The newborn stage is unbelievably precious. You feel as though you could spend days studying every detail. The way their perfect, knuckle-less fingers wrap around your own. The little hairs and their tiny rolls. Their tiny, bright eyes looking around the world for the first time. And then, within the blink of an eye, they’re rolling over, crawling around, and then standing up. Charleston SC newborn photography sessions are so important because they let you preserve those little details that quickly fade.

It’s a way to freeze time and celebrate those wild and precious early moments of parenthood when you’re finally getting to meet the baby you’ve dreamed so long about. As a motherhood photographer, I adore getting to work with families through this entire process. If you need a little bit of help, I would love to tell you all about how to prepare for your Charleston SC newborn photography session.

Everything You Need To Know For Your Charleston SC Newborn Photography Session

Book Your Session

The very first thing you need to consider before booking your session is where you want your portraits to take place. Newborn photographers typically offer studio sessions or lifestyle photography sessions. For the first option, you’ll go into their prepared space and take portraits with your baby. For the latter, your photographer will meet you at your house and take portraits within the space you’d prefer. This is the perfect chance to show off your beautifully decorated nursery! 

Find a photographer who aligns with your style and will work with your preferred location. From there, start the booking process however your ideal photographer advises. For my potential clients, I will have them fill out an inquiry form where I’ll get to know all about their preferences. We’ll have a consultation before taking the next steps toward planning.

Newborn photography tends to be pretty popular for obvious reasons, so make sure you do this well in advance! The best time to schedule your pics is when your baby is between 5 and 14 days old. To reserve your spot, you can book the session around the start of your second trimester. Then, just update your photographer once your baby arrives. 

Plan Your Wardrobe & Hair and Makeup

Next up comes the styling. Let’s be honest. Your body is still recovering from delivery at this point. It just did a really hard job, and now, it’s recuperating! My biggest piece of advice is to use this time to show your body some love and some grace. It doesn’t need high heels and tight skirts. It needs flowy gowns and bare feet (or at least something sensible!). 

As far as the color palette goes for your Charleston SC newborn photography, light neutrals are always a good plan, and if you do choose a pattern, make sure it’s not too terribly flashy. You want to be able to plan your family’s outfits around yours. Maybe wear a patterned dress and put your kids in solids that pull in those colors. And if you’re still having a hard time, talk to your photographer.

One of the services I offer my clients is access to my curated wardrobe. There’s a good chance you’ll find exactly what you need there! I also work with my clients to schedule professional hair and makeup sessions. Seriously, I want to make newborn pictures as accessible as possible. All you have to do is bring your gorgeous crew and relax! 

Prep Your Family

Now, it’s time to start thinking about your family! If you have older siblings, make sure you’re being mindful of their schedules. Naptime can be a big deal. You don’t want to skip it and wind up with overly tired kids who are bouncing off the walls or are breaking down over everything throughout your newborn photography session in Charleston SC. 

As a mom myself, I’m not afraid of fussy kids, but I do know you’re not going to feel relaxed throughout it! Plan snacks accordingly. You might want to feed them mess-free food shortly ahead of time to keep them happy (think Goldfish or fruit snacks). Do their hair shortly before the session so their adventures don’t mess it up too much. As far as your baby goes, keep them awake for about an hour ahead of the session and feed them shortly before. Sleeping babies tend to photograph more easily, so it’s ideal to get them really tired right before we start.

I book my sessions for long enough that we can take breaks as needed, so don’t worry about your baby getting fussy. I promise, it happens all the time! Lastly, try to have everything you need ready. White onesies and swaddles that are easy to get on and off your baby are ideal for an outfit. Having multiple in case of spit-ups or blow-outs would be even better.  

Plan Your Artwork

Once you have your Charleston SC newborn photography session completed, it’s time to figure out how you want to show them off. These pictures were created to treasure for years to come. You want to ensure you give your finished artwork every step to shine! My process with my clients involves an appointment where we’ll go over the images together, and you can choose the ones you love.

I will use a mockup to show you different ways to display them, including gallery wall designs I have created with your home in mind. We’ll decide on which pictures will be best for the display, and then I’ll order them. You will receive your completed artwork 10 weeks later and then show it off. 

Consider A Membership

The first year of your baby’s life is one filled with rapid changes. Don’t let them slip by! I offer different packages for my clients, including single sessions, maternity and newborn sessions, and a first-year membership. With this last option, you will have 3 or 4 full-service photo sessions throughout the first year of your baby’s life. Plus, you’ll receive access to the client wardrobe, have the artwork consultation meeting, receive a discount on frames, albums, and more. I created this option specifically for parents who don’t want to miss a thing in their baby’s first year of life!

Let’s Chat Today About Your Dream Charleston SC Newborn Photography Session

Your newborn photography session should be the opportunity to celebrate your growing family. Don’t let it become a stressful experience! By booking a full-service Charleston SC newborn photography session with me, you can have gorgeous memories without having to worry about all the details.

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Tara Federico Photography is a Charleston Newborn Photographer who specializes in lifestyle maternity, newborn, and family photography and helps busy families create timeless heirloom artwork. Using light wardrobe colors and natural light, Tara Federico captures every stage of motherhood. Whether it’s at your own home or Tara’s Charleston, SC studio, Tara provides hair, makeup and a client wardrobe for a luxury experience. Tara Federico Photography aims to provide a full service experience for new parents so they can focus on the connection to their family.

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