I recently had the privilege of photographing ADORABLE newborn Parker. He was born several weeks early, and while I didn’t actually meet him until he was a few weeks old, he was still so tiny and well, newborny (I know it’s not a real word, but it should be). I just didn’t want to put him down the few times I held him! Oh parents, relish every minute of the sleepless nights for those few newborn weeks because they really do go by so incredibly fast.
Best little Christmas present ever!
If you are considering a newborn session, I highly recommend the first 2-3 weeks. The earlier the better because they will sleep longer and deeper at this stage (and yes, all during the day but awake at night!), are more flexible during this time, and you have a much better chance of keeping them into positions like the one above. Also, colic (or even milder crying spells) typically set in around week 3 and most babies are fussy for a few weeks after this point.
Daddy is a big Steeler’s fan, so Mom provided this hat and jersey and we actually got him back to sleep after he was resting inside the helmut. Good work Erin!
I think Erin has naturally fabulous fingernails, but Mom’s and Dad’s don’t forget to clean and file you nails before a newborn shoot since your hands will be in many shots.
Beautiful Mama Erin, who was so calm during the shoot. She was open and willing to do almost anything and very trusting and for a first time parent, seemed like a total pro baby calmer. Parker did sleep for most of the session, but there were a few times he woke up and cried, of course… but he did love being in Mommy’s arms.
A few side tips for newborn sessions in general: Infant photography sessions can be stressful for new parents, especially if their baby is fussy and has a harder time calming down. If you can stay calm and try not to tense up when comforting the baby back down, the sooner they are likely to go back to sleep or calm back down. We newborn photographers know these shoots take time (2-3 hours) because we allow for feeding, diaper changing and calming sessions. It’s also why newborn sessions typically cost a little more because they are longer and more intense.
Another side note about infant colic or fussiness: I don’t work for this company, but I swear I could have when Alex went through his crying spell at 3-6 weeks of age. Colic Calm worked wonders for us. I did not know about this when Jordan was a baby, but it likely would have saved me 3-4 weeks of spending every night in bathroom with the hair dryer on or Chris walking her on his arm in the football hold for hours on end. Nearly every parent I know has been through the fussy infant stage, mostly due to their digestive systems trying to adapt to being in the world and on breast milk or formula. While it might now work for every child, many swear by it, us included. It is more pricy than traditional gripe waters, but we were willing to pay it because it was the only that that worked. It looks gross but actually tastes quite good. The website is also a great resource and tells quite a bit about why babies have colic or digestive issues and fussiness at that stage. www.coliccalm.com
by jenjoaz
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