Elizabeth contacted the studio at the end of her first trimester to schedule a newborn session for her second baby. She had worked with us for her first baby’s newborn session and was so excited to work with us again. She loved working with our HMUA team the first go round and let us know she would definitely be adding on services for this baby as well! Have I mentioned that I love advance planners?! Elizabeth knew from experience that things were just going to keep getting busier while juggling working from home and a toddler, so she was proactive in getting us checked off on her list.
WHEN DO I SCHEDULE MY NEWBORN SESSION ANYWAY?
Repeat after me: It is never too early in pregnancy to reserve a newborn session! I know you are busy with life, work, and baby preparations, but seriously, don’t put this off! Put it on your priority list right up there with ordering the crib so that you don’t find yourself scrambling at the last minute trying to find the perfect photographer for you. I say this to EVERY person looking - regardless of whether you choose to work with me or not. There is nothing worse than the stress of trying to find a photographer that you love who is also available after you’ve had a baby and are sleep deprived and don’t know which way is up. Your newborn photos should not be left to chance and definitely should not be booked with “the only person who was available.” Planning ahead ensures you have the experience you deserve.
Reserving your newborn session is NOT scheduling a specific date.
This is impossible. Most babies arrive when they want to and don’t pay attention to their estimated due dates with only 5% of babies arriving on their actual due date. When you reserve your newborn session, you may not be scheduling your session date, but you ARE guaranteeing that you have a spot on our calendar no matter what! I limit the number of reserved newborns accepted as clients each month so I can provide excellent and equal service to each of my clients. Once I reach the newborn limit, our monthly newborn schedule is closed.
If you’re reading this and baby is already here, it might not be too late. Our reserved newborns often arrive early/late, so there are some months I am able to take on a last minute newborn client. Contact the studio right away (giving us a call is best if you’re hoping to squeeze in), and we just might be able to schedule you in our calendar!
NEWBORN SESSIONS WITH A TODDLER SIBLING INVOLVED
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.
Dads and older siblings 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!
Once your big kid is finished with the photographs they’re in, they are free to play until we’re finished with dad/baby and baby/parent images. Parents bring some quiet entertainment along just for this purpose!
Some families ask if we can start a newborn session with family photos. The answer is no. Reversing my tried and true session flow of starting with newborn solo images does not work very well and tends to backfire. What usually happens is this: your newborn becomes overstimulated from the start, becomes fussy as a result and never quite settles. 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
Elizabeth and Finn arrived, and she had brought along a dress of her own that she loved for me to look at. She knew she could borrow from our wardrobe like she had done with her first newborn session so wasn’t too worried if I didn’t think her option would work. I told her it was just perfect for the session, and she got comfy in the hair and makeup chair while I photographed Finn alone.
Finny was a sleepy little guy and looked so different from Fiona as a newborn! Because he was such a deep sleeper, we moved through the solo portraits pretty quickly. Towards the end he opened up his eyes, which allowed me to photograph some awake and alert shots as well. As I was finishing up with the solo portion, big sister Fiona and dad arrived. Once I saw what everyone was wearing, I pulled out a couple of blanket options for Elizabeth to choose from for the family portion.
NEWBORN SESSIONS 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 the sibling photos, we transitioned to the family and parent portion. I work very quickly and move seamlessly between each image, all while considering your older child’s interest and cooperation level. While I have a pretty predictable flow for newborn sessions involving a toddler, sometimes toddlers need a break or want to do something else. When this happens, I simply adjust as needed. My goal is for everyone in your family to have a good time!
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, Elizabeth viewed the proof gallery and chose their collection and corresponding final images. When the final images were completed, they chose which ones they wanted for some prints they were ordering as gifts for grandparents! After printed artwork and products are 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.
If you order framed artwork from us that contains a 16x20 or larger print, I’ll deliver your finished artwork right to your front doorstep within 20 minutes of the studio. If you live further away than 20 minutes, you’ll need to make arrangements to pick up your order.
If you don’t have large framed artwork as part of your order, you’ll come to the studio and pick up your order. Our pickup process is easy and contactless! Each week, I send out an email to clients who have orders ready to be picked up. This email has a booking link which lists that the available pickup days and times throughout the week ahead. Clients (or their designated errand person!) reserve their pickup time, and come to the studio on that date and time. See? Easy!
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, the experience and what we offer to our clients, and how we can best serve your growing family. Contact us today to set up a time to speak on the phone. We look forward to hearing from you!
Enjoy a few of my favorites from Finn’s newborn session!
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.
