02/03/2024
Newborn Sessions Q & A:
As a mom you may be quite nervous about bringing your very young baby out and about, but you would love to have some artistic images of your gorgeous baby at just a few days old!
Chances are you have lots of questions about what’s involved in a newborn photoshoot😊
Hopefully you’ll find the following info useful
1. When should I book my newborn photo session?
It is ideal to book your newborn photoshoot while you are still pregnant, just after your 20 week scan at the hospital is ideal, but at least a month or two before your due date. This is to ensure that I have availability around the time your baby is due.
I would always urge you to book early, but if your baby has already arrived get in touch asap, I may have a session available.
2. What is the best age for newborn photos?
The best age for your baby’s photo session is between 7-21 days old! Yes, they are very young, but this is the best age to capture those beautiful curled up sleepy pictures, Babies start to waken up and stretch out after this age. They change so much in the first few weeks, almost by the day! You can rest assured, with my experience, I will look after them and you. I specialise in taking pictures of babies just a few days old.
I will also try and get some gorgeous wide awake pictures too, although this is not always possible as it all depends on how your baby is at the session.
3. What if the baby is born early or late?
I will provisionally book your newborn session in about 10-12 days after your expected due date.
If baby arrives early or late, no problem! I can move your session to an alternative date.
Just let me know as soon as possible after the birth of your baby if he/she arrives early and I will do my very best to find an earlier session date for you.
Similarly if you get to your due date and no baby, just let me know and I will do my very best to find an alternative date for you.
4. Should I feed the baby before the session or not?
Yes please! Before you leave home to come to the studio, please try to feed the baby so that they are nice and full, but if your baby isn’t ready for a feed don’t panic. you can feed her or him when they are ready at the studio.
The car journey to the studio will hopefully help to get them in a deep sleep so we can start right away.
5. How long do photography sessions last?
The sessions are always ‘baby led’. We stop for feeds and nappy changes as the baby needs it.
Because of this I always allow between 1-1.5hours for a newborn photography session. This ensures that there is time to capture at least 3 different setups, and for the fact that we will need to do regular breaks to feed, change and settle the baby.
6. How many different photos will you take?
In the first few weeks of life, babies sleep a lot! Up to 18 hours of every day.
For the curled up squishy, sleeping baby pictures, the sleepier your newborn is the better. While they peacefully sleep I can aim to set up as many different photos as possible (also dependant on the amount of settings you have selected)
7. What if my baby is unsettled during the photoshoot?
With my experience in handling babies I can ensure that we capture the photos you want first time around.
Don’t worry if your baby cries, poos or wees. It’s natural, and something that I am totally used to. I’m experienced in handling babies and can usually get the shots first time around or the ones I am after once the baby has settled down.
8. How many photos will we get?
I will take lots of images on the day, and will aim to photograph your child in at least 3 diferrent setups to give you choice.
I will make my selection of the best images and present you with typically 20 fully edited images approximately 10 to 14 days after your photoshoot
9. How much do the photos cost?
A newborn session costs R1290 which consist of 3 different settings.
You may add more settings at R350 per set
1 family photo is also included in this package
10. Tips for Parents attending a newborn photoshoot:
If you are breast feeding please eat plain foods in the couple of days leading up to your newborn photoshoot as spicy foods and caffeine can upset the baby.
Please bring with you a little blanket or wrap, just to cuddle your baby in so that he/she has a smell they are used to when I am cuddling and settling her for the photos
If you are bottle feeding, bring some extra bottles of milk. An extra bottle out of his/her routine won’t do any harm. I will be moving baby around to get different pictures for you, and sometimes a little milk can settle them
Dummies are also good to settle them so if you are using a dummy please bring one.
Hopefully that answers a lot of the questions you may have? If there’s anything else you need to know about your newborn photoshoot, please free to contact me via WhatsApp on 063 735 9527 or email on faysagephotography@gmail.com
