San Clemente, California Newborn Session
The Tan family added a beautiful new love to their crew and they are absolutely obsessed with their babe. With two energetic boys already keeping them on their toes, a sweet little baby girl has proven to be a fun new adventure. And I have to say, she is a little drop of perfection!
You will find some helpful tips for navigating newborn sessions with multiple little ones at the end of this post! Plus some bonus newborn photo session advice.
When scheduling your at home newborn session, you’ve gotta keep in mind that you will have doctor appointments and potential breast feeding clinics to contend with - not to mention adjusting to the new little human that just moved into your home. Things will be messy and chaotic and absolutely unpredictable. And if you have other little ones around, that adds another level of planning.
Ask for help. As new parents, support is EVERYTHING. If you are fortunate enough to have support, ask a trusted friend or family member to come help you wrangle the little ones while you get dressed and prepped yourself. Your support person can entertain the kids, dress the baby, provide snacks, help little ones with potty breaks… you name it. If both parents are present, quiet shots with the new little babe with the folks is a must. That is a big ask with little ones running around in the background, unless there is an adult around to lend a hand.
Do not hold yourself to any rigid standards during this time. Have snacks (* cough, cough * bribes) at the ready, an iPad, television, books - anything to occupy the older kids. Finally lower your expectations. Your baby might be awake the entire session. Your older children might be having meltdowns and making their feelings about the new transition known loud and clear. The newborn stage is a season and it is full of excitement and stress and it looks messy in photos because it is messy. Embrace that. Embrace the beautiful chaos of new life and being a young family.
Friendly reminders to optimize your newborn session: Plan outfits ahead of time. Think about your color palette and what you want your gallery to look like. If you like lighter, breezier images choose neutral colors. Ivory, tan, sand, dusty pink, periwinkle are all good choices for bright, soft images. If you are going for moodier, more intimate images think dark browns and rich tones, even black accents work beautifully in newborn portraiture. And think about what everything will look like in your space.
Select a place in your home that has the best available natural light and make sure that space is as clean and clutter free as possible. Don’t overdo it with a dozen itty bitty baby outfits. Keep it simple and narrow it down to three favorites that fit baby well.
Be prepared for the session to take several hours. Between feedings, diaper changes, and outfit changes you will likely be committing to 1.5 - 3 hours.
Finally, don’t forget to spend time on yourself. Wear something beautiful and comfortable. Light hair and makeup will go a long way in making you feel a little more like yourself in those first few days. Newborn photo sessions usually take place anywhere between 7-14 days new and NEW MOTHERS ARE GOING THROUGH IT. Shower. Put some lotion on those swollen legs. A spritz of your favorite perfume might do the trick. Do something to honor yourself and make sure you enjoy these early moments. You’ll be grateful you documented this precious time. I promise you!
