Newborn Sessions

There is nothing sweeter than photographing a tiny little newborn. I love their peeling skin, their umbilical cords, their fuzzy little heads and every little crease on their feet. That is why I think its important to photograph them within the first week of life if possible. They change very quickly and once that ‘newborn’ look is gone its gone forever.

Newborn photography has suddenly become an ‘it’ market with everyone these days doing it. I’ve been exclusively photographing newborns for over 3years now and I take deep pride in my work, the way I handle my newborns safely and gently and how I’m able to comfort them and pose them.

I can’t stress enough about choosing a newborn photographer that will handle your newborn SAFELY. There are some popular newborn poses out there (hanging them from tree branches and perched on shelves and even the innocuous hands holding the cheeks pose) and it seems all these new photographers are out to ‘one-up’ the last photographer and try something a little bolder. Not me. Newborns are perfect just they way they are (curled up asleep and looking oh-so-sweet).

My newborn style of photography is pure.simple.natural. A newborn doesn’t need a lot of ‘props’ and they certainly don’t need clothes. I shoot only with natural light and I prefer natural fabrics, neutral colors and my images have a simple organic feel to them. I love incorporating wraps and simple hats/headbands and I made 95% of the items of you see on my newborns. I don’t shoot the typical poses or set ups that you will see on pinterest. To me, every newborn is different and they have unique features that need to be captured. I love birthmarks, peeling skin and even the millia (white bumps on their nose) that often appear. I do not/will not make their skin look super smooth (doll-like) and I will not photoshop out every blemish imperfection. I do remove any red transient rashes, jaundice skin tones and face scratches. I don’t want to make your newborn look like a doll, I want them to look like themselves-just cleaned up a bit.

I currently conduct my newborn sessions in my commercial natural light studio (located in Goose Creek) within the first two weeks of life (the younger the better). My sessions will last about 2-4hours depending on how sleepy your little one is and how often they want to nurse/feed or just be snuggled. More information will be provided on how to prepare for your newborn session after booking.

I book my newborn sessions 1 to 3 months in advance and I only take a limited number of clients per month. If you are due within the next 6months it is advised that you book now.

Newborn Frequently Asked Questions

How much is a Newborn session, and do I get a disk of the images?

Please refer to the ‘investment’ tab at the top of my website.

Do the newborn sessions have to take place in your studio? What if I want a session in my home?

Due to my schedule restraints I am only able to offer a studio newborn session for those due between May-July 2013. After which I will be able to travel to do home newborn sessions. There will be an additional travel cost of $150 added to the newborn session total to accommodate related expenses of travel within 30miles of zip code 29445.

Will you be willing to travel outside of the Charleston area for newborn sessions?

I will be able to travel after April 2013 for newborn sessions in the surrounding areas (Columbia/Myrtle Beach/Beaufort/Rock Hill/Charlotte). But I also know some amazing photographers in each of these areas that would provide beautiful newborn images as well. Just ask me

My baby is 2-4weeks old now and we just never got around to scheduling pictures because we forgot/too tired/etc. Can we still book a session?

The ideal time to photograph a newborn is under 10days of age. After a couple of weeks their bellies grow too large and they loose that supple bend that allows them to contort to more of the womb like poses. They don’t like to sleep as deep and they don’t tolerate the transitions between setups very well. That’s not to say it can’t be done. I have successfully photographed babies in the 2-6week age range but we just can’t go into with the expectation that we will achieve the poses/set ups that a 6 day old newborn could handle. As along as you understand the limitations with newborn in this age range it comes down to availability in my schedule so just email me about booking a date.

I have a bunch of pictures I’ve pinned on pinterest that I want done with my newborn, can you do that?

The simple answer here is no. Its not that I can’t, but its a matter of artistic integrity. I am not out to copy other photographers, mimic their work and call it my own. I strive to capture your newborn in a beautiful, simple and classic way. Trends/fads will fade. I want you to look back on your images years from now and remember their little hair swirls, cheeks and every detail on their feet. It is important to choose a photographer who’s work represents they type of images you want.

I think my baby’s umbilical cord is ugly, can you “photoshop” it out?

While I can completely understand the idea behind this, the answer again is no. That umbilical cord is what connected you together. It represents the bond you shared and it is a clear indicator of a true ‘newborn’. There are poses and wraps and ways to photograph your baby without it being constantly visible, but I will not ‘photoshop’ it out.

We were thinking that it would be great to photograph our baby sleeping on a drum/guitar/car/fireman’s hat/etc because it has special meaning to us. Can we do that?

I love incorporating items that have special meaning to the family and we can discuss a way that will be safe for the newborn.