When Should I Book My Newborn Session?!

NEW JERSEY NEWBORN PHOTOGRAPHER

Finding out you are pregnant comes with a whirlwind of emotions. First you’re anxious waiting for the results, then you’re excited when it’s positive and sometimes that excitement is followed by a little bit of nervousness once you realize, “oh my goodness, a baby is actually coming!” Then there comes all the preparation leading up to the big due date. If you’ve been thinking of getting a newborn photoshoot done, the questions you’re probably asking yourself are, “When do I book a newborn session and how can I schedule one if I don’t know when the baby will be here?!” Hopefully this post helps answer those questions for you. 🙂

A lot of times I end up getting last-minute inquiries from parents who already had their sweet babe and sometimes I’m able to squeeze them in, but a lot of times I just don’t have any availability. It really hurts my heart to turn anyone away, especially a new parent who’s been waiting to capture such a special moment in time. That’s why my advice on when to inquire is as soon as possible! It’s never too early in inquire, especially if you have a photographer that you’ve had your heart set on hiring for your newborn session. All I need to book your session is your due date and then we wait. Once baby is finally here, that’s when we would pick the perfect date for their model debut! Here are some other questions I often get as a New Jersey newborn photographer:

How soon after I give birth should I schedule my session?

I always tell my clients that the best time to schedule your newborn session is 1-3 weeks after the baby arrives. I know firsthand how exhausting and hard it is that first week after giving birth so I never want to push getting the session done within the first week. You as new parents need time to settle in at home and adjust a little bit to your new normal with this new little human that’s just been brought home. With that being said, I also know that sometimes things don’t go as planned and sometimes baby has to stay in the NICU or something else happens. If that’s the case, don’t worry! I’ve also photographed 6-8 week olds before. So whenever you and your new family are ready for your newborn session, that’s exactly when we’ll get it done.

Where will my newborn session take place?

So if you’ve been following along with me for a while, you’ll know that I do all my newborn sessions at my clients’ homes. Getting the chance to be invited into your home at such a raw and emotional time in your lives is something I cherish so much. I love that I get to capture you and your new family in your element and I love how relaxed an in-home session is. If you really don’t want photos in your house, there is a studio in Jersey City, NJ that I’m able to rent but there is an extra fee for that, so just keep that in mind.

How long does an in-home newborn session last?

It really all depends on the baby! I always tell my clients that an in-home newborn session lasts anywhere from 1-2 hours. Sometimes baby sleeps the entire time and I can get it done in an hour. Sometimes baby is a little fussy, has a full diaper that’s needs to be changed or sometimes baby is just hungry so it takes longer to photograph them. The important thing to remember is that baby runs the show and it’s more than okay if we need to take a few breaks throughout the session.

What should we wear for our session?

The beauty of an in-home session is you can wear whatever you want. If you want to dress up, wear that dress you’ve been eyeing! If you really don’t feel like dressing up, then wear those comfy leggings with a nice chunky sweater! Getting ready with a new baby is tough, so don’t put too much pressure on yourself. All I ask is that you keep the colors neutral and don’t wear anything too bright or too matchy-matchy. I’m always here to help figure out outfits and I also have a client closet that you can borrow from for yourself and baby! I may be biased but I will say I have the cutest newborn clothes in my client closet.

I hope that answered all or at least most of your questions! Just remember, don’t be stressed when thinking about booking your newborn session. And if you’re still on the fence about booking a newborn session, I’m here to tell you to DO IT! I regret not having a newborn session for either of my kids. Those babies will change so much within the first few days, weeks and months so capturing them when they’re still so teeny is always worth it. 🙂

To see my Newborn package, please click HERE!