Hello! I can’t wait to see you here at the studio. Here are some tips to help ensure that your baby’s first photo shoot goes as smoothly as possible!:

If possible, try keeping baby stimulated and awake for 30 minutes before leaving your home; a bath can help. It’s important that your baby is sleepy so the session goes smoothly. Please do not apply diaper rash cream (unless you have chosen to keep baby covered for photos and the diaper can remain on), lotions, or oils. I will be able to photoshop skin flakes.

Feed baby right before you leave home, and make sure they have a good burp before placing them in their carseat so that gas doesn’t settle on the drive here. If you live more than 30 minutes away, I strongly suggest arriving early enough to feed so that we can spend as much of your session time photographing baby as possible. This is especially important if you have booked a petite session. Just let me know if that is your plan, and I will have the studio door unlocked as early as 30 minutes before your session. If baby tends to get gassy, please give gas drops or gripe water before leaving home.

Dress baby in a zip or button down outfit so we don’t need to pull anything over their head while undressing them.

Petite sessions take up to 2 hours, and a full session can be 2-3 hours. The room will be set to around 85 degrees for baby, but there is a cooler room in the studio for you to take the time to relax and enjoy having a babysitter for a few hours. If you wish to sit in the studio while I am working with your baby, that is perfectly ok as well, I just ask that you sit and relax. A quiet and relaxed atmosphere is very important! If there are siblings who may have trouble being cooped up for so long, I recommend that there is someone available to take them out once family photos are over. Even if your baby sleeps through loud voices and noise at home, keep in mind that they are not constantly being moved around and posed during those times.

Gas: If you are nursing and your baby has gas issues, please abstain from eating the following 72 hours before your session: dairy products- milk, cheese, yogurt, pudding, ice cream, or any food that has milk, milk products, casein, whey, or sodium casein in it. Other foods that may cause gas and fussiness include caffeine, soy, fish, peanuts, chocolate, wheat, beef, nuts, eggs, corn, citrus fruits and prenatal vitamins containing iron. –Courtesy Babycenter & ModernMom Parenting

Caffeine: Please DO NOT drink caffeine 72 hours prior to your session if you are nursing. I’ve photographed nearly 1000 newborns over 11 years and consistently see a difference in those that are getting caffeine through breastmilk. Babies who are affected by caffeine tend to be jumpy, tense, and more likely to wake as they are being posed during their session. If they don’t seem to be affected at home, keep in mind that they are not being constantly posed and repositioned every 5-10 minutes.

What to bring:

•  Pacifier: Please bring a Soothie or similar soft pacifier (no Wubbanubs or pacifier clips attached, please). I recommend a Soothie so it does not leave red rings around baby’s mouth. I have pre-sterilized, individually wrapped pacifiers in the studio if you forget, or do not have that type. Even if your baby does not take one from you (specifically if you are nursing), they may take one from me. A baby’s natural born instinct is to suck for comfort, and sometimes a pacifier can make or break a session for a baby who just wants to suck. PLEASE NOTE: If you are strictly against using a pacifier, please let me know and I will absolutely respect your wishes to not use one.
• Gas drops: To ensure your baby remains comfortable throughout their session, please pack a bottle of gas drops or gripe water just in case. I will only ask for gas drops if baby is very uncomfortable and cannot release gas themselves.
• Bottled Milk (not required, but very helpful): If you’re exclusively breastfeeding, that’s absolutely fine. However, if you have introduced a bottle to your baby, this is the preferred method of feeding during the session so I can keep a bottle nearby and “spot” feed on demand, instead of disturbing baby from their pose, or passing baby back and forth to feed. If you are pumping, feel free to bring your pump along!

The studio address is 150 Barlow Two Taverns Rd., Gettysburg, and the studio entrance is on the right side of the house with a bench beside it.

See you soon!