NEWBORN CLIENT PREP GUIDE
THANK YOU FOR CHOOSING US FOR YOUR MOST PRECIOUS SESSIONS!
Our studio has everything you need for pregnancy and newborn sessions. This guide will help prepare you for your pregnancy and newborn session as well as hopefully answer any questions that you may have. Please feel free to contact us for any other questions!
BUTTONS & BOWS PHOTOGRAPHY
2 VIOLET AVENUE, SPRINGFIELD LAKES,4300
0406 260 714
SCHEDULING YOUR NEWBORN SESSION
Newborns are better photographed in the morning. Following our COVID safe plan,We book only 1 session per day. Babies under two weeks are scheduled at 10:30 am and babies over 2 weeks are scheduled at 11am. Babies 4–6 weeks are scheduled at 11am.
Newborn babies under 2 weeks generally are best first thing in the morning as they have been up all night. As they get older they are more awake in the morning, which is why we schedule the older babies a tiny bit later. We have learned from experience that newborns in the afternoon or early evening are generally not as comfortable and therefore we do not photograph newborns at this time.
Newborn scheduling is ideal when done in advance, however; we accommodate new bookings daily. If a newborn session has not been scheduled in advanced, we do ask that clients call or email within 24 hours of giving birth with the newborn statistical information. Our wish is for healthy wonderful deliveries, however, we know that complications or postpartum recovery delays do happen.
When you email information about the delivery, please let us know:
· Date/time baby was born
· Weight of baby
· Name (if known)
· Delivery/postpartum
· Results - we would love to know that everything went according to the birth plan. We would like to know If there are issues such as jaundice, NICU time, extended hospital stay or any other issues regarding the health of the baby. Knowing these items is so important to help us schedule the baby in a timely manner.
Most newborns are scheduled anywhere from 8-14 days after the birth. The timeframe usually varies based on the baby weight and progression. A baby born around 5-6 lbs may be scheduled around the 14th day, whereas a baby born 7-8 or 9 lbs, may be scheduled around 8-12 days. We do suggest newborns be scheduled within the first two weeks.
A newborn is considered so for 6 weeks. As a newborn progresses in development the bones harden and they tend to “uncurl” and stretch out more. A newborn photo session can successfully be achieved at any of these weeks with special care and prep. This guide should help in providing this information, for newborns of any age.
It is important to understand that newborns are not turned away for their age, however; certain poses may not be possible as they get older.
SESSION DAY PREP
I recommend babies feed right before their session. A newborn only session usually takes about 2-2.5 hours (Family sessions take longer). We ask that you arrive on time so that you are able to feed baby during the first 30 mins of your session. Babies generally feed every 2-3 hours, therefore; feeding right before a session can sometimes guarantee an uninterrupted session. With that being said, babies are babies and quite often will have growth spurts and feed more often during a photography session. In the event that the baby is fully fed, but still may seem hungry during the session we will take a break and allow them private feeding time. We suggest you give your baby their normal early morning feeding which is usually around 3 hours before your session and you are more than welcome to let that baby go back to sleep. You do not need to keep your baby awake. When you arrive, we will undress the baby to the diaper and then allow you to feed. At this point the baby will wake up and then be hungry. It is very important to understand that we believe in baby led newborn sessions, which means that we never force or deny a feeding.
When you feed before a session, we suggest feeding as you normally do - whether breastfed or bottle fed. For bottle feeding, we do suggest you bring extra bottles. Moms are also welcome to pump at sessions if they need relief.
NEWBORN PACKING LIST
Please bring the following:
•Dress baby in loose pajamas
•Pacifier/Dummy/Soother
•Spare diapers
•Baby's blanket
•Extra bottles
•Any newborn keepsakes or special items you would like to use
If baby normally does not take a pacifier, please bring it just in case. Newborn sessions are new to your baby and they often want self soothe by sucking more often than normal. Using a pacifier during a session will not encourage bad habits - I promise!
I want you to be nice and relaxed during your session. Newborns generally respond to your energy and therefore the more relaxed and comfortable you are the more chances of a successful newborn session we can expect to have.
BABY SAFETY AND COMPOSITES
It is important to understand that we take baby safety very seriously.
Most complicated images are composites and not all babies are able to bend in all poses.
I will always discuss poses before we start the session and explain how we achieve the pose. These poses require the aid of the parents.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
I forgot to schedule a newborn session is it too late?
It is never too late to have your baby photographed. It is important to manage expectations of a session. Curly sleepy newborn photos are never guaranteed but usually achieved with babies under 2 weeks. A 6 week baby may sleep during a session and have awake time, but may not be able to curl into womb positions or want to be wrapped. We do believe that generally babies can be successfully photographed at any age.
What if my baby doesn’t sleep?
Many babies do not sleep through their session. Some are wide awake the entire time!!
We can usually still achieve some amazing images, especially if they are wrapped!
What if my baby cries?
Babies are babies and they will cry! We do everything we can to soothe and comfort them and surround them with a comfortable environment. We have worked with many newborns, and as a Mother, Salma has many soothing techniques and tips.
What if we can not get any great baby photos? Do I get a refund or a reshoot?
We have a very successful record for being able to achieve a wide variety of newborn images even with fussy babies. We will do everything we can to achieve newborn images and soothe your baby. In the event that photographing your baby seems impossible, Salma will discuss options with you during the session.
How many images do you provide?
You will receive a gallery of 20 hand edited images approximately 2-3 weeks after your session
Can we include parent poses and our other children?
YESS!!!! We love hptographing families! If you would like to include parents, siblings and any other family members, please be sure to incluide this information on your client questionnaire so that we can plan ahead.
What if my toddler does not cooperate?
Children are children, and we do the best we can when working with them of any age. We have quite a few tricks up our sleeves and with your permission we can offer them treats or incentives for capturing sweet images.
Is there retouching? My baby has acne and my toddler has a scratch on their nose!
YES! There is always retouching available. Standard retouching is included, such as removal of acne or assistants who are spotting. For more advanced changes such as headswaps or color changes, they may require an additional charge.
How quickly can I see the images?
Images are generally ready to see within 2- 3 weeks of your session.
My baby just got circumcised should we still come?
As long as he is healing well yes. Most babies have healed by their session. Many Parents use vaseline or another gel that the Dr. has recommended for healing. We will keep the area protected and we can avoid naked images if you wish. We photograph many babies that have been circumcised with no issues. If your baby has had a later circumcision, they can still have their session and all normal precautions are made. Please feel free to discuss this with us during your session. We want you to be fully involved in the process.
My baby still has their umbilical cord on, is it ok to take photos?
Yes! Most babies that come still have their cord on, as it may take a full two weeks for it to fall off. Some babies even loose their cords during their session! When babies are wrapped, we wrap with their diaper on and cover the cord so that it does not catch on the fabric. When they are naked, we gently can cover the area to keep it protected. We are very cautious with newborn babies and we are aware of the post delivery care that is needed.
NURSING AND FOOD SUGGESTIONS
Every single baby is unique in their own way. We suggest consulting your Pediatrician, Doula or Lactician consultant with any concerns. We know from experience that certain foods can affect a gassy baby.
We so ask that you keep a bland diet 24-48 hours before your session. Please eat comfort foods, such as breads, pastas and potatoes and wholegrains to keep your baby comfortable. After the session, you are welcome to choose any diet you wish, however; we do know that gassy babies may need to be treated.
We have included a guide of recommended foods, please use at your own discretion and consult Professional help when needed.
NEWBORN & FAMILY WARDROBE
Salma has an extensive collection of newborn outfits for boys and girls.
Our collection includes wraps, hats, headbands, bonnets, stuffies, props, backdrops, wreaths and more. We obtain new items weekly for our studio, however; we do suggest that if you have special ideas or request that you call or email us before your session.
We also ask clients to choose images from our social media pages that appeal to them to give us an idea of the types of images you would like created.
When bringing your own clothing for yourself, Dads or siblings we suggest solid and simple clothing that is void of any distracting patterns. Keep clothing in similar tonal ranges for complimentary couple and family posing. Little or big boys should compliment the rest of the family. We suggest long pants and shoes are optional.
Important Note: When posing babies naked, they quite often poop or pee on
Moms and Dads! If you are planning on leaving the studio to another
appointment or work, we suggest bringing a change of clothes just in case!
TODDLERS AND NEWBORNS
Many of our clients come back again and again with their growing families.
We welcome children of any age and we are well aware of how unpredictable the behaviour of a toddler or child can be, regardless of the prep. More often then not, naps are skipped, tantrums happen and finding a perfectly well behaved toddler is rare.
In newborn sessions, we start with one set of the newborn first, as this allows us to focus on settling the newborn and making sure they are comfortable. We will discuss with you the order of photographing sibling and family sessions. We generally try and get your newborn settled and sleeping first and then add the toddler afterwards.
I try my absolute best to shoot quickly keeping in mind children's short attention spans. Generally, the first hour is spent with the newborn and then we will add in the toddler or other children as available and then working with family in the end.