NEWBORN & MATERNITY FAQ's
WHEN IS THE BEST TIME IN MY PREGNANCY TO SCHEDULE A MATERNITY SESSION?
We recommend between 28 to 32 weeks. This is a time frame where your beautiful belly is of ample size yet you’re not as “puffy” and uncomfortable as you may be in your last couple of weeks. Though I have shot maternity sessions up close to delivery with beautiful results, feedback from expecting moms has encouraged me to advise clients towards the earlier side where mamas-to-be are feeling their best and are more comfortable than they may be later.
SHOULD I BE CONCERNED ABOUT STRETCH MARKS AND EXTRA WEIGHT I HAVE GAINED?
This may be a time that you feel insecure about your body as it changes so much during pregnancy. However, a pregnant mom is one of the most beautiful subjects to photograph and you will treasure the images forever.
You may be concerned about stretch marks and feel a little bigger all over, so removing any blemishes, including stretch marks and slimming you down a little in areas where needed through flattering poses, camera angle and expert retouching skills are all complimentary as part of your session. Just let me know what your concern is and I’ll take care of it for you.
WHEN SHOULD I BOOK MY NEWBORN SESSION?
I set aside a limited number of sessions each month so that that each client receives my personal attention. To secure your desired session time, please contact me as soon as you can. I add a tentative date around your due date onto my calendar upon booking. Once baby arrives, you will then contact me to schedule your session.
WHEN WILL MY SESSION TAKE PLACE?
The ideal age to do newborn portraits is 7-10 days and up to 14 days. Capturing your newborn within the first two weeks of life while they are still sleepy and curled up, can make all the difference in your newborn portraits..
MY BABY IS ALREADY BORN, IS IT TOO LATE TO SCHEDULE?
Not at all! Most newborn sessions are booked many months in advance. However, given the necessarily fluid nature of scheduling newborn sessions, there may be spots available at short notice. While I recommend that newborn sessions take place during the first two weeks of life, I am always happy to photograph older newborns with the understanding that it may not be possible to achieve pose the newborn in the same poses as a younger newborn, since older newborns tend to be more alert and less flexible.
WHERE WILL MY SESSION TAKE PLACE?
All newborn sessions take place at my studio located in Santa Clara, California. For best results, a studio session is recommended. This allows me to control the light and temperate of the space. In home sessions are are limited to certain packages.
HOW LONG IS A NEWBORN SESSION?
Newborn sessions are anywhere from two to four hours long.
WHAT CAN I EXPECT FROM MY SESSION?
The baby’s needs then dictate the flow of the session. When you arrive, I will ask you when the baby’s last feeding was. I will have props for you to choose from, based on a style questionnaire you would have completed before the session. At that point, we will get started and you can sit back and relax.
WHAT CAN I DO TO PREPARE FOR THE SESSION?
Try to keep your newborn awake for an hour prior to the session and plan to feed your baby just prior to leaving your home or when you arrive at the studio. If you are nursing, it is best to keep a bottle of expressed milk on hand for use during the session. Pacifiers are also extremely helpful for allowing me to calm your baby during the session.
ARE FAMILY IMAGES INCLUDED?
Yes, depending on the package you request, I will aim to capture images of newborns with their parents and siblings. Please keep in mind that young siblings (under 4) may not want be photographed alone with their new brother or sister. I will do my best to capture images of your newborn with their toddler or pre-school aged sibling.
WHAT SHOULD WE WEAR?
Simple is best. I photograph newborns wearing nothing at all or with minimal clothing. I recommend that the rest of the family wear clothing that coordinates without matching exactly. Neutral and soft colors are best. Avoid black or saturated colors such as red.
SHOULD I BRING ANY PROPS?
All props are provided, but please let me know if you have any personal items you’d like to incorporate. Safety always comes first, so I don’t photograph babies in glass bowls or in positions that could be harmful.
HOW MANY IMAGES CAN I EXPECT TO RECEIVE?
You will receive between 25 - 45 images in your gallery, often more. I understand it seems a little odd to go through a photoshoot and hear so many clicks, and then receive fewer images.
During a photoshoot, I’m making real-time adjustments to lighting to create the perfect shot. I’m also occasionally firing “burst” of shots to ensure that I get an image with no eyeblinks, and to make sure we don’t get any shots of a person starting to talk or brushing their hair out of their face.
It’s necessary to take these images, they are part of the working process of art, just as a painter sometimes tries a few colors before making the final stroke. All images are captured in a raw color format, so the image-making process is not finished, even when the shoot is over.
My job at that point is to discard the eyeblinks and my own testing shots to select the real pieces of art that all the other shots helped create. I take those shots and spend a great deal of time working with them by hand to tone the color, smooth minor imperfections, and produce heirloom pieces of art that are up to my artistic standards – the same quality of work you saw in my portfolio.
CAN I GET THE RAW FILES?
I don’t release any images not included with this set of final images, because they were neither created nor intended as final products – they simply enabled me to work out issues that arose to ensure you’d get the high quality images you received.
HOW LONG WILL I WAIT FOR THE FINAL GALLERY?
Client galleries are available for review approximately six weeks after the session.
WHAT IF I NEED MY IMAGES FOR A BIRTH ANNOUNCEMENT
Rush editing is available at a fee of $100. A rush gallery will be presented in 3 days from the session date.
I AM READY TO BOOK, WHAT'S NEXT?
Please submit your contact details here to receive a detailed pricing guide. You can visit my online calendar to check availability and book your time slot. A $100 deposit will secure your spot.