NEWBORN

Getting Started with

photography

Making the decision to start your newborn photography journey canbe a little scary and a bit overwhelming. Getting caught up in the"HOW do I do this?" can even be paralyzing. I remember clearly when I made the decision to go for it, and I made alot of mistakes along the way. But I don't want that for you. I created this guide for you so you don't feel so alone and confused,

and so you would benefit from the tricks and tips I have learned over

my many years as a professional newborn photographer. I hope it will shorten your learning curve! If we haven't met yet, I'm Lisa, the owner of Milk & HoneyPhotography and the founder of The Milky Way - where we empower,educate & inspire thousands of photographers around the worldthrough our online courses and retreats! On a personal note ... I love hot yoga, cheesy rom coms ... and photography of course!

light & love

Lisa

Welcome!

I typically don’t suggest holding newborn sessions with babies any younger then 5 days old. Baby is still recovering from the trauma of birth, and if momis breastfeeding, her milk typically hasn’t come in fully. We want that nutrient-rich milk flowing and filling baby’s tummy so they are lulled into a deep, longsleep. My window for great sessions is usually between 8-14 days old, with 8 daysseeming to be my favourite. This also gives moms a little more time to adjustto a new baby, a new life, and lack of sleep! I have found that the clients who book their photo session and their doctor'sappointment for the same day seem to be more on edge and feeling pressedfor time. So I typically recommend my clients don't schedule them on thesame day. It’s a more peaceful and easy-going session if everyone is relaxed,and no one has to hurry off anywhere.

How Old Should Baby Be?

Now, just because 8-14 days is my ‘ideal’ window, this is not to say that I don’ttake on older newborns. I recently was contacted by a mom who had given birth at 30 weeks, and herlittle one was under 4lbs at birth but trooped along to a chubby little dude. Isaw him in my studio at 12 weeks old, and because of the adjusted age (40+week gestation), he acted just like a newborn, was totally comfortable gettingposed and slept like a dream. I have successfully posed a 5-week old, 17-day old, 24-day old, just like an 8-day old. It requires more patience and perseverance on your part, but therewards are bountiful.

I was contacted by a mom that had been refused by two photographersbecause her baby was 14 days old and “too old.” I understand where theother photographers may have been coming from. But I don't necessarilyagree. Now, personally, I don’t think 14 days is too old, but whatever the age, I urgeyou to reconsider before turning them down. Many parents don’t realize that2 weeks is "too old". You can still achieve amazing posed images withpatience, and wide awake shots are beautiful too. Simply let your clients know that the images you have on your website arebabies within a certain age range and manage their expectations accordingly.Remember, this session is for THEM to remember this special time in theirlives. Consider the impact you will have on them when you declare,“Oh...your baby is MUCH too old to have newborn portraits.”They feel like they have already failed as parents and their baby is only 2weeks old! Being mindful of this will serve you and your reputation greatly!

The Baby is NOT "too old"

In my communication with my clients I let them know it is optimum that I getbaby in my studio while under 2 weeks old. As mentioned, my preference is 8-14 days old and I will adjust my schedule as needed to accommodate them inthat time frame. But how do you schedule a session when you don’t know when they arearriving? When a client inquires and books their session with a retainer, I ‘pencil in’ theirdue date and let them know that they should contact me as soon as the babyis born so we can finalize the session date (I’ve had moms text me while inlabour!) Because I know how long each newborn session will take me from set up, toclean up, to shooting, all the way to editing and delivering time, I know howmany newborn clients I can fit in my calendar and realistically still have a life. If you don't have this information figured out prior, you can easily overwhelmyour schedule by saying yes to too many clients.

When and How to Schedule a Newborn Session

TASK

Booking and confirming sessionSession prep & set upSession durationSession clean upCulling & editingDelivering images

TIME NEEDED

Time Allocation per Client (fill this out!)

I typically have my sessions in the mornings around 10am. I have heard that a mother’s milk is more nutrient-rich in the morning -whetherthat’s true or not, I personally have found that babies sleep WAY better inmy morning sessions vs my afternoon ones. I also find that mamas are more relaxed and I am more mentally focusedin the morning as well. That said, I do shoot with studio light, so it gives me the freedom andflexibility to be able to work with my clients' schedules and not just withavailable natural light.

What time of day is best?

I know that sometimes we hesitate laying out studio policies for fear that wewill seem too ‘formal’—but, policies are your friend! Everyone is so much happier when they know the boundaries! Unless you are portfolio building, it is critical to remember that this session isfor your client! I have a form that I have my clients fill out prior to their session which asksthem to describe their style and list any specific props and color scheme thatthey wish to include in their session. You want to make sure that you are the right photographer for them. Forexample, if someone wants bright, colourful, leopard-print & hot pink...I maynot be the right photographer for their needs with my neutral-toned style!

Before the Session

I also ask if they have any specific items they will be bringing with them so Ihave time to plan how we can incorporate it into the session. This way I ambetter prepared to plan their session (and that means I can be much morerelaxed at the session!) I have a LOT of props, and it can quickly get overwhelming if you have tochoose props as the session is starting, so picking it out before the time isideal. Occasionally, a client brings an item they forgot to mention - I will domy best to include it for them too, even if it is something that I may notpersonally love. Remember, you don't have to show every image in yourportfolio! Ultimately, when expectations are laid out prior to the session, there are nosurprises. Happy photographer, happy clients!

In addition to the type of style they are looking for, I encourage you to find outhow many people will be photographed in addition to baby, and especially if anolder sibling(s) will be included, and their age(s). For me, this makes a massive difference in how I plan my sessions. Also,when I have this information beforehand, I can clearly (and kindly) explain mystudio policies to my clients. I explain that I need to be focusing 100% of my energy on the newborn, andthat, for safety reasons, it is important that I have a quiet and distraction-freeenvironment to concentrate and create. This means if they would like to include siblings, they are welcome to come tothe start of our session, but I request someone be available to take them homeonce our sibling images are done. I have found clients LOVE knowing what the expectations are—it truly reducesstress going into the session.

Who will be at the session?

Having rock solid communication and an understanding with your clientsin regards to your pricing and packages, alleviates many headaches andensures everyone is on the same page. Talking about pricing and money can be super uncomfortable for you, butwhen running a business it needs to be tackled head on. The last thing youwant to have is an unhappy client because of lack of communication. Policies and pricing needs to be crystal clear to your client before the session,and a proper contract should be signed. By having a contract that you go over with your clients and have them sign,you ensure that they know exactly what is included with your packages, theprice, when they can expect to receive their images and how long theordering window is. Keep in mind your clients are usually pretty sleep deprived. Don’t makethem think! Anticipate their questions and ensure you are answering thembefore they even have to think to ask! It is just another way you can set yourself apart from the competition:amazing customer service!

Money Talks

The Newborn Essentials Masterclass includesstep-by-step newborn posing, baby safety, lighting tips,

simple editing steps and so much more!

Ready to learn posing too?

themilkyway.ca/the-newborn-essentials-masterclass/

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