Your newborn session is around the corner, you’re so excited about coming, you can’t wait to get pictures of your beautiful new baby, to make announcements, to stare in wonder at their little tiny toes… but how in the world do you prepare?

First of all, we all know that the arrival of a new baby into the family changes everything! What used to take 5 minutes, now suddenly could take an hour!!

Often times, coming to the studio is the baby’s second excursion… ever. The first is usually to the doctor. Although they’ve only been in the world for a few days, they already have a norm that they expect. Babies know when they’re in a different environment. They know that they aren’t at home. The air feels different, the smells are different, mom and dads behavior is different. The baby picks up on all these things. This isn’t a bad thing or a good thing, just understand that your baby feels your feels. The best way to have as stress free of a morning as possible is to be prepared.

1. Bring more of everything than you think you’ll need. Extra diapers are always a good idea. The session might run a little bit longer than you think it will, or your newborn might eat a little more than expected. Having extra diapers ensures the baby is always comfortable, and clean.

2.Bring extra bottles! Newborns generally know that they’re in a new environment. Sometimes this makes them a bit stressed, and having a bottle or mom for a little bit of milk is very comforting.

3.Plan to feed your newborn when you arrive at the studio. This might mean to hold off feeding until you get here. Ideally we’d love for your newborn to be fast asleep for pictures. The best way to get a sleepy baby is to be milk drunk!

4.Sometimes babies get messy, and sometimes during a diaper change, or a feeding, there are accidents! I always recommend for parents to bring an extra change of clothes for themselves and for the baby so that in case something gets dirty, we can have an outfit change and move on.

5.If you have anything specific that you’d like to have in your photos, bring them along. You might have a blanket a grandparent made, or something special from your mom that you’d like included. That’s no problem at all! Bring it with you.

Set aside these things the night before. More often than not something will happen just as you’re about to walk out the door. If you’ve already gotten your session things ready, that is one less thing you have to worry about as you get ready to leave.

I can’t wait to meet your little one!! If you have any more questions or want to email me for more specifics, as always, you can reach me at: erika@erikaparkerportraits.com