Thank you for selecting Six17 Photography as your Newborn Photographer!  We have put together a bit of a Newborn Session Guide for you to prepare for your session.

Before The Session Date:

• Let us know if you have a specific color pallet in mind before the session so that we can be prepared with appropriate backdrops, blankets, swaddling wraps and accessories.  For samples of available color pallets, click here:  Newborn Style
• If you have a special item (blanket, stuffy, etc…) that you would like included in the photographs, we are happy to include them. Again, just let us know before the session so that we can ensure we bring set items to go with it.
• Please let us know in advance of the session if there are specific types of poses that you would like to see. Sometimes special equipment is needed to achieve the look you are wanting, so it is best if we know this in advance.  As well, we will NEVER force a newborn into a pose.  We are always willing to try a pose to see how the baby reacts, but they are the boss – if they don’t want it to happen, it isn’t going to!
• When planning for the sibling / family photos, think neutral colours, with little to no pattern or logos. Bright colours and busy patterns will shift the viewer’s focus away from the most important part of the photograph – your family!
• If you request that the newborn be naked for the family images, ensure that you have a change of clothes ready to go just in case.
• We recommend having a friend or family member collect and care for younger siblings in a different area of the home or outside of the home during the remainder of the session.
• If you are nursing, try to stay away from foods that will make your baby gassy prior to the session so that they are comfortable on their tummy as well as being put into the squishy newborn poses.

Session Date In Home:

• Clear a 7′ x 7′ space in your home for the session that is close to an available electrical outlet for a light and a heating pad.  If you are unsure which space to clear, you can either describe or send us some photographs of the space and we can let you know if we think it will work.
• Please heat / cool (depending on the season) your home to about 27 degrees.

Session Date In Home or Studio:

• Keep your baby active and awake leading up to the session.
• Dress your baby in something that is easy to remove, with no elastic waistbands, and a loose diaper (to prevent marks on the skin).
• We recommend a light layer of lotion be applied right before and during the shoot to minimize dry flaking skin.
• Baby should be fed just before we are going to start shooting, and be prepared to potentially feed a little more often than normal.  The stimulation of the session often times makes baby hungrier than on a normal day.
• Safety is our number one priority!  Please ensure that someone attends the shoot that will be able to act as a spotter and be with the baby at all times.
• Please have 2 or more soothers sanitized and ready as they can drastically help soothe the baby to sleep in between feeds.

This should be a very relaxed time for your family – take it all in and bask in the beauty of your new addition!  If you are nervous or anxious, your little one will pick up your energy, and will not fully relax into sleep or the pose we are attempting.  The more calm and relaxed everyone is, the better the session will go!