I’ve been a newborn photographer for over 10 years now. As a photographer for hundreds of new moms and a mother myself of two kiddos, I’m going to put you at ease and answer those questions you’re too embarrassed to ask me. I know what you’re thinking!
Where can I nurse my baby? Do I nurse him/her in front of you?
Women nurse their babies at the studio all the time. To me, it’s not a big deal if you nurse in front of me, but I know new moms are still getting used to nursing. I understand why you may want privacy while nursing.
I offer a couple options! If you want to escape, you can nurse your baby in the studio bedroom, which is around the corner from our great room. There’s a comfy bed in there, or you can use the white arm chair.
I also have a “Hooter Hider” you’re welcome to use. This will allow you privacy while being able to stay in the room and converse. It’s in the top drawer of my nursing table.
I also have a Breast Friend nursing pillow you’re welcome to use. It’s a vinyl one that is easy to clean. (Please don’t use the throw pillows since the milk leaves stains on them).
Can I pump during the session?
Yes! Please bring your pump! Women pump here all the time. It’s a great time to relax and take care of that. I can point you to the outlets in the studio. Let me know what you need.
Where can I change my baby’s diaper?
I have a changing table in the smaller newborn studio behind the double doors. Please don’t use the couch since it’s a new couch and the old one saw way too many “accidents.”
I forgot to bring diapers/wipes/pacifier/sanitary napkins! Do you have any?
Yes! I’ve got it all. I have diapers in sizes N and 1 in the changing table’s top drawer. Wipes are strategically placed all around the studio, including on top of the changing table. Pacifiers are sanitized and inside new baggies inside the top drawer of the changing table. Sanitary napkins are in the cabinet under the sink in the bathroom. Take another for the road.
Why are you wearing all black?
LOL! This is a great question. I’m not goth or in mourning. I wear black because it doesn’t reflect colors or light onto you or the baby while I’m taking the photos. If your eyes or your baby’s are open, it also makes me mostly invisible in the reflection in your eyes.
When the baby is nude, do his/her private parts show?
Not at all! Look through my newborn gallery and you’ll see nary a private part. Babies are posed modestly with their legs tucked up and/or using wraps. The only “scandalous” part that may appear is the side of the bum in tushie-up pose, sometimes with the “cleft” of the buttocks showing, but usually not.
Since the baby is nude most of the session, do you get peed or pooped on? Do we?
Honestly, as a newborn photographer, I get peed and pooped on at probably 50% of my newborn sessions. I actually expect it, so it’s never really a shock when it happens. I keep lots of cloth diapers and wipes at hand so it’s easy to contain the mess as much as possible and clean up quickly.
If you elect to do your family photos with the baby nude, you have about a 50% chance of getting peed or pooped on as well. It’s a risk about 10% of parents take. The other 90% decide to keep the baby swaddled (and diapered) for the family photos. If we use the all-white studio bedroom, the diaper stays on to prevent stains on the bedding and curtains.
Am I allowed to take behind-the-scenes photos?
Yes! Feel free to take photos of me posing your baby. You can even live stream! Please tag me on social media:
Facebook – Rebecca Danzenbaker Photography
Instagram – @rdanzenbaker
Twitter – @rdanzenbaker
Can you hide my leftover baby belly?
Yes, I use high angles and carefully placed arms and baby to minimize the appearance of your leftover baby belly, but please allow yourself the grace to realize that your body just made a human being. You won’t look “yourself” again for many months still. At the same time, your baby deserves to have these photos of you holding him or her and loving on them while they still fit so snuggly in your arms.
Can I bring in my own props?
Definitely! I have dozens of props, hundreds a baby hats, dozens of tiebacks, and hundreds of blankets and wraps, though! Before you purchase anything, please check with me to make sure I don’t already have it or something similar.
Please send me photos of any props or keepsakes you’re planning to bring so I can plan them into your session. I always plan a session ahead of time to minimize moving the baby as much as possible. It’s all a carefully-planned choreography of subtle movements to achieve different poses.
Is it okay if I take a nap during the session?
Yes! Go to sleep. I’ve got this. I’ll gently wake you if I need to ask you anything. And you’ll hear your baby if he/she needs you.
How did you calm my baby down so quickly when he/she started crying?
Oh! I have SO many tips up my sleeve. Trust your newborn photographer to teach you a lot of soothing techniques! You’ll be able to pick up on a lot of what I’m doing, but here are two great resources.
The Five S’s from the Happiest Baby on the Block
This hold really works for angry crying.
Should I tip you?
Nope! If you think I was awesome, please consider leaving a Google review! Or spend whatever you would have tipped on product purchases from your gallery, then it’s a win win! 😀
Did I forget any questions? Don’t be embarrassed to ask! Leave a comment with your question, and I’ll update the post!
Ready to book your newborn session? Check my availability and schedule today! 2020 is filling up!
