What to Expect When Booking a Newborn Session With Jessica Doffing Photography || Austin, TX
Many of my new clients come to their session and say ‘I had no idea what to expect’ so I wanted to write a little post so you can be totally prepared and have one less thing to worry about when you are sleep deprived with a new baby. You will have lots of other things to focus on so I try to make the entire experience as easy and enjoyable as possible. Let’s start from the beginning, shall we?
What You Need to Know About BEFORE You Book Your Session
💜 There are many wonderful photographers in the Austin area and it’s probably very confusing when you start looking at the pricing and packages that each of us offer. I make it super easy by having 3 all-inclusive packages. You decide which package works with your budget and your desired number of photos. You will get a gallery of fully edited, high resolution digital files with printing rights. You will also have the opportunity to purchase prints, canvases and other products directly from the professional print lab that I work with, if you desire. I do not offer unedited/raw/additional images. I tailor my sessions to create a certain number of portraits (depending on the package you chose) so there will not be any ‘worthy’ photos that I don’t include in your gallery. The only ones that will not be in your gallery are the duplicates, out-of-focus, bad angle, ick photos that nobody wants or needs. I promise. Click here for package description and prices.
💜 Choose a photographer based on their portfolio style. Professional newborn photographers consider themselves an artist more than a service provider. A lot of time and training goes into establishing our particular style of photography. If you don’t see images that you love in a photographer’s gallery, don’t expect them to do another style just because they have a nice camera. If you like light & airy lifestyle (unposed) photos, I’m not your girl. I embrace shadows and earthy tones, monochromatic sets, true life colors (no trendy filters), and a good mixture of simple backdrops and props.
Check out my Instagram Feed for the Most Up-to-Date Examples of my Work
What You Need to Know About AFTER You Book Your Session and BEFORE You Have Your Baby
💜 Newborn sessions are typically held within the first 2 weeks. But I have no problem taking babies that are 3-4 weeks old. If you book your session early (beginning of your 3rd trimester) I will tentatively put you on my calendar around 2 weeks after your due date. This will most likely not be your actual session date. It’s more of a place-holder for me so that I don’t overbook on any particular week. It’s important that you keep in touch and let me know if you get any updates to your due date and then again ASAP when the baby arrives. At that time we will decide on the actual date for your session and I can guarantee it will be within 2 weeks of you contacting me. So please don’t wait until a week after the baby is born to contact me. One, because I might not be able to get you in before the baby turns 2 weeks old and two, I get super worried when a mom’s due date passes and I haven’t heard from her. I don’t need to be the first person you call, but definitely put me up there pretty high on the list.
💜 I provide everything we need for your session (except parent and sibling attire). There is no need for you to purchase any special items and I encourage you NOT to bring store-bought outfits and wraps. I have hundreds of outfits, wraps, headbands, bonnets, hats, backdrops and props that are all made specifically for newborn photographers. Most store-bought items are too big and/or ill-fitting and make it difficult to pose the baby properly. You are paying me to create beautiful portraits of your newborn baby and in order for me to do that I need to use my own ‘tools of the trade’. Now, if you have something sentimental that you would like included in your photos, I highly encourage it! It’s a fun challenge to include unusual items in the portraits and I love adding such a deep sentimental aspect to your images.
Please note - these types of images will only comprise a limited number of images in your gallery. The majority of images will be more classic, baby-centric portraits.
💜 And if there’s something special you would like to commemorate, let me know as soon as possible so I can brainstorm some ideas. For instance, baby is a rainbow baby, IVF baby or heart warrior, the significance of baby’s name, or just something you are weirdly obsessed with. 😂 I have MANY themed props and an unlimited supply of themed digital backgrounds so if you give me enough time, I will make your dream image come true!
What You Need to Know About Your Session
💜 About a week before your session I’ll send a questionnaire to get any preferences you have for the photos. Now is the time to tell me if you have any favorite colors you want to use (or not use), preferences you have for different poses and props, etc. On the day of your session my assistant and I will plan and prepare the different setups we will use for your session based on the package you purchased. But rest assured, you will also have the opportunity to look through and choose different outfits/wraps/props if you choose.
💜 The day before your session I will send a confirmation email with tips on what to bring and directions to the studio. I do not list a bunch of things you need to do to prepare for your session. I don’t want to stress new parents out - I just want you to keep the baby on their regular schedule.
💜 When you arrive at the studio we will spend a few minutes getting settled and discussing the flow of the session. The flow depends on the package you purchased. And the flow could change a bit, depending on the baby’s schedule and mood. But here’s a basic flow for each package just to give you an idea:
Total Newborn Package (40 images - best for families with siblings or parents that want a large variety of photos) - If there are siblings involved we will start with family and sibling photos. Then I ask that Dad or a family member take the siblings out for a treat, to a park, or back home while we finish with the baby’s photos. Next I will swaddle the baby and use a simple prop (bowl, basket, flokati) to get a few images and close-up shots of their features (eyelashes, lips, toes, etc) to design a collage. After this we will usually move on to another prop like a bucket or bed or get a few shots for some composite images. And then at the end we will do ‘table shots’. These are the newborn only poses on a solid background like bum-up, side-lying, and froggy. If you booked a Total Package and there are no siblings involved we typically start with the baby and then do the parent shots at the end. This gives mom and dad a nice long hour or so to chill out and relax a bit. 😁
Petite Newborn Package (25 images - best for first time parents that want to be in the photos or parents that don’t want to be in the photos but have siblings they want included) - Same as above but with less photos, priority being placed on your preferences. If there are siblings we will do those photos first and have them leave after their portion but if there are no siblings we will do the parent shots at the end.
Baby Only Package (15 images - best for parents that just want images of the baby) - Same as above but with no sibling or parent shots and less photos, priority being placed on your preferences.
💜 While we are photographing the baby you will have the chance to sit back and relax, watch us work our magic, enjoy a coffee or snack, catch up on some work, or take a little nap.
What You Need to Know About After Your Session
💜 Unless you request not to, I love to post a sneak peek from your session on my Instagram and/or Facebook pages that evening.
💜 You will receive your gallery of images about 2 weeks after your session. This is a beautiful online gallery that you can share with family and friends and they can view the photos. Prints, canvases, and other products are available to purchase directly from the gallery. You will also get a code to download the images to your computer as high resolution digital files with printing rights. You have the rights to take these files to any printer to have prints made however, I can only guarantee the quality of your prints/products if purchased from my lab.
💜 Unless you request not to, you will be added to my mailing list to keep you up-to-date on any specials, mini sessions, model calls, etc.
I’m pretty sure that’s everything you need to know but if you have a question I didn’t answer, don’t hesitate to contact me! I look forward to working with you.
Jessica 💜
