Client Section


Preparing for a Maternity Session..


WHEN IS THE BEST TIME TO SCHEDULE A MATERNITY SESSION? 

  • Most clients schedule their photo session between 28 and 36 weeks. (It all depends on how much you’re showing, and which phase of pregnancy you’d like to capture. I recommend not scheduling too close to your due date, for obvious reasons like babies having their own timeline!)
  • A maternity session doesn’t have to be during the above time range. It could be a pregnancy announcement or gender reveal session, or both! I’m happy to offer a discount if you would like to schedule multiple maternity sessions.
  • The lighting for outdoor sessions is best during the 1-2 hours before sunset or during the 1-2 hours after sunrise.
  • The lighting for indoor sessions varies depending on the location, but is typically best between 10am and 4pm.

WHAT IS A MATERNITY SESSION LIKE?

  • I totally understand getting your photos taken can be awkward. But the one nice thing about a maternity session, is that you always have something to do with your hands!
  • I will help guide you through the basic poses, like how to hold your belly, where to look, etc. I will also give you some actions and tips to help things feel more candid… and fun!
  • I typically offer suggestions of where I think the photos will look best, based on the lighting. But I always love when clients have input! If you have a favorite flower, color scheme or look that you like, let me know!
  • Feel free to bring any props you’d like to include. Some clients will bring an ultrasound photo, blanket, letterboard, chalkboard, special baby outfit, baby shoes, etc. (But don’t let this stress you out. Other clients don’t bring anything and the photos are still perfect! This is completely up to you!)

HOW LONG WILL THE SESSION LAST?

  • Most maternity sessions are around 30-45 minutes. (I know what you’re thinking. Is that really enough time?! But trust me… eventually you’re going to get bored of smiling and touching your belly in 10 different ways!)
  • Each session time will vary slightly depending on the location. Some parks require more walking to get to different spots.
  • In 30-minutes I take an average of 400 images and keep things efficient by moving and changing poses. I promise I will always make sure that we get enough variety and everyone is happy!

WHEN DO WE GET THE PHOTOS BACK?

  • Maternity session galleries are sent within 1-week of the session. I try to work as quickly as possible so that you get the photos back well before your baby arrives!

CAN I INCLUDE PETS?

  • 100% YES! Furry family members are always welcome too! Depending on your pets’ personalities, I have a variety of tricks to try and get them to perform in the shot.
  • The only thing that pets will impact is location options. (Some locations don’t allow pets.) But I know plenty of spots that do!

WHAT DO WE WEAR?

  1. Your clothing should both reflect your personality and also be something you feel comfortable in!
  2. Some clients prefer to be casual and wear jeans and a sweater, while others prefer a long, flowy dress. If you can’t decide, bring both! We will have time for two different outfits if you’d like to change in the middle.
  3. My personal style preference for sessions is the “light airy look” which is typically pastels and/or neutral colors such as white, cream, peach, beige, grays, blues, etc. But if you love bright colors or dark, moody contrast, then please just ignore me! Because again… the photos should be YOU! And that’s what I want to capture.
  4. If your husband and kids are joining, I love complimentary outfits! But not everyone has to wear white polos and khakis, if you know what I mean :)
  5. If you are looking for a maternity dress, my clients have found theirs on Amazon, EBay and my personal favorite: Pink Blush
  6. I am also happy to share a gallery of outfit ideas with a few different styles and color choices that might help when trying to choose!



Preparing for a Newborn session


One of the biggest questions I receive from my new clients is how to prepare both mentally and physically for your our in-home newborn session. Newborns are unpredictable, and you’ve already got so much on your plate when baby arrives that I want to help ease any concerns you might have about welcoming a stranger into your home during this season.

BOOKING

I typically conduct newborn sessions within the first two weeks of baby’s life. My moms-to-be usually reach out during the second trimester to book me. Once booked, I schedule a consultation call to learn more about your family and your photography priorities as well as go over my process and answer any

questions you might have. Booking in the first two weeks ensures that baby is sleepy and easy to pose. I usually tell moms to text me after baby arrives so we can choose a date that works for both of us. These are typically mornings when both parents are on leave. Of course if that isn’t an option for you I can be flexible! I like to think my in-home newborn work stands out because of the natural, relaxed posing on a simple white backdrop mixed with the candid, lifestyle images of the family. I like to keep things relaxed but light and airy. The best way to achieve those results is by learning how to prepare for your in-home newborn session below!


HOW TO PREPARE FOR YOUR IN-HOME NEWBORN SESSION

BEFORE I ARRIVE

Feed baby right before I arrive, so they are nice and sleepy. Try to have the house temp around 75 F. I will bring swaddles, backdrops and bows but if you want props, I have but I ask that you provide any. Tidy up any places that you might want portraits done (the nursery and bedroom nightstands are typically ideal). Make your bed or be ok with me making it (I don’t mind)!

WHEN I ARRIVE

The first thing I do when I arrive is look around for ideal window lighting. In the mornings this is often a large or low to the ground south-facing window (and it can be in any room). This is where I will set up my newborn backdrop and posing area. I’ve done these setups in dining rooms, playrooms, nurseries, etc. The decor doesn’t matter, just the light! This backdrop is the key to the “magic” that happens during my posed, full newborn sessions. I don’t use it for my lifestyle sessions, though, since these photos are just of your baby wrapped in a swaddle.

If siblings are involved I will start by swaddling the baby and taking portraits of the whole family, then we will move into individual newborn posing. Since toddlers/siblings aren’t always excited about photos I may spend a few minutes introducing myself to them before we get started, and I will usually let them be completely done with photos once we’ve gotten all the images with them that we need.

I have an entire posing flow that I go through that includes siblings, photos with each parent and baby, photos of the whole family, photos of just mom and dad with baby, and solo portraits of the baby posed. Of course if you have something specific in mind, especially if it’s something you’ve seen on my website, I’d love to know about it so we can reimagine that scene for your family!

I love photographing your family snuggling together!

AFTER I LEAVE

Because newborns typically have blemishes and redness on their skin, I will retouch their skin slightly in photoshop along with all of my usual image coloring and adjusting that I do when I edit photos. If you have additional requests for retouching, please let me know! I am happy to edit anything that isn’t permanent like bruises, scratches drool, or even background distractions if it will help you love your images even more. I typically limit special requests to 10 of your favorites so that I can get your gallery back to you in a timely manner. Galleries are emailed to my clients within two weeks of our session, but if I am able I try to send a sneak peek (either by text or social meadia post if you’ve given me permission to post) within a few days.

HOW TO PREPARE FOR YOUR IN-HOME NEWBORN SESSION

I am a light and airy photographer specializing in family, newborn and maternity portraits in the South Florida tri-county area.

My goal is to create a portrait experience that allows you to truly enjoy our time together. I provide a style guide and optional wardrobe to help point you in the right direction and ease the pain of choosing outfits, as well tips on how to prepare your little one for a fun, breezy session that results in beautiful portraits and sweet memories that will last a lifetime.