Welcome to the final post in the Newborn Session Series – The 10 Most Common Questions About Newborn Photos. Throughout this Newborn Session Series, I will be guiding you through the entire process. From deciding to have your newborn photo session, all the way through what to do with your photos once you have them, we’ll be covering everything you need to know to ensure you end up with beautiful photos you will cherish forever.
More in this series:
- The Top 5 Reasons To Book a Newborn Photo Session – Even If Feels Overwhelming
- The 20 Most Important Questions to Ask Your Newborn Photographer Before Booking
- What To Wear For Newborn Photos: The Complete Family Guide
- When To Take Newborn Photos: The Complete Guide
- 5 Tips for An Easy In-Home Newborn Session
- The 8 Best Newborn Photos At Home
- The 10 Most Common Questions About Newborn Photos
Today I’m answering the top 10 questions I get asked about newborn sessions. Feel free to use the table of contents below to jump to a specific question!
Table of Contents
1. How long do the newborn photos take?
Newborn sessions last anywhere from 1-3 hours based on your baby’s needs. Feel free to take all the time you need for feeding, diaper changes, and snuggles. I never want you to feel stressed about time during your session. That being said, I know that you all need your rest so I work as efficiently as possible!
2. When should we book newborn photos and how do we pick a date?
I am currently booking about 3-4 months out for newborn sessions, so it is best to reach out as soon as you feel comfortable. Contacting me during your second trimester will help ensure that I have the most availability for your newborn photos. That being said, if you are having a difficult pregnancy, pregnancy after a loss, or going through anything else that might make you want to wait longer to book, please reach out when you are ready. I do my best to keep one or two spots open to accommodate these types of last-minute inquiries.
I don’t book specific session dates for newborn photos as these sweet babies come on their own time. I only take a limited number of newborn sessions per month to allow me to accommodate my littlest clients’ unpredictable arrivals. Once you are home and settled with your baby, reach out by email or text and I will send you a link with available dates and times. From there, you can pick the one that works best for your family – it’s that easy!
3. Where do newborn photos happen?
I photograph most newborn photos in my clients’ homes. I find that this is easiest, especially for first-time parents. I bring everything needed for the newborn photos, dresses for mama, backdrops, wraps – all you need to do is open the door for me!
If you are unable or do not want to photograph in your home, I have a couple of studios (this one is my favorite!) that I work with that I can photograph sessions in. Let me know if you would prefer this option and we can secure the studio for your newborn photos.
4. What if my baby doesn’t sleep during their newborn photos?
Not to worry – whether your baby is wide awake the entire session, or sleeps straight through, we will get beautiful photos of your family! Some of my favorite newborn photos are when they are wide awake and looking at their parents – there’s something so special about that eye contact! If your baby is asleep when I arrive, I will start with photos of your baby by themselves. If they are awake, we will start with images of you and your baby together, and move on to solo images later.
5. What if my toddler won’t cooperate?
This is a huge life change for siblings as well, so I always do my best to make photos as fun as possible for toddlers! Sometimes that means singing silly songs, munching on snacks, or having a favorite toy in the images. All of these are perfect and tell the story of your family as you are right now.
My biggest tip for newborn photos with a toddler sibling is to let go of expectations. Children pick up on our emotions very easily. If you are anxious about the session going smoothly or frustrated with their behavior, they will pick up on it, and things can spiral quickly! Relax, take the pressure off yourself and your children, and trust that I will capture some beautiful photos of your family – no matter what happens!
6. What time of day is best for newborn photos?
I typically find that around 10 am is a good time for newborn photos. It is usually early enough in the day that everyone has energy and it gives you enough time to get ready before I arrive. It is also before nap time for most toddlers. This allows us to get them in some photos and then we can let them have lunch and a nap!
7. Where in the house should we take newborn photos?
When I arrive I’ll take a quick walk around your home to find the best lighting. I find that most newborn photos happen in the primary bedroom or nursery, but I have also photographed in living rooms, dining rooms, kitchens, and even one incredibly beautiful bathroom! All I need is a window to make beautiful photos of you and your newborn!
8. What do we need to have ready?
The 2 best things that you can do before I arrive are to turn up the heat in your home and begin feeding your baby about 30 minutes before I arrive (if possible!). Turning up the heat in your home will make sure that your baby is as comfortable as possible. Feeding them 30 minutes before will ensure that they are full and content before we start the session.
9. How many newborn photos do we get?
I curate a gallery full of the best images from your session. I remove duplicates or images where someone blinked or moved and you get the rest! On average for a newborn session, I deliver 40-65 images. I truly believe that you should be able to have all of your memories – they don’t do anyone any good sitting on my computer!
That being said, I do my best to curate a selection of images that is both varied, but not overwhelming. I want to decrease the analysis paralysis that too many images can give people. This leads to never printing your photos because you simply don’t know what to print. By giving you 40-65 images, you can rest assured that you have received the best of the best, a wide variety, and the perfect amount to print and share with family and friends.
10. Do I have to get the prints?
You can substitute the prints for a $100 credit towards an album, but you cannot remove both the prints and the credit. In this day and age, we take a million photos on our phones and then never do anything with them. All it takes is a hard drive to crash, a phone to get dropped in a toilet, or a password to be forgotten and all of your memories are gone forever. The prints are a technology-proof backup and a way to hold your memories in your hands and share them with your children. I am incredibly passionate about printing your photos, so everyone who works with me walks away with physical photographs.
So there you have it – the top 10 questions I get asked about newborn photos. Was your question on this list? Do you have additional questions about newborn photos? Let me know by sending me an email (kate@katevodaphotography.com), or commenting below!
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Kate Voda is a New Jersey Newborn Photographer specializing in in-home newborn lifestyle photography sessions and lifestyle portrait photography sessions. Kate serves Central New Jersey and the surrounding areas. You can view more of Kate’s work over on Instagram.
