Oh my gosh! Baby is here and you need to plan your newborn session with LRP. You’ve secured payment weeks ago. By the way congratulations to you!! I’m so excited to capture your bundle of joy and the happy parents. I’ve created this newborn sessions guide in order to prepare you for your newborn lifestyle session. And to also schedule your session.
When baby is born you can schedule your session when they are 5 days old until 14 days. The sweet spot is 10 days old.
CLICK & SCHEDULE 48 HRS IN ADVANCE. THIS PAGE IS FOR THOSE THAT HAVE BOOKED THE SESSION + BABY HAS ARRIVED.
BELOW IS MY NEWBORN LIFESTYLE SESSION GUIDE TO GET YOU READY.
YOU MIGHT BE SLEEPY READING THROUGH IT ALL… I PROMISE YOU THOUGH IT WILL PAY OFF IN THE END.
WHAT TO EXPECT
STEP 1. Prepare Baby
If you can, schedule your session in the prime spot of 9 a.m.
Clean away flaky skin + eye boogers with a warm wash cloth. Remove any band-aids on the foot or thigh.
Feed baby 2-3 hours prior to our session.
Keep your baby’s diet the same. Continue to feed baby how you normally do.
Bring a bottle and formula as back up with if you aren’t able to breast-feed. We want to feed baby at the session so those lil tummies are full.
Bathe baby before coming. You’ll want to keep baby awake as much as possible, so that once you arrive you feed baby. Baby will be fast asleep for the next 2-3 hours.
AT THE SESSION
When you arrive at the studio please state if you would like natural lighting portraits with baby or flash photography. These are two different styles. I can deliver these styles to you. You receive only one so that we can conserve our time on images with just baby.
When you arrive at the studio, please start feeding your baby. When baby is finished feeding – you may burp baby. I’ll then start to hold baby and help them fall asleep.
We want the baby to be full, content and sleeping after the feeding to ensure those curly, sleepy newborn pictures.
Prepare to stay at the studio for 2-3 hours. Please be patience with the process.
If your baby is fussy or alert, do not stress out. That is why we take our time during these sessions to wait for baby to fall asleep.
Prepare for the “DANGER ZONE”. If you decide you would like baby bare bottom with no diaper, expect pee, poo, spit up or vomit. That is why I dress in yoga pants and a t-shirt. I highly suggest that you bring an extra set of clothes just in case any of these scenarios happen during your session.
Based on how long your session can go for, please bring light snacks for you and your family. I provide water.
NATURAL LIGHTING
STUDIO FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY
WARDROBE. What should I bring?!
Bring outfits that you are okay with them being ruined. I provide the props for newborns, so you don’t have to worry about baby. Get ready for all the fun accessories because our studio is fully stocked with them.
Before your session your form for securing schedule will ask what colors your babies room is decorated in or what neutral colors that you would like to to stick to during your session. If you forget to write this in the form will discuss ideas at the studio.
Dad’s please bring a black or white t-shirt if you don’t want to take your shirt off. Or collar shirts are nice too.
NEW PARENTS
MAMA:
Apply a natural application of makeup.
Fake eye lashes are really awesome on camera, but if you don’t know how to apply or it’s not something you normally do then don’t worry about using them.
Style your hair like you always do. Bring a comb & hair spray for those fly aways.
Take off your chipped nail polish. If possible no polish at all.
Wear contacts if you normally do.
DADA:
Freshly Shave. Avoid bumps or redness. If that isn’t your style, please trim your beard, mustache, goatee, sideburns.
Comb your hair and use gel if you don’t want any fly aways.
Wear contacts if you normally do.
SIBLINGS
Please bring clean siblings to the studio. Brush teeth, wipe away boogers.
If they are sick please do not include them in the session and leave them with a responsible care taker.
Snacks can be eaten in the front part of the studio. Any snacks that could stain or are sticky are highly discouraged in the studio.
Children may not run in studio. A box of toys is provided for distraction.
Brother(s), bring a black or white t-shirt and some dark jeans.
Sister(s), white cloth dresses, neutral colors are best. Let hair down and no accessories in hair. (No nail polish too)
If you are able to bring the children at the beginning of the session we will photograph the entire family and then the kids with baby. Expect 30 minutes. If it is possible to bring two cars. One of you can then take the children back home, while we focus on baby for the rest of the session.
Thank you so much for listening to my guidelines in order to help you prepare and make my job a lot easier and for your session to run smooth. It all helps to make sure you get the best photos that you will treasure forever.
Lauren Ryan is a life style photographer based out of West Seattle,WA. LRP serves the greater Seattle and surrounding areas.