A question I often hear as a family photographer here in Long Island for over a decade now, is how often should I schedule family portraits? I have met many families during this time and I see many of them annually for updated photos, but is it necessary to have photos taken annually? As a mom and photographer, I can tell you the answer is, yes. I schedule photos for my own family every year and plan on doing so annually. I realize that for some, this may not be realistic, so I am going to go through some suggestions about when to schedule photos and why you should continue to do so.

It is no secret that I am a big proponent of taking family photos. This is especially true for newborn photos. With that being said, I have many clients who just want a photo session that is focused on the baby alone. These clients are looking for images to hang on their walls and use for announcements. Most of these clients book a family session wither at six months or a first birthday, when moms are feeling up for family photos.

I have been a newborn, children’s and family photographer for ten years now. In that decade, I have had the honor of photographing countless families with their newborn babies. Although I have a beautiful studio located in Long Beach, NY, most of these newborn sessions have been scheduled right in the comfort of my client’s homes.

Congratulations on the newest addition to your sweet family! These first few days & weeks are just so magical and it is such an honor to capture your little babe during this special time. Here are some tips & tricks I’ve found to be super helpful in preparing for your newborn session so it can be as fun, stress free and enjoyable as possible.

If you are reading this, you have likely just given birth to your baby and are considering a newborn session. Congrats to you and your family. This is such a special time in life and one that deserves to be properly documented. I wanted to take a moment to put together a prep guide for my clients and anyone else who is considering an in home newborn session.

There are a multitude of reasons why I am passionate about documenting newborns and their families in their homes here on Long Island. I know that I have spoken about this topic before on the blog, but I wanted to take a moment to shed some light on this topic for those of you who are unsure about whether or not an in home session is for you.

I have been photographing this family for five years now and it is always a joy to see them. I’m so excited that I got to capture their newest addition to the family. It truly is always an honor to document the growth of my clients’ families over the years. I love this session so much and I wanted to use it as an opportunity to blog about how to prepare for an in home newborn session.

A really common question I get asked is, “Can I have newborn photos taken if my baby is over two weeks?” With easy access to the Internet these days, it’s not hard to find recommendations that the “ideal” time for a newborn session is around 5-14 days after birth. While this is true to some extent, don’t feel like you missed the boat if you didn’t manage to schedule your baby’s first photos within that timeframe.

In home newborn lifestyle sessions are perfect for any family. These sessions allow a photographer the opportunity to capture a real and intimate look at your family during this precious time. Lifestyle photography captures those first snuggles, the itty bitty baby bits, and all the emotion and love of that special and fleeting time in your life. Having these images is priceless, as it will allow you to relive these special moments each and every time you look at the images.

When you have your first child, it can be tough to not only choose a newborn photographer in your area, but also to choose the type of session that works best for your family. There are so many options available and finding what is best for you can seem overwhelming. Scheduling your newborn session should not be stressful. Let’s face it…you have tons of other things to think about when expecting your first baby. I am here to take all the guess work out of your first photo session with your little baby.

I am sure you have heard many times that newborn sessions must be scheduled within 7-14 days of birth. This may be true for some, but not every baby has to be photographed in that rigid time frame. There are different types of newborn photography and they all have different guidelines. Today, I am going to break down some of those differences.

I often get asked whether the studio or home is the best place to schedule a newborn session. I have blogged about the in home newborn sessions, but today I am going to discuss the studio session and for whom this session is best suited.

It is hard to believe, but I have been in the business now for a decade. During this time, I have photographed countless children, newborns and families. I have learned many things during this time period as both a photographer and as a mom. One thing I have learned is that photo sessions should be as stress free as possible for every client. I like to provide each client with options for sessions that create a relaxing and calm experience for them. For some clients it is my studio, for others it is their home. Today I am going to talk about the in home session and what client this session is geared towards.

Most of the clients who book me for newborn photos are looking for images that are not heavily propped and focused on the family. I get a lot of inquiries from clients who are torn between an in home session and a studio session. Both of these are great options that allow me to capture family centered newborn images. The one to choose is really a personal choice and based on certain variables. I always do a pre session consult with my clients and during this consult I can help them to determine the session that is best suited for their family.

The only thing that is better than a newborn baby is twins! This family was amazing to capture. The twin baby girls are absolutely precious, big brother is an adorable doting brother, the parents are the sweetest, and the icing on the cake is the adorable golden retriever. I am a dog lover and I own a golden retriever myself, so whenever I work with families with dogs, I try my best to incorporate the dog as best as I can. This is because I know how precious a pet is to the family.

Last year I decided to take a brief hiatus from offering newborn sessions in the studio. Instead, I focused solely on in home newborn sessions. I decided at the end of 2022 to refresh and remodel the studio space and star offering limited sessions in the studio in 2023. Many clients, who felt their homes did not have the general aesthetic they wanted for their photos requested studio sessions and so the studio is up and running again.

I photographed this family last year for their son’s first birthday photo session. Since that time, they have welcomed a little girl to their family and I had the honor of photographing them agin for an in home newborn session. It is always an honor to document my clients families as they grow and I was thrilled to be able to photograph this special time for this sweet family.

Although most people schedule a baby’s first photo session shortly after birth, this is not the only time one can schedule a newborn photo session. You can schedule a photo session of your new baby whenever you feel most comfortable doing so. If you are open to a more relaxed approach to newborn photos, you can schedule a session at any point within those first six months.

Those first few weeks home with your newborn baby are so special. I absolutely love documenting this time for my clients and I love that I can do so in the comfort of their own home.

There is something so intimate and cozy about an in home newborn session that really allows me to focus on the emotions and connections of those first few moments with baby.

I just love photographing families in their homes. It truly is the most authentic way to capture families. This is especially true when a new baby is welcomed into a home. I am a mom and have photographed many babies, so I know how difficult it can be to get out of the house to head to a studio for newborn photos. This is one of many reasons why I travel to your home to capture your sweet little baby’s first moments. I truly want the entire experience to be as stress free and seamless for you as possible.