How to Prepare for Baby's First Photographic Experience

A newborn session that will visually document this incredible time in your life is the perfect way to share your baby with friends and family. Having a new baby is a completely euphoric and emotional time for you (we have even been there a few times ourselves) so to help you prepare for your baby's first photographic experience we have compiled a list of most often asked questions along with tips and information to ensure your session is a delightful experience.

What’s the first step to plan a newborn session?

If you are pregnant now and you are planning on having newborn portraits taken, please book your session in advance. Booking in advance ensures we add baby’s due date on our master calendar and its one less thing for you to remember to do after baby is born. We realize that babies rarely arrive on their exact due date and for this reason we closely monitor morning session availability two weeks before and two weeks after your due date to ensure we are ready. Simply give us a call, text or email us as soon as baby is born and we will ensure we will ready for you. If you have had baby already it’s not too late! Call us as soon as possible!

What is the best age to photograph a newborn baby?

The best newborn portraits are taken when babies are fewer than two weeks old. We strongly recommend all newborn sessions occur as close to home arrival as possible.

Why do you prefer the baby to be 2 weeks or younger?

In our experience, babies younger than two weeks will sleep more soundly, allowing us to position the baby in ways that create the very best portraits for our clients. Babies are also more flexible at this age. Older than 2 weeks, most babies tend to be more alert and a bit restless, and much more difficult to capture the images our clients have

What should I expect from a lifestyle newborn session?

Expect the session time to be focused on what matters most...your new baby. Your life now consists of diaper changes, feedings and of course spending countless hours admiring the sweetest face in the world. Our only agenda that day will be to artistically document these incredible moments that you share. On average a newborn session lasts 3-4 hours allowing plenty of time in between for you and baby to rest and nourish. Baby will feed a couple times and there will be many diaper changes in between. Parents should plan to also snack along the way and rest when needed.

Do you photograph me with the baby?

Yes, of course, we encourage it! We adore when parents choose to be photographed with their newborn infant as the connection is like no other. The relationship between you and your baby at this early stage is precious to behold. You’ll want to remember just how tiny they were at that exact moment and more importantly your child will want to remember you through these photographs.

Where will my newborn session take place?

We believe your home is the ideal place to cuddle and care for your little one. Babies do best when parents are relaxed and comfortable, so for this reason we come to you and will ensure your time with us is natural and as close to everyday life as possible.

What do we need to prepare our home?

Please do not worry about the state of your house! You just had a baby. We do not care if dishes are piled up in the sink and baskets of clothes runneth over! Remember the newborn session is really all about your new little one, your relationship together, and the love in your home, not your housekeeping. We will use your furniture, your belongings, and the natural light found in your home to capture the sweet moments between your family and your baby. We will move or arrange the environment if needed.

What should we wear?

Parents and siblings photograph best in comfortable neutral colored clothing free of logos and bold patterns. Casual clothing is perfect and bare feet look most natural in a home setting. If mom should have a beautiful maxi dress or a pretty cotton gown that is comfortable they make for oh-so-sweet portraits cuddling with baby, however, do not worry about going shopping or over thinking it. The beauty is in the natural so focus on what is true to you.

How should we dress our baby?

A naked newborn baby is so lovely and so perfect. Newborn clothing rarely looks good in portraits. Baby will be photographed with no clothing if they are comfortable, if not we often use wraps or baby's soft swaddle blankets. If you should have an heirloom or handmade piece you would like to include please make sure to let us know as we would be happy to photograph it.

What else should we do to look our best?

For parents: Short, clean nails with clear or no color is best, moisturized face and lips keeps parents looking fresh and at their best.
For baby: Undress baby and loosen baby’s diaper completely about 30 minutes before the session. This allows time for the diaper’s imprint marks to disappear from their skin. Swaddle baby in a warm blanket until I arrive. If baby’s skin is a little dry or flaky, try applying a small amount of baby lotion to those spots the day before our session. We love using Calendula lotion on our babies (its natural and very soothing to baby skin)
For Siblings: Groomed hair, hands and face. Children do best when they are happy so plan an activity focusing on them (reading, snack etc.) After all, they are still adjusting to sharing parents and will do best if activities are easy and stress free. Some siblings really want to be involved while others go about their daily routine without much care for the new arrival. Both ways is natural and the key is not to force them into anything they are not comfortable with (i.e., holding baby or hugging baby if they don't want to).

What if my newborn has baby acne?

No worries — we see this all the time. Every portrait you select as part of your order will be individually enhanced for lovely skin tones. We will smooth and soften blemishes, boo-boos or dry skin, so not to worry!

How do I plan for feedings during session?

Feeding is a great bonding moment and part of your new life with baby. During the newborn session baby will be adjusting to movement and new sounds in their environment and may not fall into as deep of sleep as usual. Because of this we encourage parents to feed baby on demand and nurse for comfort. Let them eat until they don’t want another drop. If you are bottle/formula feeding, don’t worry about measuring this time. You won’t spoil baby and they will be so full and happy they’ll be out in no time. Aren’t we all happier with a full belly?

What if my baby won't sleep or is fussy?

Be patient. If baby is extra alert and or fussy don’t worry. A baby can sense your anxiety and we want to keep the environment as mellow as possible. I will try and get the baby comfortable again, but if that just doesn’t’ seem possible, our focus will be to do what baby needs. After all the best images are those that are of you caring for baby and sometimes that includes calming.

Should we include Grandparents in the session?

Of course! We love to visually document the meaningful bond between different generations. We do not recommend inviting other relatives and friends as having extra folks in the mix makes it more difficult to move around and adds energy to the environment that is not always as relaxing. Our goal is to make the session as easy on you and baby as possible. We know it’s all very exciting...but just remember you will soon have gorgeous images you can share with them. When in doubt please ask us.

Do you bring props?

We are very creative at using a child’s environment therefore we prefer to find items that are naturally found in your home. If the nursery is ready or there are heirloom items that hold special meaning to you please point those out, we love to include those in the setting as part of their life. We aim to create images of your family that will remain timeless for decades to come AND we know parents honestly prefer the portraits that show off the baby more than the props!

I’m so excited; may I take photos during the session?

We kindly ask you to refrain from any picture-taking during your session, even with your smart phone. With all the time and effort to pose your baby, we reserve the right to be the sole creators of the portrait art of your baby. We appreciate your understanding.

How soon will we be able to view the images?

Approximately two weeks following your newborn session, we invite you into the studio to review all of your images, assist you in making your selections and to place your order. We recommend that all of the decision makers are present at the time of the ordering session. We are happy to accommodate you in the early evening for these appointments.

How many images will I see from my session?

We may photograph dozens of captures in a given session, however not all are keepers. We will capture as many images as necessary in order to present you with a strong body of images. Typically, we will present you with the best 25-35 images in order to simplify your selection process.

What should I expect to spend on my portraits?

It’s entirely up to you how much you decide to invest in your newborn session. There is no minimum purchase order required and there is a wide range of à la carte options available to meet your budget. On average our clients invest somewhere between $1000 to $3500. Complete collections starting at $1100. It’s always best to have a plan for what you desire to do with your images before your portrait session. We highly recommend taking advantage of our complimentary consultation at our design studio so that you may sample our beautiful line of archival fine art products to decide what will work for both your home and your budget.

Do you offer birth announcements?

We love creating birth announcements for our clients. We print these on certified 200+ year archival paper in a 5x7 standard size and leave one side without any printing so that friends and family can frame image and enjoy for years to come. If you know you would like these made, please do let us know the day of your newborn session. We will select two images for design, have them printed and shipped directly to your doorstep ready to be addressed and mailed. Our lab works incredibly fast so once you approve draft; they print and ship overnight within 24 hours.

Do you offer consultations?

Of course! In fact, we encourage you to visit the studio prior to your session to get to know us. This is such an exciting time for you and we invite you to see our work and discuss your wishes for a successful newborn session. We recommend that you schedule a specific date and time with us so that we are able to give you our full attention. We look forward to meeting you!

Are you having a new baby? We can't wait to hear from you! Call us at 562 706.0032 or fill out this little note and we will contact you!

Our photography design studio is located in the beautiful city of Belmont Shore in Long Beach, California at:
4720 E. 2nd Street, Suite #5
Belmont Shore, Ca 90803

Visit the Blossom Blue Photography Website

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