I'm not kidding when I say I'm over the moon you pulled the trigger (just imagine the MAGIC we are going to create together!). Thank you from the bottom of my heart for your trust in me. It is an honor to create one of the most integral parts of your family's legacy.

Please carefully read the topics I will cover, the information in this guide will help you get the most out of our session together. Consistency is important to me and I want to make sure you get the most amazing photos EVER!

I am so thrilled to be working with you and am counting down the days to your newborn session! It’s perfectly normal to have some jitters about getting photos taken. Honestly, I still get the butterflies before our family photos too - and I do this for a living! I totally get it. I put this guide together to help you get the best results from our time together. I'm going to take great care of you and am here to help every step of the way.


Hello THERE!

Are you ready for some good news? You really don't need to do much! Besides outfit selection (which I cover in this guide), all I truly ask of you is to enjoy your experience. After all, the best part of appreciating the photos on your walls is knowing you had an awesome time getting them taken.

I'm SO excited. Have I mentioned that yet?

Before the big day

When I arrive, I will scope out some portrait locations around your home. I typically start with the whole family so that parents and siblings can be done quickly. We then stop for a nursing break while I set up a little studio area in your home near a window for posed photos of your newborn. It takes me about 15 minutes to get everything ready. My in-home studio set up is made of a foam pad covered in white blankets. It creates a perfect soft space for me to gently ease your baby into some sweet positions. I particularly love nurseries, living rooms, and master bedrooms for family photos. Photographs of families cuddled together in bed are so special so if you have a minute before the session, I recommend making your bed and tiding up your nightstands.


ON THE BIG DAY!

Turn up the Heat

Babies love warmth. I recommend heating your house a few degrees above normal for the family portion of the photo session. Just make sure that it isn't so hot that you feel uncomfortable. I want everyone feeling great and looking happy in the photos. After family photos are done, crank the heat up even more for the newborn photos. I recommend 75+ degrees. If you can’t quite get it that warm, I will bring a space heater.


HELPFUL HINTS

All of these are cool. Just...not as much when it comes to photos! Gum will peek through at least a few shots no matter how much you think it won't, transition lenses look like sunglasses (we want to see those beautiful peepers!) and even if a spray tan looks amazing in person, it really throws off the skin tones that I absolutely pride myself in capturing. Your natural skin color is the BEST with my style of photography!
If you wear glasses and have transition lenses, you can either remove the glasses altogether for the photos, or if they are an integral part of your look, you can change them out for a pair with traditional lenses. I will try my best to minimize the glare so we can see those gorgeous eyes!

Gum, transition lenses and spray tans...

I think most of us feel this way at heart. Luckily not only are my sessions extremely relaxed, but I fully guide you and your family into poses and give you prompts so you can have moments of genuine laughter and fun together. Often you won't even realize how amazing a moment is and I sneak a photo in!
One of the best parts about my job is to see the beauty in what seems like ordinary moments, and provide you those memories forever.

What if I don't know what to do?

For what it's worth I rarely see this but I just wanted to plant a little seed that you don't have to worry about being "the bad guy" for the time we are together (hooray! Enjoy the vacation!).

I have a "bag of tricks" that usually works if a child is having challenges. Also, we have plenty of time to give them the pauses they need. I can stop and walk with them, talk with them, ask them about their favorite stories, shows, or toys. Worst case scenario? They stay grumpy and you will get some pretty entertaining photos that just may be your favorite ones EVER because what's funnier than a photo of your kid with a scowl face?? 
So yeah, don't worry mama. We will get some great stuff. 

Ok, hear me out on this. I promise I'm not telling you how to parent, BUT... for just the time we have together, pretty please don't worry a single bit about your child's behavior. Sometimes kids can sense that they are about to do something out of the norm (I mean, how often does your whole family get dressed up and have someone over to take pictures?), and they may get extra silly or start acting out. I totally understand you want them to be on their best behavior because I would feel the same! ...however, in the spirit of just having a relaxing, fun experience (and getting great photos!), it works the very best if disciplining is paused during the session. More often than not it backfires anyway and the grumpy faces stick around longer. 

Don't worry about big sibling behavior


If you can keep your baby awake before I arrive, great! It will help get him/her to sleep during the session. If not, please do not worry. Forcing your newborn to stay awake will only make him/her grumpy! If your baby is still awake before your session start time, give him/her a good solid feeding. Keeping a baby well feed is one of the most important factors in ensuring a successful newborn session. I know that as a new mom, you are trying to get your baby on a feeding schedule; however, I think you will find that breaking your routine during the session will be well worth it. Also, I am not in a rush to finish your photo session. We can take as many breaks as you need to feed your baby. Don’t try to rush nursing your baby. I will gladly wait. A well fed baby makes my job that much easier.

Prepping your newborn!

just a few things to keep in mind... 

The Day of the Session

Here we go! Depending on who you ask, this tends to be either the most stressful or the most fun part of the whole process (although I'm SO here to help you).

It's outfit time! 

One of the analogies I use to describe photography is with...baking. (Yes, you read that right!) There are many photographers out there who have all kinds of different styles. It's like a bakery where you are choosing which cupcake you want. Again, I am honored you are choosing mine! Here is your part of the recipe we need so we can make the exact flavor you have chosen. I have a very specific style and strive to be consistent with my images so you know exactly what kinds of photos you will be getting from your session (dreamy, light, airy, classic, timeless, and glowy, if I do say so myself!). 

So, let's get baking.

THE BIGGEST PIECE OF THE PIE

WHAT TO WEAR

Light and delicate patterns are softer and easier on the eyes (and the overall color palette). If you squint at these you won't see too much that sticks out. Once again, this clothing doesn't attract the eye, leaving it free to focus on the most important things - the faces you love!

yeah!

While adorable in person, these kinds of patterns don't photograph well with my style of photography. The areas of high contrast (aka: light and dark colors close together) attract the eye and compete for attention...taking the focus from faces. This is one of those seemingly little choices that actually make a big impact!

Nah...

When in doubt about a pattern, do a "squint test" - just look at it, squint your eyes, and if the clothing item looks like a solid color or close to it, it's good to go! If it still looks pretty busy and patterns can be easily distinguished, it's better to go with something more delicate. 

THE "SQUINT" TEST

My aim when it comes to clothing, is to have it NOT distract from your faces and expressions! I want the focus to be solely on those dimples in your baby's cheeks, your son's freckles, your daughter's beautiful brown eyes. When you are wearing simple and timeless clothing, the attention isn't drawn to your clothing... but to those amazing features I just mentioned. This is a great thing! When you wear busy patterns, it competes for that attention and your eyes are naturally drawn there.

Perhaps you've noticed that mostly everyone on my website or instagram feed is wearing light colors. There is a reason for this! A photographer's best friend is light. Light is my "paint," if you will. I use it to get a very specific look. When you wear light clothing, the sunlight bounces around, reflects back onto your face and anyone who is around you, creating a beautiful glow. It flatters your skin - making it creamier, and hiding flaws. It also helps create the overall aesthetic of the photo. 
Another reason I highly recommend light colors is that natural and artificial light combined with vivid colors (such as really bright blues, neon yellows, etc) will make for an unnatural color cast on your skin. With the lighting I use, if you are wearing bright green and it reflects back onto your face (...and it will....) it can make you look slightly sick and we don't want that! I want to make sure your skin looks vibrant, healthy, and true to color. 

the overall aesthetic

Light colors and patterns

THE "BEST" PASTELS

It's best to go for colors that are either muted or very light, as brighter pastels can reflect onto your skin. Light and muted pastels will work in any color!

yeah!

Nah...

While it isn't 100% necessary, feel free to go all out! Professionally done hair & makeup stand up to the "test of time" nicely, and if there is humidity or wind, it is a great decision. 

With the settings I use to shoot, pretty please go with a shade darker when it comes to your blush and lipstick than you usually do (these things will photograph lighter than they look in person). Not heavy! Just a *tad* darker. Feel free to put a very little bit of blush and clear lip gloss on little girls as well. They will enjoy getting fancy for photos and it looks great in photos. 

My go-to hair and makeup artists are:

Maitee Miles
https://www.maiteemiles.com/

and 

Jones Beauty & Co
https://jonesbeautyco.com/

Hair & Makeup

I'm not big on tons of elaborate props (I like to keep the focus on your beautiful expressions!), but I'm ALL for a meaningful prop or two in a select handful of images; especially florals! If you bring flowers I will get a big smile on my face that might be hard to erase. 

Props

Most of my families choose to be barefoot for newborn photos; however, if you'd like a more polished look you can choose to wear shoes. Anything neutral, light and/or NOT distracting works!  Keep in mind that heels elongate women’s legs and force constant tension in the calves –– which makes them look more toned. Closed-toed heels, in particular, look great on camera because they carry out the line of your leg all the way down to your toe. You can never go wrong with a pair of neutral pumps! If your toes are showing in a peep-toe heel, you might want to schedule a pedicure before your session so you don’t regret letting your toes show. When all is said and done, I just want to make sure the shoes don't attract too much visual attention, we want that going to your faces!

Shoes

First off, this is just a suggestion and not the end of the world, but...clothing that is cream or ivory, photographs white. Clothing that is "WHITE-white," photographs blue(ish)! Cream clothes are softer on skin tones and luckily easier than ever to find (this hasn't always been the case!). So if you can, go with cream over bright white pretty please.

*The exception to this is if you are using a lot of gray in your clothing! Grays and whites go better than grays and cream! Think cool tones vs. warm tones.

White vs. Cream

just a few more tidbits...

When ladies wear dresses, it really helps create that timeless look. I highly recommend maxi's for mama's! The floor length flatters, and with a litltle sway the dress can help create motion in the photo. (psst...wearing dresses is NOT an absolute must, but it really does help create the aesthetic you often see in my work!). Clothing colors matter more than clothing styles at the end of the day.

For little girls, you can go very simple! Just a solid colored, plain dress can be perfect. You can also add texture with sweaters, boots, bows, etc.

for the ladies

Wardrobe Tips

... and here are some tips for the men

Do you want to know the best news ever? When it comes to dressing the guys, I say go with SIMPLE! A great go-to look is khaki or tan pants, a light-colored button-up shirt, and tan shoes. You can dress this up or down, but the key is sticking to light, neutral tones. Avoid pairing a light shirt with dark bottoms. Trust me—light-colored pants make all the difference! 

THE MOST FLATTERING LOOK FOR MEN
Just like a dress is the most flattering silhouette for women, a long-sleeve button-down and slacks are the best choice for men. Plus, rolling up long sleeves gives you two looks in one—structured or casual.

FIT MATTERS
After color, fit is the second most important factor.
  • Pant length matters! Bunched-up fabric at the shoes makes a man look shorter—just like high heels make women look taller.
  • A tailored fit through the back (no sagging!) keeps the look structured and polished.
  • Stick to solid colors. Some patterns can work—try the "squint test" to see if they blend well rather than stand out too much. But, for the most part, avoid strong prints, pinstripes, or logos, as they can distract from the overall image.

LAYERING FOR A POLISHED LOOK
Ever notice that mannequins at J.Crew or Banana Republic always have layers? That’s because layers add depth and dimension in photos! Even in warm weather, it’s worth wearing layers for an hour or two to elevate your look.

A well-fitted, classic look will elevate your photos and create timeless images you’ll love for years!

Pets are welcome to be involved in your session! 

I recommend planning for your furry friend(s) to be at the beginning of your session - I won’t use them in every single photo (unless that is what you prefer!) .

If you do include your fur babies, I recommend letting them get plenty of exercise before the session and bringing their favorite treats and toys! 

FURRY FRIENDS

Well, ideally when I leave you say, "Wow, did we really just take photos or just hang out?" Or... "She was the best. That was fun!" Actually, I will probably make you promise to have grab a bite to eat and take a nap with your baby. (P.S. Your baby should take a  REALLY great nap!)

On my end I will come home, give my own family some hugs, and then start downloading your photos. From there I will need two weeks to properly go through the images, weed out multiples and blinks, and then edit them in my specific and unique style. Two weeks after the date of your session I will send you an email with a link to your gallery. From there you will be able to view your photo proofs and make selections for your order! 
And remember, I'm here to assist you in every step along the way.

What happens after our session?

thank you!

thank
you!

.... At the end of the day, my greatest wish is that you, your children, and grandchildren ADORE these photos forever. After all, your family is what life is ALL about, and one of my greatest joys is that I get to be a small, behind-the-scenes part of preserving your legacy.

I know that this guide is extensive! Hopefully, it covers any questions you had in preparing for your session. However if there is something I missed or you need a recommendation, feel free to text or email me at:
heather@heatherhallphotography.com
682.667.3549

Some parting words

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