Newborn Session FAQ
Welcome!
I am so glad you are have found me! I love capturing this amazing time in a family’s life and would love to chat with you about creating beautiful memories for yours. Let this Photography Newborn Session FAQ be your guide to help you prepare for our time together!
A Bit About My Newborn Sessions: My newborn sessions all take place in my home studio in the Meadows, Castle Rock. The studio is licensed, spacious and comfy, and allows for several sets/backdrops, and access to my large collection of hats, accessories, props and blankets. You only need to bring yourselves and baby for your session. However, if you like, you are also welcome to bring anything with you to customize your session – nursery quilt, special hat or blanket, family heirloom, etc. I chat a bit more about this in my newborn guide that I share with you after booking. It is full of great tips for preparing for your session. I definitely welcome parents and siblings to participate in my full newborn session offering as well. I want the whole family to be a part of documenting this special time. And don’t you fret about toddler siblings – they’re my specialty! I’ve got lots of tricks and tips (and a really off-key Ms Rachel impression) to bring out their best!
Safety: Newborn portraiture is a delicate craft. I practice extreme safety with all of my babies, and have been specially trained in newborn posing and handling, to ensure that your baby is safe and comfortable throughout the session. Not only that, but I’m a mom myself, and have worked with babies and children as a photographer for the past 15 years. I am continuously updating my safety protocols to ensure the environment is safe and secure. In addition, my family and I are fully up to date on all of our own vaccines as I know how delicate the newborn immune system is. During cold, flu, and RSV season, I mask up with my babies. If you would like me to mask for your session please feel free to ask! Don’t hesitate to reach out with any additional questions you may have about any of my safety measures.
Design: From the moment you choose Crib Tales Photography as your newborn photographer, I begin working on a vision for your session. I work with you to determine the colors and style you are most drawn to, as well as any props or accessories you may like. The time of year baby arrives can also help in the design process. If it’s spring or summer, I often incorporate fresh florals and greenery from my own garden. In the fall I love using fall leaves and pumpkins in at least one of your set ups. And in the winter I often bring out my faux snow and mini evergreen trees as a nod to Old Man Winter! I also love creating setups that honor your family and your heritage as well. But if you prefer a simpler look and feel, I welcome that as well. I have a huge selection of blankets, wraps, hats, props, and accessories to personalize your session to your own vision and aesthetic. It’s one of the offerings that makes Crib Tales Photography so unique!
Scheduling and Timing: I schedule newborn sessions by putting your due date into my calendar and then when baby arrives we find a time for your session sometime in the first 2-3 weeks of baby’s life. This time frame ensures baby is nice and sleepy and still “curly” from the womb, which allows me to capture those sweet curly newborn portraits you see on my website. Newborn sessions can last 2-3 hours as I follow baby’s cues for eating, changing, and soothing. My goal is to aim for a two hour session as I know from experience how sleepy new parents are!
*BUT please note that I have photographed babies at all ages and stages, and if the first 2 weeks of life doesn’t work for your schedule or your lifestyle, by all means, let’s find a date that will work best for you. All babies deserve their close up, regardless of age or stage!
Pricing: Click to access my pricing for newborn sessions (as well as my mini newborn option with limited poses and no family set up). To reserve your appointment I require a $200 non-refundable deposit and final payment due within 24 hours of your session date. Each session option includes a specified quantity of fully retouched digital images and print release, and the option to add more after you’ve viewed your gallery.
Your Pictures: My pricing guide provides full details on the number of digital images included with my full and mini newborn session pricing. A proof gallery of your very best images will be uploaded to an online proofing gallery within 14 days of your session. These images are lightly retouched for lighting, composition, and color. A few select images are also fully retouched so you can get a strong idea of what a fully retouched image will look like, including detailed skin retouching. After receiving your proof gallery link, you will then select your images of choice with the option to add additional digital image files and/or quality prints to your order. I will then do a full retouch on each selected image before delivering your final gallery for download. Fully retouched images include updates for bumps, blemishes, and background adjustments. In newborns this often means baby acne, fingernail scratches, stork bites, and jaundice. My protocol is to retouch any blemish that won’t be around in 2-3 weeks.
Final galleries are delivered within 3 days of making your final selections (and payment due if additional purchases are made). Galleries are active for three weeks for image selection. After that time frame there is an additional $100 to reload the gallery. Final retouched selected galleries are delivered within 5 business days of your selection.
What’s Next: If you are ready to move forward with booking please reach out to me to see what availability I have and to add your due date to my calendar. I look forward to chatting with you again soon!
