Behind the Scenes with a Newborn Photographer Jacksonville NC Newborn Photographer
You just had a baby and you want to have their portraits taken, but don’t know what to look for. You go to your search engine and type in newborn photographer (insert city here) or ask friends on Facebook and they refer you to their favorite person, but what qualifies them over the next photographer? Price, cute props or Facebook fans? It is important to know when hiring your newborn photographer that you are commissioning much more than the session itself. You are commissioning their time before, during and after your session; as well as their knowledge and artistic abilities. Your new bundle is only this small once; choosing the perfect photographer to capture this important and fleeting moment is essential to preserving your baby’s little details. Be sure to schedule your photographer ahead of time to ensure their availability and secure your first choice. I encourage mommies to book by the second trimester, especially if wishing to book a maternity and newborn session. Just remember, it is never to early to book your session!
So what goes into a newborn session? Well here at Pleasantly Captured Photography once your session is confirmed, I dive right in and start planning your newborn session. I enjoy getting to know your family and how I can customize your session. I learn these details through the session questionnaire and session design consultation. We will chat in person or over the phone about your vision and from there I pick out props I think will match your style and coordinate different setups. Some of my favorite sessions are those that include personal items such as uniforms, jewelry or nursery items! For example here are two of my favorite photos with personal items incorporated.
This sweet newborn’s mommy has a love for giraffes, so she brought in this little prop. How cute?!
This sweet little girl’s nursery was owl themed, so we incorporated that theme into her session.
When setting up for your session, safety is key! It is just as important to me, as it is to you, that your baby is given the utmost care while having their photographs taken. Before and after every session all hard surfaces are wiped down with a disinfectant wipe, including props and the posing bean bag. Blankets, wraps, and layering sets that touch baby’s skin (whether they are soiled or not) are washed in warm water and detergent that is free from dyes or scents for the delicate newborn skin. In addition to sanitation, choosing props that are safe is equally important. Props that I choose cannot only be pleasing to the eye, but are of sound construction. I inspect items to ensure they will safely hold a baby and are free of imperfections that could harm, for example splintered wood. Props that are light are weighed down with 5-10 pounds to prevent the prop from tipping over.
Below you can view a few items that you will see at your newborn session:
- Studio Baby posing bean bag
- Posing fabric
- Heater
- Old receiving blankets (to help pose or clean up messes)
- Hand sanitizer
- Phone to play white noise
- Weights
- Reflector
After your session, I clean up and then start editing your images. I carefully select the best images, touch up distracting skin imperfections such as scratches and add my signature editing to enhance your images which you see below.
Newborn photo before edits | Newborn Photographer Jacksonville NC
Final newborn edit with the Pleasantly Captured Photography’s signature polish | Jacksonville NC Newborn Photographer
Your polished images are then presented in person for you to create your custom art at your very own session premiere! I truly believe that your personal style and your photographer’s style should align. If you do not like how your photos are edited or the items that are included in the photos, you will more than likely not want to put those images up in your home. It is also important to note that newborns are best photographed in the first 2 weeks of life and re-shooting a session may not always be possible. So chose the right photographer the first time! Be sure to view their portfolio or blog to see their images and get a feel for their style.
I hope this post was insightful and feel free to share! If you have any questions about my set up or if you would like to weigh-in feel free to do so in the comments below. As always, thank you so much for reading!
-Al
