So you are about to have a baby and would love an in home lifestyle newborn session but you are uneasy about someone coming into your home to take photos....I hear you, and respect how you are feeling. I have no idea what I would or wouldn't do if I was expecting a child right now...however, I do know that I would feel better knowing what to expect if I did decide to do a newborn session in my home, and I hope this will help you too.
First thing I would send you a small questionnaire to get to know you and your family a little bit. The more I know before I get there the better. Things like what you and your spouse like to do together, if you have kids, what are they into, this helps me to be prepared and have a game plan to how I will get your family to feel relaxed. If your kids are into Spider man, or princesses, or heck if they love hammers, than I know what I can discuss with them to get them to trust me and hold their attention for a minute. Any and all info is appreciated, because I just want to give you space, and time to just enjoy this time with your family.
I will also ask you how comfortable you are with me touching your baby, maybe just a little, or whenever I need to, or not at all. I am okay with any of these options. We can have a great newborn session with any of these options, I will ask you to move your baby in any way I need.
I usually do in home sessions in the morning, somewhere around 10. However, if you have a toddler that naps at that time, or any other commitment that 10 doesn't work, I can definitely work with you on picking a perfect time for your shoot, because we all know naps are sacred and we don't want to mess that up!!
One of the most common question I get is when do you recommend getting newborn photos done? The really nice thing about doing in home lifestyle newborn photos is that it really doesn't matter. There are a lot of things to consider, how are you feeling? Are you healing quickly, or do you need more time? I can do newborn photos up to 4 months old. Keep in mind, they will look a bit different as your baby will be more alert, and that is okay as it gives me the chance to capture the connection you get with your baby. So all in all, you can decide when you want your photos done, within the first couple of weeks, or a couple of months.
Another question I get is what do we wear? I always say wear something that is comfortable, you want to be able to move and sit without being constricted by clothes. As for your baby, I like just a simple onsie (diaper shirt), less is more in this situation. This gives me the space to capture those sweet baby feet, and chubby legs. For the rest of your family I would recommend neutral and soft colours. If you are needing some inspo, please check out this Pinterest board.
I never book another session on the same day as a newborn session, as newborns require more time. This gives you the freedom to take feeding breaks, diaper breaks etc. So there is no rush, but I still try to finish photos within 1.5 - 2 hours.
An in home newborn session can give us the freedom to capture your family doing an activity together, like giving the baby a sink bath, building a puzzle, or reading books....the options are endless and it is then really specialized to you and your family.
Once I get to your home, I always knock as I do not want to wake anyone. Before I do anything, I wash my hands with soap and water, as well as use my hand sanitizer. I will be wearing my mask and when I can, I will keep my distance. If you do not want me touching your baby, I will be directing you to move and wrap your baby for me.
I usually do your session in your living room, master bedroom, and the nursery. We do not have to use all these rooms, we can stick to just a couple or just one. That is something we will discuss once I see how the lighting is in your home. I know you are thinking.....but I don't want to make sure my home is super clean, I just had a baby. I still can remember that feeling! I can do a lot with a small space, or things can be moved once I get there, you made a human being, that is amazing and we are going to focus on that, not that you have laundry plied in the corner!
For your older kids and toddlers I try to get the family and sibling photos done first before they completely lose interest in me. This is the beauty of having newborn photos done in your home.....then they can go have a snack, play with their toys, do what pleases them. I have no expectations of your toddler during the shoot, that means I do not make them do a certain shot if they do not want to......but on the other hand, I try to involve them in a way, so they feel important. If they aren't into kissing their new sibling I might ask them if the baby's head smells like chocolate or candy?? So in return it would get them to get their face close to the baby without the expectation of them kissing the baby....but it looks like I did in the photos......see what I did there!!
"We had Corissa come over to photograph our daughter at 3 weeks old during the pandemic and she made it so relaxing. She was extremely professional about all the covid protocols and that put our minds at ease. She made us comfortable and captured us naturally just as I wanted. Now we have a collection of photographs that I will cherish forever. She gave us great cues to make cute moments happen, and I still don't know how she got so many amazing photos of our daughter since she was so fussy during that time. We were able to take breaks and breastfeed as needed, so it was a no stress environment. After our newborn session my husband and I both agreed that Corissa will be our family photographer because of her easy going personality and amazing photos!"
I did these newborn sessions with little to no touching
As a new Mom you are wanting that perfect smooth baby skin, but it's your shoot day and your baby woke up with some acne, or scratched themselves in the night. You do not have to cancel or reschedule, I can remove those things for you! However, I will only do this with permission, I would never want to remove something that you do not want removed, so if this is something you are wanting, please let me know.
As you can see we can get a variety of images of your newborn while keeping everyone safe. Protecting your family as well as mine is my top priority!
Please, if you have any questions, or concerns about a newborn shoot, send it below!! Thank you for being here!
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