newborn shoot

For photographic purposes, "newborn" is defined as two weeks or younger. If your baby
is older than that - read through - I'll discuss older babies at the bottom of the page.

Newborn portraits take longer than most other types of portraits. That's fine - as long
as we allow ample time to do the job. Please don't schedule anything immediately
following your newborn shoot. We may be done in one hour. It may take three.

Location for newborn shoot: The ideal location for a newborn session is in your home.
Find a room with ample light and a bed, and I can set up a mini studio right there. I
always bring a waterproof shower curtain to put under backdrops and blankets, so you
won't need to worry about a naked baby shot ruining your furniture or bedding.

1. Decide what look you love the most for newborn pictures. Dark background? White
background? Snuggled up against you with just a blurred out background? This is
where we'll start - with your #1 choice.

2. Decide what you and your baby will wear. Think monochromatic when it comes to
outfits. Don't mix up the colors and of your outfits. If you put your baby in white, you
should wear white also. If your baby wears black, you should wear black too. If you
choose to use a black backdrop, wear black. If you choose a light backdrop, wear a
light color. The more colors you add into the image, the more visually complicated the
image becomes. Every color added takes away from the main focus of your images -
the people, more specifically, the faces.

Another important point: Your eye will be drawn to areas of contrast in any image, so
don't choose clothes that will steal the show. Plaids, prints, stripes, logos in an image
it will draw the viewers eyes away from the intended focal point - the subjects faces. If
you wear black pants and a white shirt, don't have your spouse wear a black shirt
(thinking that the black will match your pants). That will put a black shirt next to a
white shirt - creating way too much contrast.

If your babys older than "newborn":
Brand new babies change dramatically - and fast! By they time they're two or three
months old, they're not as sleepy, not as easy to curl up into tiny newborn positions,
and face different challenges for photographing; funny faces, stretching out, etc.

If your baby is older than a few weeks old and you're wanting that newborn look, we'll
do what we can to accomplish it, but be advised it's harder at this age. If your baby is
asleep when I arrive - that's fine - let him or her sleep. We'll work with their routine as
much as possible. I've photographed many babies in this age group (including the
picture on the left). With patience, we'll get photographs that you'll love!