prep guide
Thank you so much for booking your newborn session…I am so excited to work with you!
I have developed this guide based on my 12+ years experience working with newborns. My hope for you is to feel prepared so that we can have a smooth newborn session.
If your spouse will be attending the session with you, I highly suggest reviewing this guide together so that everyone has an understanding of how the session will run. Many are very surprised at how much time & patience will be required, so it’s best that you are both prepared and know what to expect.
If you have any questions for me, don’t hesitate to reach out!
studio location
4930 N HOLLAND SYLVANIA RD, SYLVANIA, OH 43560
My studio is located in the Pacesetter Sq office building, located next to The V.I. restaurant. Please park & enter through the back entrance of the building. When you come inside, go straight ahead past the restrooms and through the door that says “OFFICE ENTRANCE”. I will be down the hall on the left.
scheduling
Once your baby has arrived, I ask that you contact me to schedule your session as soon as you can. Please keep in mind that newborn sessions are scheduled Mon-Fri at 11am.
Newborn sessions are scheduled to take place when baby is between 5-21 days old.
6 days old is my favorite magic age, however, it is absolutely not necessary to come into the studio that early if you are not ready or able! We can create beautiful photos up to 3 weeks old.
tips for a successful newborn session:
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A well fed baby is the #1 key to having a great session!
In order to achieve all of those adorable poses, we will want your baby to be very sleepy and in a dreamy “milk coma” state.
It is important to keep in mind that this isn’t like a typical day at home when your baby is either being held or sleeping in a swing/bassinet/etc. Therefore, it is very likely that your baby will need to eat more frequently than usual. All of that posing & moving about burns a lot of extra calories - it can really work up an appetite!
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Another key element to having a successful newborn session is a VERY WARM room!
Your baby doesn’t know how to regulate their own temperate yet and are many times only wearing a wrap, a thin outfit or nothing at all. The studio will be heated to help your baby stay comfortable & sleepy throughout the session. If it becomes too much for you (your hormones are all over the place right now, I get it!), feel free to step out to cool off & get some fresh air at any time!
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Keep in mind that newborn sessions require time & patience and cannot be rushed.
If your baby isn’t being very cooperative, just remember that I have over a decade of experience and know lots of tricks! Try to stay calm & relaxed - I am in no hurry and will gladly take whatever time is needed!
what to bring
A full pack of wipes
Extra diapers
Burp cloth
Pacifier/soothie
Extra formula or breast milk (unless you are exclusively breastfeeding)
before the session
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dressing baby
Please do not dress baby in a onesie/outfit that has to be pulled over their head. This is a sure fire way to wake up your little one! Instead, please dress them in button down/zipper sleeper.
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feeding
If possible, try waiting until just before you leave to feed your baby so that they arrive full & sleepy. If needed, you can feed baby again once you arrive. If you are breastfeeding, bringing pumped milk is a great time saver if you have some — that said, please do not worry about going out of your way to pump milk just for the session. You can absolutely nurse for as long as needed!
what to expect
When you arrive, please park & enter through the back of the building. While I am so appreciative of you being on time, please do not come to the door more than 5 minutes before your session time.
Once inside, you can make yourself comfortable on the couch and feel free to help yourself to the provided snacks, drinks in the fridge and please also enjoy the coffee bar! All of the snacks & drinks are provided for you to enjoy, so don’t be shy!
Due to the time required for soothing, feedings & posing, you can expect to be at the studio for about 2-3 hours. That said, more time may be required if baby is feeling fussy/gassy/cluster feeding/etc. I am very patient and it is not a problem if your little one needs some extra time!
Keep in mind that your newborn session is not a time for family (grandparents, aunts, friends, etc) to come along. I understand everyone is very excited about the new baby, however, my seating area only has enough space for 2 people.
Since the studio will be heated quite toasty, we will start the session with all parent and/or sibling poses. After family poses are done, baby is the star of the show! We will go over all of the colors, props & accessories that I pulled and you will have the opportunity to make any changes (if desired).
I have a posing flow that I use for every session and I aim to get as many setups & poses as possible. That said, newborn sessions are baby led, meaning your baby may not want to do every pose - and that’s okay! If your baby doesn’t seem to like a certain pose, I will not force them and we will just move onto the next thing.
There is a very high likelihood that my props/backdrops (or even myself!) will get pooped and/or peed on. This is 100% to be expected and no reason for you to worry if it happens. No biggie!
You are more than welcome to take behind-the-scenes photos & videos during your session! I love it when you post them & tag @sweetbloomphotography on Instagram & Facebook. If you happen to get any good shots of me working with your baby, please send them to me!
I love how neutrals photograph with my white, bright & airy studio! A neutral color palette is soft & timeless and will look great when displayed on the walls of your home.
Since my studio is all white, you really can’t go wrong with most colors. Light colors like white, cream, tan, and light grey help create a soft & airy feel to your family photos. If you want something a little more colorful, I suggest soft/muted colors like blush, mauve, powder blue, sage, etc or earth tones like rust, olive, mocha, etc. Black is always a classic, too!
I highly recommend avoiding overly busy patterns like stripes & bold plaids, as well as tops with logos/words. A soft pattern will photograph just fine!
Keep in mind that your hands will be shown in nearly every photo, so make sure everyones nails are photo ready! Most photos are taken from the elbow up, however, feet could be visible for any relaxed/lifestyle poses that we might do — for these types of poses, I recommend bare feet. If you prefer to wear shoes, you should bring a clean pair that have not been worn outdoors - please no dirty outside shoes on my white photography backdrops.
I do recommend that mama wears something on your lips (lipstick, gloss, balm, etc), even if it’s just a very soft & subtle nude.
It can be helpful to bring a change of comfortable clothes to wear after family poses are done. You will be at the (hot!) studio for a couple hours, so I want you to be as comfortable as possible for the remainder of the session.
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favorite places to shop:
BALTIC BORN
JOYFOLIE
FREE PEOPLE
ANTHROPOLOGIE
VICI
ALTAR’D STATE
JAMIE KAY
NORALEE
H&M
ZARA
young siblings
It is important to keep in mind that toddlers & young children may not be the most cooperative subject for posing with a newborn (ages 2-3 are definitely the trickiest!). I am super silly and will do everything in my power to make them excited to take photos with their new little sibling. That said, sometimes we need to be open-minded when it comes to photographing your child(ren) & newborn together - I want to make sure your newborn is kept safe at all times.
Please do not allow children to wander around the studio or enter my Prop Room. Please do not allow children to touch/handle my props/accessories or the window lighting walls & curtains.
After poses with siblings are done, I ask that you please arrange for your spouse/family member/friend/etc to take siblings out for the remainder of the session. 2-3 hours is a really long time to keep toddlers & young children entertained and quiet in a very small & hot space! I share walls with other business professionals and it’s important that we don’t disrupt others. Playland is less than 10 minutes away, they can grab lunch in town, or go to the park.
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payment
Payment of your remaining balance is due the day of your session. I accept cash only (no checks, Venmo, CashApp, PayPal, etc).
Please remember that late payments will result in a delay of receiving your online gallery.
after the session
After your session is over, the real work starts for me! I will begin retouching your images to perfection, including basic touch ups on the skin (scratches, blemishes, etc). I leave stork bites & birthmarks as they are, however, if you would like things of this nature removed, just let me know.
You can expect to receive your online gallery no later than 15 business days following the day after your session (if your final balance was paid on time). Unless this time has already passed, I kindly ask that you please do not contact me about the status of your photos. I promise I am working as quickly as possible to get your gallery to you - I really appreciate your patience!
When posting your images on Facebook & Instagram, it would mean the world to me if you tag or credit Sweet Bloom Photography! Being a small business, that simple gesture makes a huge difference for me and is so, so appreciated. Thank you in advance for doing so!
Make sure you download your images to at least 2 locations (not just take screenshots) and then backup to an online service such as Google Photos (free!) or Amazon Photos (free with Prime)
milestone minis
DID YOU KNOW MILESTONE MINI SESSIONS ARE AVAILABLE AS A PERK TO NEWBORN CLIENTS ONLY?
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These sessions are the perfect opportunity to document each milestone as your baby grows! Typically done at 3 months/tummy time, 6-9 months/sitting up, and of course at 1 year
20 minute mini session of baby only in 1 outfit
Choice of studio or outdoors
Minimum of 10 beautifully retouched images to download
Outfits + props provided
$100 non-refundable retainer due at booking
let’s get social!
I love sharing behind-the-scenes, what I’m currently working on, announcements and more!
I would love it if you give me a follow!
