Newborn Session Guide
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First and foremost....Ahhh!! I'm so excited for you and congratulations on your new bundle of love. I have witnessed many blessing in my lifetime but nothing has come close to the miracle of birth and pure happiness of be close to your newborn.
I would love to help capture those first touches, feelings and the amazing experiences you and your family will share during this monumental time.
I'm sure you have search the web or asked your friends about who they used as their newborn photographer. I know there is a check list that we all share when we are hiring a photographer. We need to love their style, package, personality, and the price! Here is a little info on my experiences over the last 3 years of shooting newborns. There are multiple photographers that have all sorts of great styles. I have decided not to be a so-called studio newborn photographer. I’ll explain a little.
STUDIO/TYPICAL NEWBORN SESSION
Takes place usually a studio or your home. One of these newborn sessions would take around 3-5 hours in your home or the studio. Typically, there would be three blankets of different colors and textures placed on a bean bag. The newborn would then be posed on the bean bag with different hats or headbands. The photographer would patiently pose your baby and try to give you as many different poses and angles as possible. After the bean bag shots they would either take relationship photos with Mom and Dad (siblings as well) or jump to using different baskets, backdrops, wraps and props for the remaining time during your session. I respect the studio photographers greatly and I have done this but no longer think this is where I would like my newborn photography to go. It is very challenging at times and a little stressful. Sometimes the baby is having an off day or you are or their stomachs are upset and it might almost be impossible to get them to settle in the time allotted. Moms tend to stress out because this is a new experience…and they aren’t used to the waiting game that is newborn photography. It’s almost like a wedding. It’s a beautiful day but sometimes it can be more stressful than happy or fun.
It takes about 30mins to make sure the baby is nice and sleepy and posed correctly. A newborn baby also eats sometimes on the hour so they will wake up and it takes time to get them fed and back to sleep. (I know many Newborn photographers in my area and yours if you need some contacts for this type of NB session. :) )
Example: Newborn Studio Session
LIFESTYLE / CANDID NEWBORN SESSION
I’m focused more on lifestyle/candid photography. My lifestyle newborn sessions usually lasts around 1hr to 1.5 hrs. I feel like 3-4 hours is overwhelming to be in the clients home or in a studio right after having a baby. Especially your first baby. I feel like my style is more towards capturing real moments as much as possible. I feel like that tells a story more clearly. Your family story. I hope when you and your family members visit these photo over the years you will be able to feel how tiny and soft your newborn was. I hope it will bring you lots of love and joy.
You can find more information on my website about my packages HERE
My Newborn Sessions
Wyatt Family | Butler Family | Vaughan Family | Warford Family
I would love to help capture those first touches, feelings and the amazing experiences you and your family will share during this monumental time.
I'm sure you have search the web or asked your friends about who they used as their newborn photographer. I know there is a check list that we all share when we are hiring a photographer. We need to love their style, package, personality, and the price! Here is a little info on my experiences over the last 3 years of shooting newborns. There are multiple photographers that have all sorts of great styles. I have decided not to be a so-called studio newborn photographer. I’ll explain a little.
STUDIO/TYPICAL NEWBORN SESSION
Takes place usually a studio or your home. One of these newborn sessions would take around 3-5 hours in your home or the studio. Typically, there would be three blankets of different colors and textures placed on a bean bag. The newborn would then be posed on the bean bag with different hats or headbands. The photographer would patiently pose your baby and try to give you as many different poses and angles as possible. After the bean bag shots they would either take relationship photos with Mom and Dad (siblings as well) or jump to using different baskets, backdrops, wraps and props for the remaining time during your session. I respect the studio photographers greatly and I have done this but no longer think this is where I would like my newborn photography to go. It is very challenging at times and a little stressful. Sometimes the baby is having an off day or you are or their stomachs are upset and it might almost be impossible to get them to settle in the time allotted. Moms tend to stress out because this is a new experience…and they aren’t used to the waiting game that is newborn photography. It’s almost like a wedding. It’s a beautiful day but sometimes it can be more stressful than happy or fun.
It takes about 30mins to make sure the baby is nice and sleepy and posed correctly. A newborn baby also eats sometimes on the hour so they will wake up and it takes time to get them fed and back to sleep. (I know many Newborn photographers in my area and yours if you need some contacts for this type of NB session. :) )
Example: Newborn Studio Session
LIFESTYLE / CANDID NEWBORN SESSION
I’m focused more on lifestyle/candid photography. My lifestyle newborn sessions usually lasts around 1hr to 1.5 hrs. I feel like 3-4 hours is overwhelming to be in the clients home or in a studio right after having a baby. Especially your first baby. I feel like my style is more towards capturing real moments as much as possible. I feel like that tells a story more clearly. Your family story. I hope when you and your family members visit these photo over the years you will be able to feel how tiny and soft your newborn was. I hope it will bring you lots of love and joy.
You can find more information on my website about my packages HERE
My Newborn Sessions
Wyatt Family | Butler Family | Vaughan Family | Warford Family
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INALL THE GOODIES
GETTING TO KNOW EACH OTHER -- I would like to talk with you around the second trimester, get to know you, see if you would like to meet before our session and also set up a tentatively date for us to have your newborn session. We will talk about your ideas and wishes during the session. There are no rules with my sessions. There are poses and ideas that are typical or standard and if that’s what you are looking for well that’s great too! I don’t want you to feel limited. (I also will ask you to sign a model release so I can use your images on facebook and for other advertising purposes.)
SLEEPY BABY-- Interact with your baby as much as possible prior to the session to ensure he/she is good and sleepy when we get there - sorry he/she needs to stay up as much as possible before the session and then they usually eat and go into what we call a “milk coma”
HUNGRY — Make sure your baby has a full belly right before I arrive. We might also break for a milk snack. Who said models don't eat?
AMAZING LIGHT — Please open all blinds and curtains before I arrive. I’ll usually ask you to send me a couple of photos of the inside of your house that receives the most natural light. I usually need a space of 4’x4’ to place the baskets and other equipment. Please notice a space and time when the most sunlight comes into the room. Usually that is around mid-morning to late-afternoon. We should try to schedule the session around the light and when your baby is feeding/sleeping. Please let me know what is best for the baby, you, and the space.
80 DEGREES -- Please set the thermostat to a toasty 80 degrees. Newborns love being warm. The temperature will also help your baby to be comfortable and stay sleepy longer. I will also bring a space heater with me.
HANDY-- Have extra blankets, diapers and wipes available. If your baby takes a pacifier, please have it near by. I will be using hand sanitizer before and during our session.
CLOTHING OPTIONAL -- Dress baby in loose fitting clothes to avoid lines on skin. Please loosen the diaper and wrap your baby in something warm just before my arrival. If you DO NOT want any nude shots the diaper can stay on. (*Tip: Purchasing some cute diaper covers might be needed if the diaper stays on.)
PHOTO-READY -- Please have the nursery, your living room and a bedroom that has great natural light nice and tidy so that it will be "photo-ready" and gorgeous. (*Tip & Highly Recommended: The use of a solid white or cream blanket/comforter bounces the beautiful natural light and keeps your images light, airy, and clean.
POOP HAPPENS -- It’s OK! :) Happens all the time and I get peed on too, especially after feeding and if they are nude. I will bring extra wraps and clothes with me. No worries at all :) We will quickly clean up and continue making new family memories.
SOOTHING — I will use a white noise machine on my iphone or iPad to help sooth the baby. There might be moments of rocking and snuggling with your baby because they are just too precious. :)
WHERE’S MOM — I might ask you to step out of the room if we are posing your baby. Not that we don’t love and want you, but I will need your baby to be comfortable and thinking of sweet dreams while poses him or her. Sometimes when mom’s close by baby thinks it's lunch time . . . “I’m hungry, where’s my milk Momma?”.
NO WORRIES -- I’ve been posing newborns for over 3 years and sometimes they will get a little fussy when we pose them in certain ways. I usually try twice for a pose and if it isn't working then we try something else. I will work gently to get them back to sleep and continue on with our session. It’s all about making sure your baby is comfortable, fed, diaper is changed, and cuddled. We don’t want the peaceful mood to switch to a stressful environment. So put your feet up and it will all be OK.
SIBLINGS -- If you have children and would like them to be included in some photos, we recommend bringing them in at the beginning or end of a session. It is also helpful to have a friend or family member to come by and help keep your other baby entertained until the end of the session. Only those being photographed should be present to help maintain a calm environment.
PROPS -- I have some props, newborn hats, and wraps, but if you want to use something else for your session, please check out Etsy for great Newborn hats and props. I also ask that if you have any specific colors, props and other preferences to let me know during our communication in the beginning of the booking and getting to know each other process.
VISIT MY INVENTORY (sorry about the creepy doll baby)
I’m always trying to collect more items to enhance our newborn sessions, so if there is something you just love...let me know and I’ll see what I can do about having it for us. On the day please have all of your items laid out for me and we can pick what colors might work the best.
WHAT TO WEAR -- I LOVE TO PIN!! So I have come up with a board of "What to Wear" ideas for all most each season. But let's start with this board and if you need help, I'm here! Click here for some great ideas
(*Tips: Sometimes it helps to find "one piece" you really love and build around that one piece. I would stay away from small stripes or spots and logos. I would not wear a plaid and then get your hubby to wear a plaid. Just too much. Try to coordinate a plaid print, a medium striped print and a couple of solids. Then use a seasonal accent color for accessories.)
POSING THE FAMILY--The way I shoot with kids is so candid that LOTS of practice will help. Meaning this is what I do. I pose in the mirror or take lots of selfies until I have it looking comfortable and me looking slimmer.
Fast rules to practice:
1. Stick you chin out then bring your head down. (removes double chin)
2. Women stand to the side (45 degree angle) with weight on one leg.
3. If you don’t know what to do with your hands…
Men = place your hands in your pockets, waist of wife, or hand/shoulder of their child.
Women = place your hands on your hips, shoulders, head/neck, hand in hair. The opposite arm should be touching something else. So one arm on the hip the other arm on your shoulder. If you have a hubby or baby or child, then: Hand on hubby’s chest, arm, shoulder, back of neck. Embrace your child, hold hands, place your hands on their shoulder. Basically TOUCH each other as much as possible!!! :)
INSPIRATION
Newborn Photographic Ideas
What to Wear - Maternity
What to Wear - Inside Newborn Session
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YOUR NEWBORN SESSION
After I have found the best natural light in your home. We will pick all the props and items I will use for some posed basket or nursery shots. Usually, your baby has just finished eating and is probably falling fast asleep in your arms. So we will want to start with the sleepy posed shots first. I do not use a bean bag anymore but I do use baskets, crates, pillows, chairs, ottomans, and other safe items in order to pose your baby usually with their bum in the air or in a wrap or with some type of prop. I'm usually able to get 2 or 3 different set ups within our session.
If there are siblings, I usually like to introduce them into the session at this point. If no siblings are involved, then we will move forward with the relationship connections with Mom and Dad.
At the end of the session or if there is a break in the session I will grab detail shots of the nursery and/or details of your baby. Toes, fingers, ears, belly button, etc.
I will post a "sneak peek" on my facebook business page that night or the following day and tag you. Feel free to use the images on your own personal page. I just ask that you tag my business page by first "liking" my business FB page and then using the “@” symbol and typing out “Brannan Blascak Photography & Design”. Thank you!
I will start the editing process on all of the images we took with one pass of edits first usually. At this stage I pick the best of the best. I try to keep in mind what might mean the most to you now, 20 years from now, and for generations to come. This process usually takes about 1-3 weeks. I will send you an email letting you know your SmugMug proofing gallery is ready for review. Please take 4-5 days to review and send me a list of your top 30 images with any specific retouches you would like. Everyone sees something different so it is nice to make sure you are 100% in love with your images. I can slim bodies, switch heads (most of the time), remove blemishes, lighten darkness under the eyes, flaky skin, etc.
After I have retouched them (usually takes 1-2 wks) to the best of my ability I will send you a link to Dropbox where you can download all of your images to your computer. These new images will also go into your SmugMug gallery if you would like to purchase prints or other downloads. You will also receive a print release. This gives you the right to print your images anywhere you would like. Please read more about professional prints and my services HERE.
If you have any questions please email me at bblascak@gmail.com.
After I have found the best natural light in your home. We will pick all the props and items I will use for some posed basket or nursery shots. Usually, your baby has just finished eating and is probably falling fast asleep in your arms. So we will want to start with the sleepy posed shots first. I do not use a bean bag anymore but I do use baskets, crates, pillows, chairs, ottomans, and other safe items in order to pose your baby usually with their bum in the air or in a wrap or with some type of prop. I'm usually able to get 2 or 3 different set ups within our session.
If there are siblings, I usually like to introduce them into the session at this point. If no siblings are involved, then we will move forward with the relationship connections with Mom and Dad.
At the end of the session or if there is a break in the session I will grab detail shots of the nursery and/or details of your baby. Toes, fingers, ears, belly button, etc.
I will post a "sneak peek" on my facebook business page that night or the following day and tag you. Feel free to use the images on your own personal page. I just ask that you tag my business page by first "liking" my business FB page and then using the “@” symbol and typing out “Brannan Blascak Photography & Design”. Thank you!
I will start the editing process on all of the images we took with one pass of edits first usually. At this stage I pick the best of the best. I try to keep in mind what might mean the most to you now, 20 years from now, and for generations to come. This process usually takes about 1-3 weeks. I will send you an email letting you know your SmugMug proofing gallery is ready for review. Please take 4-5 days to review and send me a list of your top 30 images with any specific retouches you would like. Everyone sees something different so it is nice to make sure you are 100% in love with your images. I can slim bodies, switch heads (most of the time), remove blemishes, lighten darkness under the eyes, flaky skin, etc.
After I have retouched them (usually takes 1-2 wks) to the best of my ability I will send you a link to Dropbox where you can download all of your images to your computer. These new images will also go into your SmugMug gallery if you would like to purchase prints or other downloads. You will also receive a print release. This gives you the right to print your images anywhere you would like. Please read more about professional prints and my services HERE.
If you have any questions please email me at bblascak@gmail.com.
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