The Highlights

The Tricky Part: Avoiding Overstimulation

Babies this age get overstimulated very quickly. There are a few things we can do to try to avoid this for as long as possible. (More time with a calm, happy baby means more adorable portraits for you)!

Keep voices and body language calm

Baby looks to others (especially mom and dad) to provide cues for how to feel in a given situation. Keeping our voices slow, low and calm will help baby to relax

Give baby space to check out their new environment

We’ll give baby some time to check out the studio and realize that it’s a safe, peaceful space. It’s ok if baby wants to look around, feel (or taste) any blanket layers we’re using, and finger all the new textures. Often we’ll keep mom close by baby until baby relaxes. Mom can usually sit just far enough away to be out of the camera frame, but close enough to reassure baby.

One Helper

There are times when having a helper is nice- but I try to limit it to only one, and that helper will need to stand DIRECTLY behind me. I mean uncomfortably close – within the normal standards of personal space. In general I try to get baby’s attention by myself, keeping baby’s gaze right toward my camera. Baby may give someone else the CUTEST smiles- but if baby is looking just off camera it lowers the impact of the photo drastically.

Snacks

Bring snacks for just before the session, and also snacks that are quick and easy for baby to eat DURING the session. This can help a baby to be happy sitting in one spot for an extra minute- which is just what we need sometimes to get that perfect shot. Cheerios are a favorite for the little ones, and for the bigger ones goldfish pretzels or mini marshmallows are usually big hits.

Naptime

Try to avoid scheduling sessions during (or right before) baby’s nap time. We want to get well-rested, happy babies in the studio. If baby’s nap schedule has recently shifted, let me know as soon as you can so we can talk about rescheduling to a better time for your baby.

Lovies and Comfort Items

Bring any lovies and comfort items your baby uses to soothe. These can help baby feel more comfortable during the session and also make for very sweet, memorable portraits for your family.