Edmonton In-Home Newborn Photo Shoot Prep Guide With Suzi

To friends & family who are welcoming a baby and have opted for in-home photos, I have put together a step by step guide on how you can prepare for your Edmonton newborn and family photography session with me.

1) Contact me: As soon as you have had your baby, let me know so we can get you in the schedule. The timing of in-home sessions is a little more flexible than studio posing. We want to find a balance between as much recovery time for mama as possible, but still catch baby while they are tiny and before dad has to go back to work.

2) Day before: Do some gentle tidying of things you don’t want showing in your photos. (Even better, ask gramma or auntie to help!) Please do not feel like your home has been spotless! Focus on putting away clutter (even shoving it all into a bin/room) as opposed to cleaning. I promise, myself nor my camera will care if you wiped your baseboards. 😉

3) Night before or morning of: If you feel up to the challenge, you can give your baby a relaxing bath. Gently wipe away any flaky skin and gunk around the eyes. You can use non-greasy & non-fragranced lotion on any dry skin.

4) The day has arrived: One thing I don’t want you to do is stress. I really want you to have an enjoyable & peaceful time! I know photography sessions are a big deal, and the pressure to make sure everything goes perfectly can create a lot of anxiety (especially when toddlers are involved!) Even if everyone is crying when I arrive, I promise you we will create beautiful art together. Remember, today is the day to pick fewer battles. May the odds be ever in your favour.

5) The ideal schedule: Keep your baby awake for 45-60 minutes, then change them into a dry diaper and a neutral/comfortable outfit you would like photographed. I will bring wraps as well. Give your baby a full feed & a good burp so they are either milk drunk or content when I arrive. *However* we all know that babies really don’t care about our plans, so do your best and don’t stress! 🙂

6) Please turn your house thermostat up 1-2 degrees above your normal temperature. When I wrap baby I want them to stay warm and sleepy if possible!

7) Relax: You did it! Sit back and enjoy your session. I will take care of everything.

8) Choosing your photos: Once I am home I will go through all of your images and narrow it down to the best images. You will then receive a proofing gallery of the unedited images where you will be able to select your favourites, and any photography products you would like to purchase. Once you have finalized your selection, I will begin editing for you and deliver your online gallery within 4 weeks.

What to have ready:

• Soothers: Please have a soother available as they are one of the best tools a photographer can use to settle your little one into the perfect position. If you are trying not to use soothers I would kindly ask that you would consider one just incase, and I will only use it if absolutely necessary, and only for a few minutes at a time so as not to cause any disruption to your routines. 
• Any sentimental items, blankets, or outfits.
• Extra bottles if you are bottle feeding.
• Snacks & entertainment for your older children.

What to wear:

• Wear complimentary colours that do not have any words, logos or pictures.
• Ensure any dress shirts have been ironed.
• Dress light and comfortable!

If you have any questions about your newborn & family photography session, please do not hesitate to reach out! I look forward to creating something beautiful for you.

Chat soon! – Suzi

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Check out some of Suzi’s work! Edmonton Newborn Portraits, Edmonton Cake Smash Photo Shoot, Edmonton Kids Photos, Edmonton Mommy and Me Session, Edmonton Professional Headshots