***AS OF 2021 THIS TYPE OF SESSION IS NO LONGER BEING OFFERED, BUT I DO OFFER LIFESTYLE NEWBORN SESSIONS!***
Read more about Lifestyle newborn sessions here: https://www.hpalecek.com/insiders-peek-at-a-lifestyle-newborn-session/
Here’s Part II in my series, “A sneak peek into a Portrait Session”. This blog post gives insight into my Studio Newborn Sessions.
Part I, about family, maternity, and engagement sessions can be found here. Part III, about lifestyle newborn sessions can be found here.
I’d like to be totally translucent and answer some of these questions you have about newborn sessions; how long are they, what happens at one, etc. After all, I strive to make my sessions stress free & the last thing I want is for you to feel nervous or unsure about what will happen! Since I love making lists, lets do it that way…
1) We schedule the Session!
I usually plan portrait sessions in person at a coffee or ice cream shop, but sometimes it happens over the phone instead. During this “pre-session consultation” I ask a lot of questions to get a feel for your personality, interests, and needs. We discuss important details like: if you’d like to be included in some of the images, what color theme are you going with for the nursery, if you want a “studio session” or a “lifestyle session”, etc. We also talk about products and pricing. I offer advice and answer questions along the way. Then we probably chat a little more about life and share some laughs. By the end, we’ve scheduled a couple tentative session dates based around your due date (since no one knows when baby will come!) and discuss the contract. At this time I send over an electronic contract to be reviewed, signed & submitted at home, and ask for a deposit to be sent to seal the deal. Once the Session is reserved, I send a few of my helpful pdf’s via email that will help you prepare for a newborn session.
2) Notify me when the baby is born & Pre-Session Confirmation
When the baby is born, notify me right away! I’ll check my calendar to see when the nearest tentative date is set for, and email you with specifics to confirm the session. I will also get in touch with you the day before the session to pick a time based on your feeding schedule. (This is all part of the plan and would have been previously discussed, as well as repeated in the emailed pdf’s.)
*I usually schedule two to three tentative dates with each newborn client: one right before your due date, one right after, and one two weeks after.
3) Meet up for the Session.
Studio Newborn Sessions are typically done in the clients home, where it is most convenient for the new mommy. This means that I will be lugging a lot of equipment and adorable blankets, wraps, and baskets into your home to setup. We share our hellos & have some small talk as I ooh and aahh at your adorable new bundle of joy.
Then I’ll begin location scouting and setting up a mini studio in an area of your home that has enough space and beautiful lighting.
4) Photo Shoot Time!!
Each Newborn Session is unique, but most take approx 3-4 hours. These hours are spent getting baby to fall asleep and then posing and photographing them, as well as making sure baby is warm, comfortable, safe, and stays asleep. During the session we will try to complete approx. four setups/poses.
For each session, I will supply the blankets and wraps. If there is a specific prop, outfit, or blanket that you’d like to use, I ask that you supply it for your session.
5) Leaving the Session
As the session wraps up, I pack up my studio and car, while bringing my bag of sample products back to your home. I like to spend some time {about 10 minutes} showing you a selection of products, so that you’re able to see & feel the wonderful items that I offer. I’ll show you my albums, what my high quality canvas gallery wraps look like, a session box, handmade necklaces and a few other products. In addition, I’ll photograph the walls in your home that you’re planning to decorate so that I can create a mock-up of a gallery wall for you. {My clients have always loved seeing these mock-ups before buying!} After that I give you my post-session package and collect the remaining balance from our session.
6) Processing the Final Images
After the session, I go home and backup all of the files to multiple devices. Over the next two weeks I cull through all of the images to find the best of the best and then digitally process them to their final form. These are the artworks that will be a part of your final image gallery.
I hope that this article helps you feel more comfortable with what to expect at a portrait session with Heather Palecek Photography. To hear what others have said about their experiences, click here.
To see more examples of my newborn photography, click here!
