Table of Contents:
- Why Book a Newborn Photography Session?
- When is the Best Time to Take Newborn Photos?
- What to Expect During Your Vermont Newborn Photo Session
- How to Prepare for Your Vermont Newborn Session
- Tips for Choosing a Vermont Newborn Photographer
- How to Book a Newborn Photo Session in Vermont
Ready to feel calm, confident, and prepared heading into your Vermont newborn photography session? You’re in the right place – welcome, friend. I’m so glad to have you here. Read on for my top tips for preparing for your session, including outfit recommendations, timing suggestions, location ideas, and so much more to help you preserve this sweet, messy season of life.
Why Book a Newborn Photography Session?
These are the moments you’ll long for later.
Trust me, I get how hard it is to carve out the time when you’re living in it. Between being CEO of your family, working, and trying to squeeze in some time for you, it can feel close to impossible.
And, if you think about a photo session the way I used to think about it (aka, poses, feeling like you’re performing for a camera, and leaving feeling exhausted and disconnected from the people you love so much) it makes sense that you’d rather just not.
But investing in the photos – the ones that encourage connection, the ones that capture your “right now,” honestly, the ones that feel like writing a love letter to your future self, and leave you feeling even more in love with your newborn and your life – is something you will never, ever regret doing.
The beauty in this period? It’s in the chaos.
Honesty time: I don’t have newborn pictures of my little guy’s first months home. Sure, I have plenty of newborn baby pics on my phone, but – even as a Vermont newborn photographer who knows the importance of capturing these moments – I didn’t put in the effort to make pictures of our family together happen when he was a newborn.
I try to give myself some grace – postpartum is hard and I know how tired I was. I can’t really blame myself for not having the mental capacity to comprehend getting myself (or my house) to a place where I was confident taking pictures. But looking back, I wish I had just done it. Forgot the mess and let go of feeling like I had to look or feel a certain way to be in pictures.
The beauty in the newborn period is the chaos – the nursing bra thrown over a chair or dirty bottles in the sink. It is in the piles of laundry abandoned in favor of contact naps on the couch. It is in the stretch marks that remind you that your body just did something absolutely incredible even if it doesn’t feel like the body you’re used to.
So please take the pictures. Please get in the pictures. Please document these moments.
(And if you’re like me, remind yourself that they’re never as little as they are now. Every season has its special identifying moments and details so it isn’t too late to capture them!)
When is the Best Time to Take Newborn Photos?
I’m going to give you a hot take here: while there are certainly recommended times to take newborn photos, there really is no best time to take newborn photos. More than choosing the “right” time, it’s about choosing the time that feels good to you and your little one… when you feel ready to allow someone into your home and share + capture these moments with you.
Typically, the time you’ll see recommended for scheduling newborn photos is within three to five weeks after your baby is born. This is great if you want a true newborn session, when your babe is a lil’ more relaxed and a whole lot sleepier – the perfect combo for wildly adorable photos of scrunched cheeks, tiny, wrinkled toes, and soft, squishy tummies. Around this time, they’ll be more likely to stay in a deep sleep and allow for infinite cuddles.
My personal favorite time to take newborn photos, though? A little later, about five to seven weeks after birth, when mama is feeling more comfortable, baby is getting smilier, and you feel like you’ve got your head on your shoulders a little bit more. You might feel ready to be a bit more active [see: walking around the house/backyard – not running a marathon], and your little one will have probably developed a bit more of a personality. And we can’t forget about those first few smiles that come out – even if they are just fart smiles.
If this feels more like what you’re envisioning for your newborn session, I’ll note your due date and ask you to reach out when you’re starting to feel ready to let someone into your newborn bubble. Never forced, never pressured – it’s up to you to decide when the moment feels right.
Want to see an example of a newborn session that took place a little later in baby’s life? Take a look at Alicia and Jordan’s session with their sweet son.
What to Expect During Your Vermont Newborn Photo Session
What is the best location to take our Vermont newborn photos?
I’ll document you in your element, as a family, however that looks to you — in your neighborhood, around your property, in your kitchen, all of the above… wherever the places are that have become sacred to you in these first few weeks of togetherness. We’ll move intuitively through the spaces you’ve been spending your time in, often your nursery, backyard, bedroom, playroom – wherever the rhythms of this season have taken you.
How long do Vermont newborn photo sessions usually last?
As long as we need to tell your story – no more, no less. Sessions include 1-2+ hours of coverage on average, but this varies greatly by family (and by baby). I know how vulnerable it can be to let someone into your home during this time, and to allow it all to be photographed – so I’ll never force you to spend more time with me than you’d like to. I’ll also never pressure you with time restrictions. Newborn sessions are all about being present and enjoying the moment together, and when we feel like we’ve captured everything you were craving, we’ll wrap up and I’ll leave you to bask in all the emotions, together.
Can our newborn session include our whole family?
Absolutely! After all, you [mama/parents] did play a fairly important role in bringing your little one into the world – you deserve to be just as much a part of your session as they do. We’ll celebrate your baby with plenty of solo photos on their own, but we’ll also invite you into every moment to experience it as a family. Nothing too posed or forced; we’ll grab a few smiling-at-the-camera shots that you know your family and friends want to see, but more than that, we’ll keep the flow of our session candid, natural, and true to the moment.
What should we do during our newborn session?
How you spend your session is completely up to you, your babe, and what feels good to you at the time. If your session takes place in the first three to five weeks after baby was born, it might look a little more relaxed and chill – think holding each other close for snuggles, crib naps, and quiet moments in the nursery.
If you wait to have your session until a little later, you may [key word: may] be up for being a little more active! Maybe your session involves going on a walk around the block, gardening in your backyard with your baby snuggled up against your chest, story time in the nursery… I’m here for all the moments that have shaped your time becoming parents to your little one.
This list of 33 Unique Activities + Ideas is more focused around family sessions with older kiddos, but might offer you a bit of inspiration to pull from.
How to Prepare for Your Vermont Newborn Session
Outfits & Accessories
Before I share any outfit tips for your Vermont newborn session, allow me to make one thing clear:
You don’t have to have the “perfect” outfit, or feel glamorous, to have meaningful, intentional newborn photos. In fact, can I ask you to completely disregard that notion in the first place?
Newborn sessions can feel vulnerable, there’s no doubt about it. This time and space in your life can be stressful, chaotic, and overwhelmingly beautiful all at once, and your newborn session is about capturing all of that – not just the “pretty” parts. There’s no pressure to perform or pretend… your only job is to be with one another.
So parents, don’t worry too much about what to wear during your newborn session – stick to what feels most comfortable to you during this wild, messy time of life. There’s no need to put on a show for the camera or dress up with a full face of makeup, unless that’s what you want to do; simply show up as who you are and how you feel good in this chapter. Mamas, if you want to include breastfeeding photos in your newborn session, wear whatever feels comfy for feeding.
For baby, focus on comfort above all else. We want your photos to represent your family and little one as authentically as possible, so you shouldn’t feel the need to push past your or your baby’s comfort zone. Dress them however they are most calm, happy, and soothed. This might look like a fuzzy onesie they’ve been wearing 24/7, teeny tiny headbands or bows, itty-bitty hats, or gentle wraps for fresh newborns.
Come as you are – I’ll handle the rest.
Props
Including props in your session is the easiest way to personalize your photos, and really make them feel like you. They play a huge role in telling the full story of this season of your life, and all the small parts that shape even the smallest of your day-to-day moments: rattles, stuffies, toys, mobiles, books… anything you want to hold onto and remember for years to come. Maybe you snuggle baby in a handmade blankie from grandma, or include the first stuffed animal they received at the hospital. No detail is too small here – each item carries a special and oh-so-significant part of your story.
Time of Day
In-home newborn photos are usually best during the daytime, when we’ve got that natural light streaming into the kitchen and through the blinds – but if there’s one thing I know for sure, it’s that you can’t predict or control the energy levels of a sweet little newborn. While we will certainly do our best to get the most flattering lighting during your session, flexibility is key here: beautiful newborn photos can be captured in the glimmers of mid-day sunshine, under the glow of a candlelit nursery, or in a dimly-lit kitchen.
Speaking of energy levels: if you’re envisioning newborn photos with a super dozy baby, try to keep them awake for an hour or so before your session. If you’re not planning on documenting breastfeeding photos during your session, you also have the option to feed them just before to keep them happy and comfy by the time I show up. No matter what or when, I’ll be there to capture you soaking up each other and the precious, fleeting newborn moments.
Tips for Choosing a Vermont Newborn Photographer
Figure out what style you resonate with
Candid? Posed? Styled? Natural? It’s crucial that you find a photographer whose style you align with – both their editing style and their approach to sessions.
If you’re here, I’m guessing you’re drawn to the same type of style I am: laid-back, lived-in, and loved-in. A style that documents you and your people as you are, in the places you love as you experience them – no pressure or poses needed. Prompts, yes, because you deserve to feel as comfortable and confident as possible, but nothing that feels unnatural to your life and how you live it.
I’m guessing you believe in photos that preserve texture. That don’t erase the imperfections that make you, well, you. That allow you to slow down. That feel intuitive, natural, and authentic rather than curated perfection. This is what I offer and prioritize with my photography style – you’ll never catch me insisting that you smile just for the sake of the shot… you want photos that feel, not force. That flow with your natural movements, rhythms, and routines, and don’t ask anything more of you than to be present together.
Consider a flexible scheduling approach
Remember how I mentioned earlier that I don’t like to schedule a specific date for newborn sessions? This is important to my lifestyle approach, and key to allowing you to tell me when you’re ready. If you’re craving flexibility and flow in your newborn session rather than forcing yourselves to be ready by a certain date, make sure you search for a photographer who is on the same page.
Find someone who knows what it’s like
Becoming a mom has changed the way I approach family, newborn, and maternity sessions. I’ve always seen and valued photography as a way to preserve memories. But now, I see your growing belly, newborn little one, and evolving family through a mother’s eyes.
As someone who has felt the kicks, knows the magic of a small hand wrap around my finger, and intimately understands the contradictory nature of time – how the two hours before bed stretch but the weeks, months and years fly by – the speed of my sessions has slowed down. I spend more time with you planning and finding out what is important to you so we can capture the little moments that you want to remember forever.
How to Book a Newborn Photo Session in Vermont
1. Reach out + share your vision
Getting in touch is the first step to booking your Vermont newborn session – where our journey starts and my devotion to telling your story begins. When you reach out, I’ll ask you to share a few brief details about your family and what you’re looking for to get the conversation flowing.
2. Join me at the Kitchen Table
Before any official decisions are made, I’ll invite you to a Kitchen Table Call: a chance for us to get to know each other, share stories, and create space for your ideas to bloom. We’ll chat about how you want your story to be told and all the ways you can personalize your session, from film and Polaroids to Super 8 and more.
Once we’re confident that we’re a perfect fit, booking your session is easy as 1 2 3, abc – I’ll walk you through every step to ensure you feel confident, in-the-know, and more importantly, excited to get started.
3. Dive into my Session Guide + Story Canvas
More than just your photographer by this point, I am your guide. Once you’re booked, I’ll send you my exclusive Session Guide filled with helpful planning tips so you feel calm and confident – after all, you’ve got enough going on in this season of your life. I’ll step in to support you where you need it most.
We’ll then dive into everything we need to tell your family’s heartfelt story – the rhythms, the quirks, the moments you know you’ll want to remember ten years down the road. My Story Canvas is a space for you to share your heart, story, and vision, and what we’ll reference to build the foundation of your session together.
4. Reach out when the time feels right
As a mama myself, I understand that the first few weeks can be a beautiful blur, and you may want to keep your bubble to yourselves for a while. That’s why instead of scheduling a specific date ahead of time, I’ll note your due date and join you for your session only when you are ready. Then, and only then, we’ll gather in your home and I’ll document your session intuitively – whether that looks like walking barefoot in the backyard, snuggling up in the nursery, or bundled up together by the fireplace, baby’s favorite book in hand. Sound like a deal?
5. Experience it all over again
Within four to five weeks after your session, you’ll receive your full story in images, curated and delivered right to you. The moment you’ve been waiting for… where you get to relive those moments all over again, forever.
Want a peek at my favorite photos to include in newborn galleries? Here are just a few that will always have my heart:
- teeny hands and feet
- mama sitting in her rocking chair (bonus if it’s a mirror reflection!)
- big baby stretches
- your top-down view of your little one in your arms
- looking through the crib bars
- full crib photo
- cropped in snuggles
- zoomed out snuggles
- small outfit details
- nursery details
- DOGS!
- pics with mom and dad
These are the moments you’ll wish you could hang onto as they grow. And these are the moments that are so, so worth dedicating time to. So, if you’ve been waiting for a sign to book your Vermont newborn photography session, consider this it – I can’t wait to document your story.
For more newborn + family session tips, browse through a few favorite blog posts below.
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