Brittany contacted the studio at the end of her first trimester to schedule a newborn session for her second baby who was due in 7 months! I love advance planners. She knew things were going to get pretty busy in her life with her older toddler, and wanted to get her newborn session squared away so it was checked off her list. She had found us by searching Google and then saw that a few of her friends had worked with us and knew that we were a perfect fit. We still had availability for her due date month since she had contacted us early on, and sent over all of her paperwork to reserve her session.
WHEN SHOULD I SCHEDULE MY NEWBORN SESSION?
It really is never too early to reserve your session! I know you are likely are busy with other preparations, but don’t put this off!
Reserving your newborn session is NOT scheduling your exact session date.
That would simply be impossible, since babies arrive when they want to and don’t pay attention to their estimated due dates. When you reserve your session, you are guaranteeing that you have a spot on our calendar! We limit the number of reserved newborns due in each month so that we can provide excellent service to each and every one of our clients. Once we reach our monthly newborn limit, our newborn schedule is closed for that month and we maintain a wait list.
If you’re reading this and baby is already here, don’t panic! Our newborns often arrive earlier or later than their estimated due dates, so there are some months that we end up having the ability to take on a last minute newborn client. Contact us right away, and we just might be able to schedule you in our calendar!
NEWBORN SESSIONS WITH A TODDLER SIBLING INVOLVED
When toddler siblings are involved in newborn sessions, we ask what their schedule is because it’s important information for planning a successful session! We want them to be well rested and happy. Newborn sessions in the studio start in the morning between 9 and 10 AM. The first 90 minutes of session time is devoted to photographing your baby alone. This is the perfect time for you to take advantage of our add on hair and makeup services since you’ll be sitting on the couch doing nothing anyway! Choosing to add on beauty services will NOT lengthen your session time because I will be photographing your baby alone during this time anyway.
Toddler siblings and dads arrive about 90 minutes after I’ve started photographing your baby’s solo portraits. I am usually finished with these by the time mama is done in hair and makeup, and will transition to the sibling and family portion of the session. My goal is to get all of the photos with your toddler in them done FIRST so that they don’t have to sit around any longer than necessary! :)
Once your toddler is finished with the photographs they’re in, they are free to play until we’re finished with dad/baby and baby/parent images. Some parents will have Grandma whisk them away to take them back home, but if you don’t have family help, no worries!
Some families ask if we can start with family photos. The answer is generally no. Reversing or changing the session flow of starting with newborn solo images does not work very well in my 8 years of experience and tends to backfire in a major way. What tends to happen is that your newborn becomes overstimulated and fussy from the start, and never quite settles - and then we are not able to get as varied of a gallery in our allotted time. If you are a mama who won’t be adding on HMUA services and doesn’t care about having a big variety of solo newborn portraits if your baby doesn’t settle, then we can discuss starting that way! Every family and their needs are unique.
THE SESSION DAY
Brittany and Rhodes arrived, and we looked through the studio dresses. She loved one of our blush pink options, and got comfy on the studio couch while I photographed Rhodes alone.
Rhodes was a BIG boy, and 28 days old when he came in for his session! He had a full head of dark hair and slept like a rock. He was such a great sleeper, and we moved through the solo portraits pretty quickly. When I finished up, big sister Delaney and dad weren’t there yet so Brittany went ahead and got dressed and chose one of our newborn gowns for Rhodes to wear for the family portion. I have a big assortment of blankets and a few onesies and gowns as well - and it’s totally your preference! I’ll discuss the pros and cons of each, but it will really come down to your style and what you want your images to look like. A blanket is always a classic, but wiggly bigger babies can be hard to keep wrapped well. A gown eliminates that issue entirely, and still looks timeless and super cute.
While we were waiting for the rest of the family to arrive, Brittany changed his diaper, dressed him in the newborn gown she had chosen, and then nursed him so he would be back asleep for that part. The plan worked, and when Delaney and daddy arrived, we moved right into the family portion!
MY NEWBORN SESSION FLOW WITH THE WHOLE FAMILY
If I am able, I start with the sibling photos FIRST because these are often the most important ones to mamas. This is entirely dependent on your toddler, but 9 times out of 10 your toddler will be the most cooperative as soon as they arrive. So, it’s always the goal to photograph sibling images first, followed by each parent with their children, and wrapped up with the whole family together.
Baby safety is the UTMOST priority above all else. I will not place newborn babies near their older siblings if they are not able to listen and be still. Every toddler is different energy and personality wise, so I’ll assess how they’re doing when deciding which images we’ll do. Delaney was a VERY sweet and compliant toddler who was super excited about her baby brother, so I was very easily able to safely photography her with Rhodes. What you can’t see in these images is that her parents were inches away from them ready to swoop in and intervene if the need arose.
Once we had finished all of the photographs with Delaney and Rhodes together, we moved into the family and parent portion. I move very quickly and transition seamlessly between each image, while respecting your child’s interest and cooperation level too. While I do have a pretty typical flow, sometimes toddlers need a break or want to do something else and I’ll adjust as needed. I want everyone in your family to have a good time and to feel a part of the process, and that includes the little ones!
WHAT TO EXPECT AFTER YOUR NEWBORN SESSION
We make it easy for our clients! After you’ve had a baby (or really, anytime!), the last thing you need is to deal with something super complicated.
About a week after their session, Brittany and Brad viewed the proof gallery and chose their collection. They knew they wanted an album, and they also added on two large 16x20 framed prints for their home and had a pretty good idea of which ones they would choose from their gallery for those. When the final images were completed, they chose which ones they wanted for their album and for the framed prints. After printed artwork is ordered, it takes about 1-2 weeks (longer for heirloom albums due to their handcrafted construction) for everything to be ready to go at the studio.
OUR PROCESS FOR FRAMED ARTWORK
Our framed artwork is typically ready in 2-6 weeks as long as there are no supply issues due to the pandemic and depending on what is ordered. Sometimes a particular moulding will be on backorder, but you’ll be informed of that before the order is placed! When a client chooses the image they want framed, we’ll discuss the best size for where they plan to hang it in their home.
Once the the size is chosen, the print is ordered! After it comes in, we then “dress” the print together with the best moulding (frame). We’ll choose the best frame from our line for your image and home decor/personal style preferences. We’ll also decide on the mat width - I’m a fan of 3-5” inch mats depending on the size of the print. Brittany preferred to schedule a virtual appointment to choose her frames, so that’s what we did. A virtual appointment for choosing frames consists of a text message conversation. I’ll determine which frames are best for your image tone and then send over a bunch of photos to you with the suggested frames next to it. Most families are able to decide pretty quickly what their favorite is!
After you’ve chosen your frame, I’ll determine the best mat size for a balanced aesthetic. The larger the print, the larger the mat width should be to balance it out - but this will also depend on your frame width too! Once that’s nailed down, I then order your frame, mat, and GORGEOUS museum glass. I am absolutely obsessed with museum glass! It might seem strange to describe glass as being stunning, but it really is. You can barely see the glass in the frame when looking at it because of how crystal clear it is with very little glare. I also love the 99% UV protection that it gives to the printed artwork. If you aren’t sure of what museum glass looks like, don’t worry - most of our framed prints hanging on the walls at the studio have it, so you’ll get to see it for yourself!
When the frame, mat, and museum glass arrive at my studio, I mat the print, and assemble the entire piece. The last step of framing is to finish the back of the frame with paper and hanging hardware. This means that all you’ll have to do is hang it up on your wall. Once it’s there, you will find yourself standing in front of it and be transported back to the time it was taken. Your children will love looking at it also. How do I know? From personal experience! I have a gallery wall in my own home with treasured family images. I find myself standing in front of the framed prints marveling at how quickly my children have grown in the years since they were taken even though it feels like it was just YESTERDAY. My kids really love them too. They have commented that it makes them feel loved when they look at the portraits of us all together, and even asked for their favorite images to be framed and hung in their rooms too.
If you order framed artwork from us that contains a 16x20 or larger print, I’ll deliver their finished artwork right to your front doorstep within a 20 mile radius of the studio. If you live further than that, you’ll need to make arrangements to pick up yourself. If you don’t have large framed artwork as part of your order, you’ll come to the studio and pick up your order when it’s ready. I send out an email to clients on a weekly basis who have orders ready to be picked up. The email outlines the designated pickup days and time windows throughout the week and pickup is safe and contactless. Clients (or their designated errand person!) reserve their pickup time in advance, and the process is super simple.
CONTACT US FOR MORE INFORMATION
Are you expecting a new baby and interested in reserving a newborn session with us? We would LOVE to chat with you about your family, what we offer, and how we can best serve you. Contact us today to set up a time to speak on the phone. We look forward to hearing from you!
If you're expecting a baby or already a parent and looking for a newborn, maternity, or family photographer, I would love to work with you to create images that you will love for a lifetime. Watch this video to hear about my philosophy and see how I work in the studio so you can determine if I'm the right fit for you. I can't wait to meet you!
Lily Sophia Photography specializes in newborn, baby, maternity, and family photography in Atlanta, Georgia and surrounding areas.
