Newborn Photography is a Big Deal

You’ve added a brand new human to your family – which is amazing! Or you’re thinking about newborn photography because you’re ABOUT to add a brand new human to your family, which is equally amazing. You SHOULD be considering having newborn photos taken professionally, because honestly, you deserve it, mama. You deserve to remember your little one with all their squishy little features, and their tiny eyelashes – all of the details that change so fast.

Newborn photography is a big deal, and I get that. Choosing whether to take your little one out of the house in their first few weeks, trusting someone who isn’t family – it’s huge. And it’s allowed to feel huge.

Choosing a Newborn Photographer is a Big Decision

And all that also means that choosing a photographer to document your new little one (and you!!) is a big choice. I talk about big choices a lot, but it’s because it’s true! These choices aren’t things you can go back and change later, they’re not a dress you can return, or a wall you can repaint. Once your little one is bigger… obviously you can still have photos taken, but you can’t go back in time.

And little ones change SO MUCH in their first few weeks, that the window of time is pretty slim. I’m not saying that to add pressure, but like, it’s just the reality of the situation. Little humans become bigger humans. And they do it FAST! So choosing a newborn photographer and committing to having a newborn session, is a big deal, that you should very seriously consider.

Three Things Your Newborn Photographer Wants You to Know

When you’re in the later stages of your pregnancy, or you’ve just had a new baby, it can feel super overwhelming to have to think about things like booking photos, when you’re busy thinking about how to get real sleep at night. And I get it – I’m a mom too. I’ve totally been through it, and I know where you are!

That’s one of the reasons I try to answer your questions thoroughly (like through my newborn photography preparation guide, and my lifestyle newborn photography preparation guide) so that you feel extra prepared, and you can get the answers to your questions without having to do the extra emotional labor of asking (that’s right, I see you mama, doing all kinds of new invisible things you’ve never had to think about before). But beyond the questions you directly have, there are also things your photographer wants YOU to know, whether that photographer is me, here in Minneapolis at Jessica Strobel Photography, or any other photographer who offers newborn sessions. And today, I’m going to share some of those, so that you feel even MORE prepared for your session!

1 – Your baby might not sleep through the session, and that’s okay!

Most of the time, we try to book your newborn session in the first few weeks of your little one’s life, so that they’re extra sleepy during your session. One of the newborn session prep steps that I definitely recommend NOT skipping is making sure they have a full belly, because that’s another way to help make sure that they’re super sleepy while they’re in the studio or while your photographer is in your home.

But it’s not absolute, and not all babies sleep through their session! But you don’t need to worry about that, at ALL. Some little ones don’t sleep through their newborn session, some of them even stay awake the WHOLE time! And that’s absolutely okay. There is no reason that we can’t capture gorgeous memories of your little one, even if their eyes are open. So if you have an active baby, who likes to observe when they’re in new spaces, no worries at all. We will make it work, no matter what!

2 – Fed is BEST.

I’m not trying to be controversial here, I promise. But when it comes to preparing your baby for their newborn session, fed is best. And also like, obviously in every area, too. Whether you’re opting for breastfeeding or formula for your little one (or some of both!) fed is best. If you’re pumping and bringing it places with you, I support you. If you’re covering with a blanket or a hood and breastfeeding wherever you are with your little one, I support you. If you’re not covering because you just don’t want to, and you’re breastfeeding wherever you’re going with your little one, I support you.

And there will be absolutely no shaming or discrimination in my studio, based on your choice of feeding your little one, or raising your little one, or caring for your little one. You can expect that coming into my studio, I will absolutely NOT make comments about the way you’re feeding your new baby, as long as they’re fed. If you’re dealing with judgment from family or friends, I want you to know, for SURE, that this is a safe place for you. Because fed is best, and I support you!

3 – If you don’t want to come into the studio for your newborn session, you don’t have to!

This is a BIG one, and I get this question ALL the time. Especially right now, when there are so many bugs going around, and it seems like every day more of us are down with the flu or other respiratory viruses (and otherwise). You do NOT have to take your baby to my Minneapolis studio to have newborn photos taken. You don’t even have to leave your home!

I offer Lifestyle Newborn Sessions for this exact reason. Some little ones can’t leave home for anything other than doctors appointments in their first few weeks, for a whole variety of reasons. Some little ones have just exited the Nicu when they come home – which I know is a sensitive topic, but it needs to be said. If your little one is immuno-compromised, the LAST thing I want you to do is risk their health for the sake of coming into the studio. The same goes for you, and your family members!

And by request, I will absolutely mask for your session. I don’t mask by default anymore, but if you want me to? I will mask up before entering your home. Your comfort and safety, and the safety and comfort of your baby, are my highest priorities in a newborn session. Even MORE than capturing amazing images, which I know sounds a little like “wait a second, I thought your job was taking photos??” but when I’m working with newborns, that’s actually secondary. Their safety is the BIGGEST factor of sessions I shoot with new humans. And I respect and value every boundary you have about your baby and their health!

Looking for a Minneapolis Newborn Photographer?

So if you’re looking for a newborn photographer here in Minneapolis, chat me up. I want to talk! We should get you on the calendar, so you can come to a safe space with your little one and document their existence. Or, I can come to YOU, and still document their existence.

But whether you’re planning on working with Jessica Strobel Photography or not, all of these things are standards that EVERY newborn photographer worth their salt should value in their work, and definitely should want you to know before your session.