First of all, congrats to the new parents!
You’ve had the baby (no small feat!) and you arranged your
newborn’s photo session in advance. Great work! Now, in the haze of adjusting
to this joyful new addition to your family, what are some pro tips for
preparing for Baby’s first photo session?
1. Form-fitting clothes are best.
To really highlight Baby’s perfect physique, your
photographer will want them either naked or wearing form-fitting clothes.
Newborns have such unique, delicate bodies, and these first photographs will
showcase your baby’s brand-new, out-in-the-world form.
2. Feed Baby when you arrive.
Photographer Kelly Jordan urges new moms to hold off on
feeding Baby until they arrive at the studio. “That way, Mom can feed the baby
and go straight to getting her hair and make-up done. I can walk around the
studio talking with the baby while I burp him or her, and let the baby get to
know the sound of my voice.” A recently-fed baby also tends to be sleepier,
making them easier to manipulate for those priceless photographs your family
will treasure forever.
3. Go easy on the dairy.
Dairy has long been suspected of upsetting infants’
sensitive tummies, so if breastfeeding, Mama should avoid dairy 2-3 days prior
to the shoot. Perhaps your baby won’t have any sensitivities at all, but the
two days before their photo shoot is perhaps not the best time to experiment.
4. Avoid caffeine.
Like dairy, caffeine can be absorbed into the breastmilk.
According to some experts, breastfeeding mamas should keep their caffeine intake
below 500 milligrams per day. With a newborn, however, you might not yet know
how your baby will react to caffeine. Best to avoid it 24 hours prior to the
photo session.
5. Wait to cut!
If you plan on getting junior circumcised, please wait until
after his photo shoot. Any minor
surgery is going to make Baby sore, and your photos will turn out a lot more
peaceful if he’s as comfortable as possible.
Finally, get ready to relax and have fun. Many local studios
welcome new parents with open arms and have a lot of experience photographing
newborns and their families. Kelly Jordan, for example, likes to get moms into
the photos, so she includes make-up and hair-styling for every mom who comes
in. Be prepared to get pampered and maybe even enjoy a glass of wine while you
wait for your turn in front of the camera! You’ll get to enjoy the process of
the photo session, and then, once those prints are ready, you'll have beautiful
memories that last a lifetime.
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