be thinking, “okay, we’ve got our location and we know what we’re wearing, what else is there to know?”

There are a few things you can do to prepare so that our session goes smoothly and we can all have a great time and get great pictures!

1. Map the location! Please plan to arrive 5 minutes before your session. If our session is set to start at 4pm for 30 minutes and you are not ready until 4:15, you will only have a 15 minute session left! I typically have multiple sessions in a day or I have plans with my kids after the session. Everyone's time is valuable - yours and mine! Also, your session may be planned around outdoor lighting - so being on time and ready will ensure the best lighting for your pictures!
2. Avoid foods the day before your shoot that make you feel bloated (fast food, foods that are high in salt or fat or sugar). Trust me, being bloated is not going to make you feel pretty during your shoot!
3. Speaking of food, keep it light the morning of as well, bring some snacks (especially if we are adventuring!). For children, make sure they are well fed and watered and rested before the shoot! Bring non-mess snacks. Avoid gummies, chocolate, or crumbly items, instead opt for cheerios, raisins, even mini marshmallows, white cheese (in case it gets stuck in their teeth), or a promise for a bigger treat later… I am not above bribery!
4. Make sure everything is all ready the day before so you aren’t scrounging up your clothes in the morning, you don’t want to be flustered before your shoot! One time, before we had our family pictures done I forgot to do this and I realized all the pants we were going to be wearing were in the washing machine. I was definitely frazzled and it was not great.
5. Don’t get your haircut/colored right before the shoot, the best time to do it is about a week to two weeks before.
6. Try on your outfit a couple days before the shoot, you want to make sure that you still feel great in it. If you don’t feel great, change it up!
7. Talk to your kids about the session before. It’s best not to surprise them with it, if they know what’s coming they can prepare themselves (even children as little as 2 need some warning!). You can show them my picture and tell them that a silly friend is coming to take their pictures, but not to worry because they aren’t going to have to sit and smile for an hour!
8. If you have any questions about your session (that isn’t answered in this guide) send me a message!

What to Bring

I’m a better-bring-it-just-to-be-safe kind of person so I will usually have a lot of back up stuff with me. However, here are some handy dandy things that you might end up needing!

1. Water bottles (especially for those summer sessions or hiking sessions, it gets hot!)
2. A brush, hairspray, and/or gel. Do you trust your hair to stay how you want it for 1-2 hours? I definitely don’t trust mine but you’re the one who is in front of the camera!
3. On that same note, bring a little makeup bag for touch ups. Make sure to include some type of towel in case anyone gets too sweaty.
4. Please don’t bring gum! But definitely bring tic tacs or something.
5. Umbrellas, because weather.
6. A change of clothes. You might want to switch it up (and you are more than welcome to!) So don’t forget to bring that with you. It also helps to have a back up in case you fall (or get pushed) into a puddle or something.
7. Comfortable shoes!
8. Your children. As tempting as it is to leave them at home (or send them away from home), it won’t be that bad!
9. Any props you would like to include! Maybe there is a special family blanket you want to sit on or a fun piece of jewelery - bring it and light me know before the session starts that you have an item of meaning with you!
10. Your pets! YES! I love your furry pets! Please tell me prior to the session and bring a "pet handler" to assist with the animal(s) during the session.