Getting Newborn Photos within 72 Hours of Birth
Five Tips for Having Newborn Photos Taken within the First Week
Chance are you’ve spent a decent amount of your time waiting on baby hearing things like “enjoy those newborn days”, “they grow so quickly”, “that new baby smell”, and all the things along those lines. And of course if this isn’t your first time becoming a parent, then you know them all to be true. This is why some families opt for fresh newborn photography as their top choice in documenting the newest addition to the home.
Those first few days can feel extra fleeting as your baby transitions from their womb journey and into the big wide world. Choosing to have documentation of this time can be oh so precious but also tough, so here are five tips to help make it an enjoyable and smooth process for everyone.
Tip 1: Decide What Style of Newborn Photography is a Best Fit
Here at Heartstring Heirlooms we concentrate on authenticity and true reflection of life, meaning your imagery will show the whole family together in their natural loving state. More focused on human connection over perfection. If new baby has older siblings they will be included in this experience. This approach would be considered lifestyle or more documentary. However, newborn photography can be captured in many styles. Other photographers offer studio sessions where the focus is solely on the baby and shot with a use of various props. Deciding what is a best fit for you and your family is truly the first step towards a successful newborn photo session.
Tip 2: Communicate and Schedule with Your Photographer Ahead of Time
The biggest question asked around newborn sessions is “when should I schedule since I can’t guarantee the baby’s arrival date?”. This is absolutely a valid question and can be tough to plan for in advance. The best thing to do is to reach out to your chosen photographer to discuss your options and their approach to this specific kind of session. I personally like to get a date on the calendar based off of the due date with the understanding that it could get moved up or pushed back. From that point I encourage my clients to keep in contact with me in those days leading into baby’s arrival so that I can navigate our plans and any adjusments required.
Scheduling a newborn session within that first week of birth is the ticket to capturing those sleepy infant moments. Chances are your little one will be sleeping a majority of the day so this will allow those sweet quiet snuggly shots during our session. Also the wrinkly skin, involuntary smirks, and finger holding seems to be at peak during this timeframe.
Tip 3: Meet Baby’s Needs Right Before the Session
About thirty minutes before your schedule shoot it is a great idea to make sure baby gets fed and a fresh diaper change. This will help the shoot run smoothly and get the more polished photos done right at the start. As time goes on if you need to take a break to feed again that is a wonderful opportunity to have more candid images of you creating that bond with your new bundle of joy.
Tip 4: Show Off Those Fleeting Features
It’s always a lovely idea to have baby in the nude (or close to it) for a portion of the session. This really allows the wrinkly skin, newborn color, and small features to be shown. It can be tempting to put baby in draping fabrics and swooshing clothes, but be sure to consider how much you’ll love looking back on photographs that capture more of what they truly looked like during these itty bitty days.
Tip 5: Embrace the Realness of What Life Currently Looks Like
Sure you can try to tidy up your home and get yourself put together, but don’t beat yourself up if dirty bottles are on the counter or your hair is being left in a natural state. This is life in all its glory. It is sweet and it is messy. It is full of love and equally chaotic at times. You’d be surprised how many of our stories look a like in this way. So embrace it and know that one day you’ll miss those fingerprint smudges on your windows or the toys scattered along the hallway.
If this window has passed for you, don’t feel like you’ve missed out entirely. See my favorite five reasons as why you’re not too late for newborn photos and then get yours scheduled today!