So you’ve just had a baby and you’re wondering how to prepare for your newborn session. I’m so glad you’re here reading these tips! I know you’ll find them helpful.

The fourth trimester is a sweet and vulnerable time where you should spend as much time snuggling your new baby and resting your body as possible. It can be hard to rest and bond when you feel like your new mom to-do list is never ending.
Keep in mind, these tips are meant to be an outline, not a check list. Do what works for your family, your baby, and your body. Delegate what you can so that you can spend those first couple weeks just focused on the important things!

Make sure you’ve connected with a photographer who is taking care of you

This may not feel like it should be the first tip on how to prepare for your newborn session, but this is hugely important! We all know finding a photographer whose work you love is the first step. But having a photographer who takes things off your to-do list, provides resources, and genuinely cares about your fourth trimester is the foundation to a stress-free experience!

If you’ve already booked me as your photographer, you know how important that foundation is. I’m so glad you’re here and I cannot wait to serve you through this sweet time with your new babe!
If you’re still searching for someone who truly offers an effortless newborn photography experience, I’d love for you to take a look at what I have to offer here.

Those early weeks with a newborn can feel so overwhelming. Add in scheduling a newborn session, shopping for outfits, worrying about your body in the dress you bought, coordinating hair and makeup – not to mention actually printing your photos and creating the newborn album you’ve always wanted, and it’s just too much!
Don’t add stress where there doesn’t need to be stress! Take the time to chat with photographers ahead of time and see if you click with them. You’ll be able to tell right away whether they genuinely care about your experience or if they just want to pack their schedule with as many sessions as possible.

Bathing, feeding, and sleep tips

You’ll get varying opinions on these topics, and honestly none of them are 100% tried and true because we’re dealing with little tiny new humans. But I do have some general tips that may be helpful as you prepare for your newborn session!

Bathing

I recommend bathing your baby the day of or evening before your session. Gently exfoliate the dry skin on baby’s face, hands and feet. Get those crusties off of baby’s eyelashes and hair. The most important part is to MOISTURIZE! Slather that babe in a nice thick lotion or cream. Good old Aquaphor does the trick, but I also love Tubby Todd All Over Ointment.
I have some Aquaphor at the studio in case we need it again when baby’s hands inevitably start flaking overnight.

Feeding

This is an important one – reserve time to feed your baby right before your session time! If you’re getting your hair and makeup done immediately prior to your session, my hair and makeup artist is happy to let you nurse while she does your hair and makeup. Or maybe have your husband give the baby a bottle while you relax during your hair and makeup appointment.

Feeding your baby before your session eliminates one more obstacle between us and a sleepy, content babe!

No matter when you’ve fed your baby prior to your session, I fully expect to stop and allow baby to be fed again during the session. It’s just how it works sometimes! Many mommas want me to capture some nursing/feeding photos during this time. These can be really precious photos of some of the most intimate moments with your baby – whether you’re nursing, bottle feeding, or tube feeding.

Sleep

What is sleep, amiright?
All jokes aside, I think sleep is one of the most important things both parents and babies need during the fourth trimester! I don’t want you to sacrifice any sleep to prepare for your newborn session. There are lots of differing opinions on this one, but I recommend keeping your rhythm the same and allow your babe to do what they need, when they need!
I’ll create an environment in my studio that will hopefully keep baby sleepy and content. We’ll feed, change, soothe and comfort as needed throughout the session.
If baby sleeps during the session, great! If they’re wide awake and content, also great! We can work with that.

Be flexible

This is a phrase that carries through to every aspect of life now that you have a newborn.
Flexibility is key during your newborn session. We’re at the mercy of this precious, tiny human whether we like it or not! My main goal is to create a calm environment so that your baby feels comfortable and content. In turn, you’ll be comfortable and content. And this is the way to get the best photos!

But sometimes things don’t go as planned, no matter how much we prepare. Babies can be gassy, spitty, fussy, clingy, and anything else you can think of. Your baby might decide they need to cluster feed suddenly during our session. Maybe baby poops 4 times.

Say it with me –
F L E X I B I L I T Y
I S
K E Y

If you’ve booked with me, you can rest knowing that since I deal with newborns all the time, I’ve experienced it all. Nothing surprises me or catches me off guard! You can rest knowing we’re still getting good photos even when it feels like your baby hasn’t participated at all 😉
You can trust that I don’t need to take a thousand photos to get what we need. Also trust that I will most likely be adding a photo of your baby making that silly cross-eyed face as they fill up their diaper so that you can look back and laugh when you see your gallery.

ARE YOU SEARCHING FOR A PHOTOGRAPHER WHO WILL WALK ALONGSIDE YOU TO HELP YOU PREPARE FOR YOUR NEWBORN SESSION?

If you’re searching for a newborn photographer in Louisville KY and you want to know how to prepare for your newborn session, I’d love to walk you through the MMP portrait experience!

You can contact me here and I will walk you through the effortless MMP experience.

Check out my newborn session options here!

Also make sure you read this post about newborn sleep tips from a certified pediatric sleep consultant!

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