Warm, Baby-led Newborn Portraits in North Carolina and Washington DC

After we've connected and you've decided to book, I send along my newborn welcome packet, which includes a getting-ready guide, a standard photo contract, a short survey so that I can get to know your family, and a link to pay a $100 deposit. This allows me to reserve a spot for you in your due-month. Then, when baby arrives, you reach out when you are ready and I offer you a range of options for session timing! 

I suggest doing newborn photos in the first eight weeks of life. If you want to capture the teeniest tiniest stage, the first four weeks is ideal, but because we aren't doing anything overly posed and don't need baby to be asleep, we have more leeway in terms of timing. I often find that if  a parent has had a c-section birth, baby is having feeding issues, or there are lots of siblings around, it's nice to do photos on the later end of the window so that everyone has found a little bit of a rhythm. It''s totally up to you! I'm here to help you figure it out.

After I arrive at your home, I take a moment to get to know the family, wash my hands, and select the best areas for photos! We then move slowly and gently through the process of taking solo portraits of the baby, portraits of the baby with each parent or caregiver, portraits of the baby with siblings, and portraits of the whole family together. We take frequent breaks for feeds, changes, and snuggles! The whole process typically take 60-90 minutes, sometimes a bit longer.

Friend, nobody's home is tidy when they have a newborn! All I need to take lovely photos is a stable, well-lit surface for portraits of the baby (a bed usually works well), and a pocket of window light. That's it! I typically take a moment once I arrive at your home to scout out the best light and do a little setup (move things off bedside tables, open blinds, etc), etc. That's all we need! Truly! Many of my clients don't have huge fancy homes or tons of light. There is usually a pile of laundry just out of the frame. That's part of it! We place the focus on your baby and your family connections. It will be lovely. 

All babies cry! All babies need to eat! We build time for this into your session. I'll support you in taking breaks for feeding, changes, and soothing as needed. Often these are the moments that result in the most beautiful candids.  And– not to brag too much– I am kind of a baby-soothing genius and I'm happy to lend my arms and my deep knee-bounces. It always works out. I've got you. 

This is SUPER important to me. I always wear a KN95 mask when I am inside your home and wash up immediately upon entering. Of course,  I also stay up to date on all available flu vaccines, COVID booster and DTAP shots. If one of my own children is sick at the time of your session, even just with a cold, I will inform you so that we decide how to proceed– you will always have the option to reschedule. Finally, if there are any other precautions I can take to help keep your family healthy and to help you feel comfortable and protected, I am always more than happy to do so. I'm here to help everyone be safe and feel safe!

Absolutely. This is your prerogative. It's always helpful to be able to share examples of my work, but YOU decide if and how I am permitted to share photos from your session. As a rule, I do not share images of children's faces on any Meta platform. There is a section in my onboarding survey where you are able to opt in and out of image sharing, with separate sections for socials and my website. 

Truly, it's not just about the photos. We will make lovely portraits, but beyond that I am here to help you feel held and supported during a really meaningful and intense time of life. The photos will reflect that calm, warm, vibe!  I've walked through the postpartum period with hundred of families over the past twenty years, and it's always an honor to be next to you, to hold space for whatever is happening on the day that we are together, and to reflect back to you how beautiful your baby is, and what a beautiful  job you are doing as their parent. I've got you.