Protected: Prep Guide Babies

baby prep guide

welcome

I am honoured to be documenting your little one’s milestone portraits; these are the images that will be treasured for years to come and will beautifully chronicle your family’s history.

Once you arrive at the studio, we will get started right away, unless baby is fussy and needs to be settled. I have planned out our session based on your goals for your images, but often I go with the flow and follow baby's lead. It often feels like a fun playdate and when baby is entertained, we get a good variety of expressions. I might ask for your assistance at times if baby is a wobbly sitter or to place baby back if he or she is crawling or walking around.

This welcome page should provide you with a full overview of what you can expect from your baby session. If you have any questions, feel free to message me. I look forward to seeing you soon!

what to expect

for babies 1-3 months old

I approach this age similar to how I photograph fresh newborns who come into the studio. I will try to swaddle baby for some photos if baby will allow it. I also have some simple wardrobe pieces we can use.

If baby happens to fall asleep during our short session, I will capture sleeping photos, but more often baby is alert and awake with good eye contact so we will photograph their adorable expressions and developing personality.

for babies 6-8 months old

Babies have a very short attention span, so the session will go quick. It usually involves 3-4 setups, each with a few simple accessories. Baby is photographed from different angles, capturing tiny details and hopefully a wide range of expressions.

Between 6-8 months old baby starts sitting stable and they are generally very happy and smiley. We'll photograph baby sitting on their own, maybe in a simple basket or prop, laying on their back and also on their tummy.

for babies 11-12 months old

The First Birthday session! This session is special because baby has a very important milestone coming up. I photograph them with my wooden cake toy for a few birthday-specific images. The rest of the session is about documenting their personality and their new achievements - like crawling and standing (maybe even walking!) in my simple and natural style.

Babies have a very short attention span, so the session will go quick. It usually involves 3-4 setups, and I often introduce my basket of wood toys to keep them entertained and still for a few moments. Baby is photographed from different angles, capturing tiny details and their wide range of expressions.

Around a year old, babies often start to play strange so I will keep my distance a bit until I see they are warming up to me. Baby will likely be crawling quick or even walking in some cases, so I may enlist your help to place them back where I need them, so I can be ready to capture them at a moment's notice.

how to prepare

classic, clean and simple

Please ensure that your baby is well rested and fed. Feed baby right before they arrive and make sure that their sleep cycle doesn’t interfere with the session timing. A well rested and well fed baby is a happy baby, so if their nap time has changed and we need to adjust our session start time, please contact me the day before our session and I'll do my best to accommodate.

Bring milk and/or snacks for baby in case they need a break.

The morning of our session, please give baby a bath. Not only will the look nice and squeaky clean for their photos, it will remove the tiny bits of fluff in their toes and tidy their fingernails which will show in the detail images I always aim to capture.

I have a vast studio wardrobe you are welcome to use. If you’d like to bring your own special outfit or diaper cover for baby that’s perfectly fine. Keep in mind neutral colours are ideal. Outfits with wording or images are very cute but are sometimes hard to read since fabric folds. So simple is best!

If baby has a lovie, blankie or special item you would like documented as part of their baby stage feel free to bring it along. Lastly, please remove baby's socks before leaving. I like to see those baby toes and avoid sock lines which can last up to an hour.

Check out my What to Wear for baby Photos Pinterest board for lots of visual inspiration.

prep for parents

If you are getting parent and/or sibling images, I'm here to offer help on what to wear. You can bring your own outfits or borrow items from my studio wardrobe. Your photo session is an investment and what you wear has a huge impact on the overall look and feel of your images. Sometimes moms lean toward the standard black leggings because they are easy, they stretch and are comfy, but let's elevate your photos and choose a long flowy dress that's just as comfy, more forgiving and will look absolutely stunning.

I have a full studio wardrobe for mamas you are welcome to use. Many of the items are creams and whites with lace. Bring a nude bra if you have one and wear a white or cream cami for underneath. You can try on some pieces when you arrive. My client closet is carefully curated with dresses for you that will photograph perfectly.

View the Studio Wardrobe

I also have a few simple polos for Dads to use if they like.

If you prefer to bring your own outfits and you are wondering what to wear - neutrals work best. Whites, creams, greys. Avoid the colour black as it tends to look very bold compared to the light and airy feel of everything else in the studio. Avoid graphics and logos which can distract from the real focus of the images - your family.