Photographing the journey of motherhood every step of the way
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Julie Kulbago Photography is a nationally published photographer who is trained in newborn safety practices and has mastered the technical knowledge & experience to use advanced photoshop techniques to capture challenging poses safely.
Her full service boutique photography studio works with families to capture fleeting moments so they last a lifetime. Let’s plan your perfect session!
5 ways to have a smooth newborn photography session
5 ways to have a smooth newborn photography session
When I first started my photography career I would spend hours scouring the internet for every tidbit of information on newborn photography. I am a rule follower by nature and when I found a rule about photographing newborns I would cling to it like it was the gospel. As my career has progressed I have realized that I would like to pay it forward and continue to share all of the information I have learned from research and experience . . . and believe me, there is no substitute for experience! I have been doing this for over 9 years now and with each baby that I photograph I learn a little more. So, without further ado, here they are . . .
1. Photograph babies at 7 – 14 days old
I schedule all of my newborns when they are between 7 – 14 days old. My go to is day 10. For boys, I really try to bring them in around days 10-14 to allow them plenty of time to heal from a circumcision. I often get calls from parents asking me to photograph their 4 week old “newborn”. I never turn clients away but I am very clear with them that we won’t have all of the sleepy, curly, squishy poses with an older newborn.
2. Provide Pre Session Guidance
I like to send an email with pre session information to let the clients know what to expect and how to prepare. Pre-session instructions are essential to the success of posed newborn photography. Not only will the guidelines help prepare baby but it is also extremely helpful for parents to know what to expect (where to go, what to wear, how long the session will last) and what to bring. While I don’t like to ask new parents to do very many things, there are a few key things they can do to make the session go smoothly . . . keeping baby awake prior to the session and bringing a pacifier are the main two.
3. Keep your Studio Warm
I keep my studio between 80 – 85 degrees. Newborns can not regulate their body temperature as well as adults and therefore need to be in a very warm room if they are going to be naked. Think about it, they just spent 9 months in a cozy 96 degree womb – 85 is nothing to them! Do pay attention to how they look though. If you end up wrapping your baby, make sure they are not getting red or sweaty. If you they do then open a window and/or turn down the heat.
4. Wrap that baby
Nothing is cuter than a baby swaddled in a soft blanket! I swaddle babies in every session regardless of their temperament. If I have a baby that doesn’t seem to want to sleep or is having trouble staying asleep I go right to a swaddle. Swaddling is extremely calming to a baby. After a few poses in a swaddle I’m usually able to unwrap the baby and get other poses as well.
5. Snuggle with mom and dad
I include parent shots with every one of my newborn sessions. I do this for a couple of reasons. First, I believe it’s essential for parents to be photographed with their new baby. It’s so cliche to say but this time is fleeting and you will not get it back! I’ve been there! I know that parents are exhausted, emotional and just completely drained a few weeks after birth. I’m sure that getting photo ready is not on most people’s radar. That is why I like to give everyone notice that if they would like, I can capture some very timeless images of their new family. And shameless plug – I do provide wardrobe for new moms so that “what to wear” doesn’t have to be a concern. This mom’s dress is part of my client wardrobe. Secondly, snuggling with mom and dad is a great way to comfort a baby. If I have a baby that isn’t exactly into the session, I switch gears and do family photos. These are always some of my client’s favorite images.
I hope you found these tips helpful. If you are interested in newborn photography, I am currently working on a comprehensive Break Out session through Clickin’ Moms. If you aren’t familiar with ClickinMoms it’s a online community of photographers with hundreds of tutorials, inspiration and advice for photographers of every level. My newborn posing breakout will be available to all photographers (members and non-members alike). It will consist of a detailed PDF and a set of videos. If you would like to know when it will be released, just shoot me an email and I will add you to the launch list!
