Moments to remember
Congratulations on your little bundle of joy and welcome to Jennifer Shneidman Photography. I am so excited to be working with your family and would love to help you prepare for your session. Let's get into the details on what happens now that you've booked!
Date and time
We will be setting a tentative date for your session. Please let me know as soon as you can once baby is here, so I can schedule you in. It is best to photograph newborns between 7-21 days. For boys having a circumcision, we will need a 5 day post-op healing period before your session. Sessions will start at 9am on weekdays only.
Location
Your session will be held in my cozy home studio, located in Springfield, Virginia. My exact address will be shared with you a couple of days before your scheduled session. as a safety measure, I will be wearing a face mask for all sessions. This is optional for you but highly recommended. There is a no shoe policy inside the studio so please remove shoes once inside. The studio will be extremely warm throughout the session for babies comfort, so I suggest wearing layers you can remove if you get hot!
Outfits
If you are getting family photos done, please come photo ready :) For outfit choices, I advise sticking to 1 color, possibly in different tones, that compliment each other. Clothing should ideally not have any patterns or logos. Please also try to remove items from pockets, and wrist watches, as these become distractions in images.
The backdrop colors I have for family photos include white, grey, beige, and a caramel color. These are very neutral colors and most outfit colors will suit well. Please contact me if you need wardrobe advice.
Props and wraps
I provide all the props, hairbands, wraps and outfits your sweet babe will need. I even have diapers and wipes incase you forget yours. If you plan on bringing something special for your session e.g. a special stuffed animal, military uniform, please let me know in advance so I can plan a good set-up to in corporate it.
Bring from home
You will need to bring enough formula for baby if they're bottle fed. About 3-4 hours worth if we will be including family, and 2 hours worth for baby only. If baby takes a pacifier, please bring it along although I do have some in studio also.
Session process
Please do not stress about keeping your baby awake before the session. I encourage doing your normal routine so we have a happy baby.
If you're getting family photos, I start with those first. After this portion, I usually ask 1 parent (most often dad) to take the siblings whilst we finish the session. There is a lovely playground just across the street from my house, and lots of fast food options for lunch.. Next I will focus on the baby, doing posed images, and placing the baby carefully in props. It's time to take this opportunity to relax a little while I take care of your baby. You've earned it!
After the session
Now the session is over, you can just enjoy cuddles with your newborn baby while I get to editing! I will usually edit a handful of images completely to show you the final result, and the rest will be lightly retouched for lighting, coloring, or cropping, This way, we save time on both our ends and I can get a proof gallery back to you sooner. Once you receive the proof and select your favorite images, let me know and I will work on getting them completely edited and sent back to you as soon as possible. This is also the time to purchase any additional digital images, or albums. I have gorgeous samples in my studio for you to look at and feel the quality. Heirloom pieces to showcase your images for years to come.
And that is all! Simple! I hope this guide has helped you understand and prepare for your upcoming session. If there is anything you want to know that I haven't mentioned, please contact me and I'd be happy to answer any questions! I look forward to meeting you all soon!! Thank you for choosing me to be your Springfield, VA Newborn Photographer!
