Congratulations on the new, little addition to your family!

There is nothing more precious than a newborn. We just love those tiny fingers and toes,

that curled up little body, and those priceless faces! These are the moments that you want to remember forever.

It is our goal to make your newborn session as enjoyable and relaxing as possible. A typical newborn session takes 2-3 hours. Please make sure to block this amount of time off in your schedule during our session day as

we don’t want you to feel rushed. Please review this prepping guide, it will answer many of your questions.

But, as always, feel free to contact us if you have any questions.

​

 

When To Schedule

It is always best to have your newborn photo session scheduled during the last trimester of your pregnancy. Having advanced, approximate notice is important so that we can keep our workload manageable around your due date. We will be able to “pencil” you in on our calendar according to your due date and then we ask that you contact us as soon as possible after baby’s arrival to confirm the final date and time. We understand that sometimes clients do not think of doing a newborn session until after baby arrives. There is just so much to think about during pregnancy! This is fine too, and we will make every effort to accommodate you in our schedule. Newborn sessions are best during the first two weeks of life, preferably days 5-10. During the first 10 days baby will still be sleepy and will still have the newborn curl that makes for some very cute poses! We will attempt a newborn style session for babies up to six weeks old, though the sessions will be a little different, they will require extra time and patience. Sessions scheduled after 3 weeks of life will require an additional fee to accommodate added studio time.

​

Parent Clothing Suggestions

To achieve those gorgeous parent and baby poses we have a few suggestions for parent wardrobes. First, jeans are perfectly acceptable, but if yoga pants are more comfortable for mom, that’s okay, too. Keep in mind that the studio is kept at a warm temperature to keep those babies content. You may want to consider dressing in layers so that you are comfortable during the session. Also, for mom and dad try to have your nails nice and neat, I often take photos with hands and baby.

 

Moms - First and foremost please wear what ever is the most comfortable for you. We prefer neutral colors with no patterns, black, white, or cream shirts are the most flattering. We like to have a variety of styles so if available please bring tank tops, long & short sleeves.

 

Dads - Wear a fitted crew or v-neck t-shirt. Polo's also photograph nicely. Like mom, neutral colors with no patterns are less distracting. We love when dads go shirtless for intimates with baby, but we understand we aren't all so comfortable in front of a camera so if shirtless is not an option please bring a plain black t-shirt with you to the session.

 

family poses will be done after all of the individual photographs of baby are complete!

​

​

Looking and Feeling Your Best

it’s really important to take the time to capture mom with your new baby, as well as with the family. While you may not be feeling like your gorgeous self, a little make-up can go a long way. It comes highly recommended that make-up be done professionally for your photo session. Studio designed make-up reflects differently in camera and is much more flattering & glamorous. High definition Make-Up compliments flash photography in a way that basic make-up cannot. This add on service, is a small investment for a lifetime of beautiful memories. However, for our clients that choose to do their make-up at home, we encourage you to wear a layer of foundation and some blush. If nothing else, definitely wear some mascara to open up those gorgeous eyes, and wear colored lip gloss or lipstick. If you choose to do makeup with an Artist not preferred with Minted Willow Photo Company, we absolutely recommend visiting "the Do's & Don'ts of Make-Up Disclaimer" link in the session info tab above.

​

​

Sibling Clothing Suggestions

When choosing clothing for siblings, less is more. For toddlers and babies, bare on top with a pair of jeans (nothing baggy) is perfect. For older siblings (or any little ones), just think soft items. For girls, a pretty vintage or neutral-colored dress is perfect. for boys, jeans (nothing baggy) and a fitted v-neck is ideal. Please keep their hair natural. We can add in any bows or headbands before shooting. Please remove any nail polish and keep arms and hands free from any washable tattoos. For little ones, it is recommended that you bring some sort of snack/candy/bribery (yes, we did just say that!) this just might help aid us in getting that perfect shot. Please no messy foods like chocolate or Cheetos that can stain clothes, teeth, or faces. We ask that you have someone bring siblings to the session an hour and a half after your appointment has started. This is so we can spend the first portion of your newborn session focusing just on the baby.

​

Newborn Clothing Suggestions

We prefer babies without clothes so we can capture every precious part of their body! Don’t worry, we will keep the baby warm enough during the session with blankets and heaters. If you have a special hat, blanket, or diaper cover for your little one, please make sure you bring that as well. While we do have lots of hats, wraps, and accessories for boys and girls, we encourage parents to bring in a special one of their own. In addition, while we have lots of props in the studio, we always welcome new ideas! If you have a vintage piece of luggage, a unique looking basket, or any antique buckets or bowls, please bring them. we will do our best to incorporate them into our session.

​

Before You Arrive at the Studio

Please feed your little one three hours before our session. Spend this time keeping them alert, try to provide baby with a lot of “awake” time prior to your session. Let them play (without being swaddled) and even try giving them A bath (or sponge bath) so they will be nice and hungry and extra sleepy once they arrive. just prior to the session, make sure that the diaper is loosened slightly so that it does not leave any red marks on the body. Every baby is unique and the baby is in charge. A newborn session cannot be rushed. For the best results, baby should be relaxed and content which can often take time. Some babies sleep through the entire session and others don't. A session can take two hours or up to four hours. It is important to schedule accordingly. If baby wakes up during the session that is okay too. We have experience working with a lot of newborns and tend to just go with the flow. If baby takes a bottle and/or pacifier please have those ready. A pacifier can be a tremendous help in the newborn session.

 

During Your Session

Once you arrive, you can relax and feed your little one, and we will spend time putting them to sleep. Some of the classic poses occur when the baby is sleeping. We want to be able to use the entire “deep sleep” time that will occur. If you are nursing, it is a good idea to bring a bottle of milk that you have pumped (or formula if you are using that)...a baby fed with a bottle is always the most full and sleepy. And, if you are bringing pumped milk or formula, please bring LOTS of it! I always tend to overfeed the baby to get them the sleepiest. Having said that, do whatever YOU are most comfortable with. When the baby wakes up, we will capture those gorgeous, bright eyes as well and, if necessary, you can feed them again! We never rush a newborn session so don’t feel like you can only feed them an ounce or so... we can wait. Please Note: Newborns will poop and pee all over the backdrops, the blankets, the props.. .it’s all okay! No need to apologize; We promise we are used to it. Just bring lots of wipes and a few extra blankets so you are ready to wipe the baby off.

​

See You Soon!

We look forward to meeting your new addition! These sessions are some of our most favorite to do as we love seeing not only your amazing, tiny newborn, but also one of the happiest times in your life. Any other questions? please, Don’t hesitate to contact us.

​