Lifestyle Newborn Photography
Welcome!
All too often, photoshoots are full of stress and anxiety, which makes it impossible to capture fun-loving images that truly represent your family's love and connection. The stress starts with figuring out your wardrobe and then worries flood in about the kids misbehaving. But please know that I am passionate about creating a relaxed and fun experience for my clients!
As your photographer, it is my desire to facilitate a photo session experience that is a POSITIVE MEMORY as well as one that CAPTURES your family's natural connections. To ensure your experience is relaxed and stress-free, I have created this guide to help walk you through the process and answer some frequently asked questions. From your first contact with me, through the wardrobe decisions, location choices, and even getting your favorite images printed in an album or for your wall...trust me when I tell you that I won't leave you hanging! No need to feel stress about the session itself and your children acting like themselves (gasp! ;)). I am a mother of three very energetic children and I totally understand what it feels like to stress over my kids behavior! But for photo sessions, we don't worry about it - we WORK with it! Not only am I a mom of three kiddos, I have a background in education and have over 15 years of experience working with children of all ages. I am far from perfect myself and have learned to give myself and other parents a lot of respect and grace in this parenting journey. I want to invite you to grab a cup of coffee or tea and read through these pages so we can get better acquainted and you can get excited for your upcoming experience! Sincerely,
Riv
Le h
"We are so very pleased with our newborn photo shoot with Self Image Photography. Rivkah was just a pleasure to work with; taking time to develop a sweet rapport with our preschooler, giving us time to settle our newborn and making sure that we captured the shots that we wanted. She went above and beyond to make the entire process a positive one and to ensure that we were happy with the final product. And we couldn't be happier with our photos!" ~ Sarah T.
What is Lifestyle Newborn Photography?
Natural - Authentic - Relaxed A lifestyle photography session means I am there to capture natural connection, meaningful interactions and all those precious memories you experience on a daily basis. The ones you want to remember forever: holding hands, hugs, kisses, and cozy snuggles. You will get some guidance and direction from me to ensure you are in the best light and we can plan some simple activities to keep your mind off the camera and provoke those real emotions, but most of the time I hope you will simply allow your family's uniqueness to unfold in front of me. As a lifestyle photographer, I don't spend a long time on formal family photos or on getting photos with everyone looking at the camera, smiling. My overall aim is to photograph you all in the most natural way possible, allowing for your individual personalities and family dynamic to shine through in the comfort of your own home.
In-Home Sessions
I know that life with a newborn can be chaotic. You'll be juggling sleepless nights and trying to keep track of where you need to be and when. So, one of the great things about lifestyle newborn photography is that I come to you. Our session will last for around 1.5-2 hours because no one wants to be taking photos for longer than that! When I arrive, I will spend of little bit of time going around the house and deciding which rooms have the best light and looking at any spots that are special to your family. Once baby is settled, we will usually start with them first. I will gladly let any older siblings watch so they can familiarize themselves with me and see that I'm a friendly guest so that when the time comes for me to include them in the photos, they're more comfortable.
What to Expect Remember, as a mom of three, I've seen it all, so please don't go overboard cleaning before I come. When I first arrive, I'll spend some time getting to know your older children and helping them feel at ease. Once I look around your home for the best lighting, I may want to move some furniture around a bit to get the best set up, but I'll be sure to return everything to its original place before leaving! We will most likely be using your bedroom at some point during the session so try to put a light colored quilt or bedding on beforehand, if you can. You may have prepared a beautiful nursery for your sweet bundle, and if so, we will take some time capturing detail photos of the nursery and of all the goings on in baby's room, be it diaper changing, nursing or rocking to sleep. Incorporating true to life activities and nursery detail photos contributes to the story telling aspect of an in-home newborn lifestyle session.
Preparing Your Home 1. PREP YOUR SPACE: Your home does not have to be perfect, I promise! It's your home and it's supposed to look lived in, especially if you have little ones. You don't have to have a cleaning crew come in beforehand or reorganize your bedroom; I'm there to focus on the interactions between you and your new baby. Instead, just spend a little time de-cluttering any unnecessary items and putting obvious things away (like used cups, cereal bowls, towels and jackets). 2. CRANK THE HEAT: The adults may feel a bit hot and uncomfortable, especially Mom who is bound to be a bit hormonal, but the environment needs to be nice and toasty for little baby, since they'll be undressed part of the time. 3. PREP BABY: About 30 minutes before I arrive, try to get baby undressed, loosen their diaper and wrap them in a warm blanket, so there aren't any marks on their skin from the diaper. You can then nurse them if it's their feeding time, or just leave them to relax and snuggle. If baby's skin is a little dry or flaky, apply a touch of coconut or olive oil to their skin. 4. PREP YOURSELF: Time to let someone else watch baby and for you to get ready! Try to shower, do your hair (it doesn't have to be fancy, but do it in a way that you'll feel pretty, even if it's a nice bun), and put on some makeup. Pick out your clothing and set aside for right when I get there so that if there are any messes, they don't get all over your clothes. 5. COLLECT ITEMS: It's good to have some wipes, a pacifier, extra onesies and diapers and any special blankets you want to include in the session.
What to Wear
It is important to stay true to your natural style and dress for comfort. Cream, beige, grey, and even a dark tan will photograph beautifully next to baby's skin and choosing neutral tones makes the focus on your family's dynamic and allows your story to unfold without much distraction. It's a good idea to coordinate colors and patterns of the family members but you shouldn't be too matchy matchy. It's best to choose two or three main colors for the whole family, even in different shades. Avoid large cartoon characters and slogans on t-shirts.
What to Wear
For Moms Your comfort is key. Start by choosing your outfit first and build the family's wardrobe around you. Textures add depth and interest. Fabrics like chiffon and cashmere photograph beautifully. If you are wearing fitted bottoms, opt for a more flowy top, and something that will be easy to breastfeed in if you are nursing. Sisters can follow the same styling tips.
For Dads Dads look great in t-shirts or sweaters that will also be soft when baby is nuzzled up against his chest. Avoid large, colorful logos on shirts and opt for neutral solids or soft patterns. Jeans or slacks are great choice for pants. Brothers can follow similar styling tips.
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For Baby Plain, white onesies are a classic for babies. Whether you have long sleeved or short sleeved onesies, it's totally normal for babies to poop, pee or spit up during a session, so try to have a couple extra onesies nearby. I bring soft swaddles that are freshly laundered to help settle baby and for sibling shots. At some point during the session, I'll want to undress them (as long as room is heated enough) to capture their sweet baby wrinkles and fuzz. If you have any special heirlooms or keepsakes that you want to include in the session, just let me know and we can work to incorporate them. I may also bring some blankets to incorporate into the shoot as well. Be sure to have some wipes and pacifiers (if using) nearby, in case needed.
"I absolutely loved our Newborn photo shoot with Rivkah Leah. She was fantastic with my baby, and anytime he fussed she was able to settle him and continue with the shoot. All of our photos were very professional and just what we were looking for. I cannot recommend Rivkah Leah enough and will personally be using her again. Everything was fantastic from start to finish, including the processing time after the session." ~ Kirsty L.
FAQ WHEN SHOULD WE SCHEDULE OUR NEWBORN SESSION? Lifestyle photography is unposed and very natural, so there is no real time frame for when we need to schedule your newborn session. That being said, you want them to still have that freshness that only lasts the first few weeks after birth, so I recommend scheduling your session within the first month after birth. I'M NERVOUS ABOUT MY OLDER KIDS COOPERATING DURING THE SESSION! HELP! I totally hear you! Life after baby can be hectic at best, so it may feel like a lot of pressure to plan a session in your home with your other kids around. The thing is, kids are most comfortable and relaxed in their own home. They will have their rooms, their snacks and their comforts close by, not to mention their parents close by. I like to give a lot of attention to older siblings and allow them to really be a part of the session, which usually lends to them having a fun time and therefore being more cooperative. Of course, kids have a limited attention span, so when kids need a break, the best part is, they can go outside, get a snack or just leave the room. WHAT DO WE DO DURING THE SESSION? I like to leave 1.5-2 hours for a newborn session because I know life is busy and kids won't last longer than that. That time frame allows enough time to have a variety of shots, while still allowing time to stop for feedings, diaper changes and toddler interruptions. Some of the images I try to capture include: baby alone, baby with mom, baby with dad, baby with siblings, and the main family photo. As a lifestyle photographer, I don't spend a long time on formal family photos or on getting photos with everyone looking at the camera, smiling. HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE FOR US TO SEE OUR IMAGES? HOW WILL WE VIEW THEM? Your images will be ready to view within 3 weeks of your session. You will receive an email with a private link to your gallery of images. From there, you can share the link with family and you can also select your favorite images for download and printing. DO YOU PROVIDE RAW IMAGES? Yes! Digitals are a part of the services I offer. I understand that it is a digital age and we all want to have access to those High Res Files. I do not provide RAW files, as you are hiring me for my artistic eye and creative perspective and for me to deliver that vision to you, I need to be able to edit images based on my personal style and technique. WHAT ARE YOUR PACKAGES? I offer both digital and print products including beautiful hardcover photo books, framed prints and canvases. I will spend some time before our session getting to know your personal style and needs so I can create a custom quote and package just for you!
WWW.SELFIMAGEPHOTOGRAPHY.COM rivkahleah@selfimagephotography.com CALL OR EMAIL FOR A CONSULTATION 310.309.1244