Newborn Photography Session- What to Expect from Kristen Marie Imagery-San Diego
The little fingers that wrap around yours. The soft little sighs and of course the baby snuggles. Newborn photography sessions are by far my favorite. Being able to use my talent to create beautiful images of these cherished babies is what makes my soul happy and is incredibly fulfilling on a creative, personal and professional level.
Before the session….
Newborn photography sessions are best booked when you are still pregnant, however I am happy to accommodate mamas who have already had their babies. When you reserve a session (if your baby is not already born), we will plan the session within the first two weeks of your due date. Of course, this date is just an estimate as babies birthdays are often unpredictable! We will keep in touch and as soon as your baby arrives let me know so we can confirm a time and date.
Newborn portraits are best done within the first two to three weeks. However, while older newborns may not be as curly or sleepy, ,we can still capture gorgeous photographs of your baby. I have successfully photographed a traditional newborn session up to six weeks!
Newborn photography sessions are done in my in-home studio in Carlsbad. I will send you a guide with instructions on how to prepare your baby for a smooth session. I will also send you a questionnaire so I can know your preference colors, etc so I can customize your session.
The process….
The room is heated to about 85 degrees to keep the baby warm and happy. I have a fan that the parents can use to stay comfortable since the room can become quite toasty. Be prepared to make yourself at home...sessions last between 2-4 hours. I provide water and snacks. You are welcome to bring your own food or drink and we can always order in lunch as well.
While I have a general plan, each session is unique as each baby has their own personality, temperament and needs. We go with the flow and it is important to stay flexible. During the session baby's safety and comfort in the number one priority. I make sure to listen to each baby and honor their individual needs. They are the boss!
Parent comfort is very important to me too. You are never more then an arms length away from your baby at all times. I have studied newborn safety and will only do poses I have complete confidence in working. That being said, I encourage parents to say anything if they are even feeling the slightest bit of discomfort. This is YOUR baby and you have the final say in everything.
We will start with the baby wrapped and posed with young siblings. As soon as you arrive, you will feed the baby to get him or her milk drunk and sleepy. I use this time to get to know the siblings and start to build a level of trust so they are not apprehensive to be photographed. My background in early childhood education certainly helps this process!
While the baby is warm and sleepy and wrapped, we will move to a few props (crates and baskets, etc).
During this time I like to capture the little details….the fingers and toes, lips and eyelashes.
After this we then proceed to family poses....mom, dad, everyone together. Once we finish this set, it is a good idea for dad to take the siblings home or a near by park while we concentrate on individual baby portraits. This transition while I set up the bean bag is usually a good time to feed baby as usually they start to get a little hungry!
We wrap up with "bean bag" poses that concentrate on the beauty of your new baby.
After the session....
Once your session is complete, I will download your images and work on getting you a sneak peek within a few days. My turn around time is about 2 to 3 weeks. Once I am done editing, I will upload your images to an online gallery. You will receive an email with your download pin. Please make sure to download your images as a zip file and not to screen shot to preserve the quality. You may choose to print your photos as you wish and/or order prints and products through me.
Interested in a session? Fill out the form below!