Your guide to a Lifestyle Newborn session with Natalie Stevens Photography- Newborn Photographer, Berkshire
Hello and welcome. So you’re having a baby and you’re considering having a photoshoot done once baby arrives. I expect you’d like to know a little bit more about what actually happens during a lifestyle newborn shoot? Well you’re in the right place. Make yourself a cuppa and put your feet up and I’ll tell you all you need to know about a shoot with Natalie Stevens Photography, newborn Photographer, Berkshire
Relax
This is such a laid back session that you really don’t need to worry or stress. Hey, you just had a baby, you’ve got enough going on right now. I promise that this will be completely painless and I will make it as simple as possible for you.
So, in the words of Julie Andrews, let’s start at the very beginning……..
When you get in touch, I will ask you to arrange a little chat at a time that works for you. I will start by asking you a bit about yourself and your family, when you’re due, how you’re doing? We can also chat about whether you would like to opt for a maternity and newborn package.
I will ask you about your partner and whether you have any older children you’d like to include in the session and their ages (the kids, not your husband!) It just helps me to know as much as I can about your family so I can plan your session.
Your Home
So, Does having a newborn shoot at home mean you need to spend the rest of your pregnancy cleaning? Not at all! If there’s anything distracting in the shot we will move it out of the way. I’ve done the whole newborn thing a couple of times myself and I still don’t quite know how someone so small can have so much ‘stuff’! But there’s absolutely no pressure or judgeyness from me at all about your home! I’ll even show you photos of my messy house if it’ll make you feel better!
But I will ask you a little bit about the layout of your home. And you might think I’m a bit weird when I ask you about your windows. (I promise I’m not going to try to sell you double glazing!) It’s all about the light. We will basically aim to shoot where the best light is. This often includes the master bedroom, especially as it gives us a chance to get some of those lovely cuddly on the bed shots.
But I know what you’re thinking. I can’t let anyone in the bedroom, let alone have it photographed!! But remember what I said at the start about the no stress and no judgeyness?I know that master bedrooms tend to become dumping grounds for piles of clothes, nappies and all that jazz, but don’t worry! My house still looks like this at times, and my children haven’t been babies for years. I’m an expert at moving ‘stuff’ out of the shot. The biggest thing that I cannot stress enough is that you really don’t need a Pinterest-worthy house to have your photos done at home.
What to wear?
I will always ask if you need a hand with clothing choices. Please don’t be offended if you’re secretly married to Gok Wan and can work it all out by yourself. A lot of my clients like to run their clothing choices past me to make sure they will work well in their photos.
So what should you wear? I usually encourage families to keep it pretty neutral for in-home sessions. Classic combinations will help your photos stand the test of time, and try to think co-ordinating rather than ‘matching’. Try to avoid anything with big logos. Same applied to siblings- steer clear of character tops, instead go for neutral colours or pick something from the same colour palette you’ve chosen for yourself.
Above all though, make sure everyone feels comfortable, and that includes you. mama. Now is not the time to squeeze back into your pre-baby jeans. Just be kind to yourself and wear something you will be able to feel relaxed in.
As for baby, dress them in a nice simple outfit that your love. Or a nice simple plain white vest is always a good choice. I also have a selection of wraps we can use if you want to.
Anything else?
Well, there are a couple more things that you can do to help the photoshoot go smoothly (don’t worry they’re easy!)
Before I arrive, pop the heating on so it’s nice and toasty. A warm, snuggly, cozy baby is usually a happy baby (Also take this point into account when planning your outfits) Baby might be getting undressed and wrapped up a couple of times so the cozier it is, the less chance of a chilly awakening
If it’s at all possible, try to feed baby just before I arrive so she’s nice and settled and ready to go. If you can’t for any reason, don’t worry at all, I can always have a mooch around to check out the lighting, take some cute nursey shots or just sit and play with any older siblings (and gain their trust) while you see to baby.
If you have any shawls or blankets you would like to be incorporated, have them all ready to go. I do bring a selection of blankets (fluffy blankets, knitted blankets, crochet blankets, you get the picture, I’m a bit of a blanket addict!) but there’s something so especially lovely about using baby’s own blankets, bonus points if it was knitted by grandma!
Alo, please remember that I really do want the whole experience to be a pleasant, relaxing one for you, so when baby is being photographed alone, please, please, please take the opportunity to sit down, put your feet up, have a hot cup of tea, check Facebook, close your eyes, anything that will give you a quick time out from the tornado of busyness that just hit your life in the last few weeks.
What happens next?
After the shoot is when the magic happens. I load your photos into my computer and sort out the ‘keepers’ from the ‘blinkers’, and start to work my editing magic. Within a few days of your shoot, I will post a couple of my faves from your shoot on my Facebook and Instagram pages to keep you going. Then within a few weeks I will send you a link to your private online viewing gallery, where you can choose your included photos and decide if you would like to upgrade to include any more. You will also get access to my online store where you will be able to choose your beautiful wall art to show off your photos.
So, are you ready to arrange a little chat with me to talk about you and your family, to find out if I’m the right person to capture your family’s memories? Get in touch with me below and we can work out a time for a chat that works for you