Amanda & Hector welcome Storie in a gorgeous Jersey Village, TX newborn photo session
The past few months have been full of excitement for first-time parents Amanda and Hector; they both graduated from Texas A&M University in May, and then welcomed a sweet baby girl named Storie Quinn in July! The new adventure of parenthood is in full swing, and they are CRAZY about their sweet baby girl!
Welcoming Storie with a boho vibe
We used Amanda and Hector’s bedroom, along with Stoie’s nursery, for this sweet Jersey Village newborn session. Amanda wore a beautiful ivory strapless maxi dress from Baltic Born, which looked amazing on her! With her long blonde hair and simple makeup, she makes motherhood look gorgeous. Hector wore khakis with a black polo shirt, a casual, pulled-together look for this first-time daddy!
We kicked off Storie’s newborn photos with the family snuggled together on the bed, which is such a wonderful way to begin a session. Everyone feels a little nervous in front of the camera the first twenty minutes or so, which is why my couples spend that time cuddled on the bed together, interacting with baby. I provided gentle posing direction – ensuring that both parents hold baby, spotlighting each parent individually with baby – so that Amanda and Hector knew exactly what to do during the entire session.
Amanda’s room decor lends serious boho vibes to this newborn session, along with her lovely maxi dress! The neutral shades in the bedroom keep the focus on Amanda, Hector and Storie; she also did a great job of ensuring there was no clutter on nightstands or the dresser. Moving the clutter out of sight is the fastest, easiest way to make your photos look more high-end!
A peaceful pink nursery for a baby girl
Photographing newborn photos in a well-decorated nursery is a must! If we only use one space in your home for these priceless memories, it should absolutely be the nursery. The crib, nursing chair and decor is the perfect backdrop for your newborn photos.
Amanda used pink, light gray and white tones in Storie’s room, which is a very popular color combination for baby girls! I love to photograph new parents in front of the crib and in a comfy chair in the nursery. Sitting and standing photos give you so much variety in your photo gallery.
Feeling prepared & confident for your in-home newborn photo session
If you’re a first-time parent, you may be nervous just thinking about a newborn photo session. What happens if baby cries the whole time? What if you can’t get him or her to settle? How can you avoid feeling super stressed about these photos?
When you’re pregnant for the first time, it’s so hard to know what to expect once you finally bring baby home. You’ll be recovering from delivery, learning to feed, soothe and care for a tiny baby, all while adjusting to life with a newborn on little sleep. That initial parenthood learning curve is more like a straight line. Everything changes once baby arrives!
The good news is, you won’t have to stress over prepping for your newborn photos!
I send all of my clients my Celebrate Motherhood magazine. You can think of it like a gorgeous session guide that will walk you through everything you need to know for absolutely gorgeous newborn photos.
The magazine is broken down into five sections:
- The Maternity Experience
- The In-Home Newborn Experience
- Baby & Family Minis
- Keepsakes
- About Me
Within each section, you’ll find advice for what to wear, what your husband and kids should wear, how to do your hair and makeup for these special photos – and lots more!
In fact, the section about at-home newborn photos also includes a checklist for prepping your home for an in-home session (it’s easier than you think!), as well as specific directions for how to feed baby on the day of your session for the best chance at a sleepy newborn!
Listen, before you have your first child, it’s hard to know what you don’t know. When I chat with first-time mamas about newborn photos before they book sessions with me, I always ask what questions they have.
Virtually every conversation goes one of two ways: either mama is worried about a fussy baby and the photos not turning out, or she has absolutely no idea what to ask about the session.
What happens if baby is fussy for your newborn session?
After having three kids myself and surviving the newborn phase each time, I learned that newborns are really pretty simple. When they’re upset, it’s usually for a good reason: they’re hungry, have a dirty diaper, feel cold or are overstimulated.
If I’m photographing a family with a baby who won’t settle, we start solving those basic issues. Does mama need to feed her? Is it time for a diaper change? What happens if dad swaddles and snuggles him for a few moments?
Almost always, these very easy solutions fix everything!
Sure, I’ve also worked with babies who have colic or who are just having a hard day – but that’s actually pretty rare. In seven years, I’ve never, ever called off a newborn session for a fussy baby.
So, if you’re feeling hesitant about scheduling newborn photos because baby might cry, let me assure you that it happens – and we can fix it! When I say that crying babies don’t bother me, I really mean it!
Planning the perfect newborn photo session
When I chat with mamas before they book a session, I always explain exactly what newborn sessions are like. Whether you’re a Type-A planner who likes to have all her ducks in a row weeks in advance, or you’re more go-with-the-flow, I guarantee you’ll feel prepared for your newborn session before I arrive to take your photos! I send everyone a detailed timeline so that you know exactly what to expect from me before, during and after your newborn photography session.
You don’t have to decide when to schedule your newborn session before baby arrives unless you want to. We can wait till after you’re home from the hospital and settled at home before we even look at the calendar!
We’ll decide on a date that work for both of us for your session. Your Celebrate Motherhood magazine includes literally every detail you need to know about having these photos taken. This magazine is so helpful and comprehensive that I never, ever get frantic last-minute emails or texts from new mamas with questions about photos.
On top of the magazine, by the time you’ve had your baby, you’ve already gotten several emails and short videos from me about how to prep for your newborn photos. I take client education very seriously because that’s the key to a smooth session!
The most beautiful memories of your newborn
The newborn stage flies by so quickly, and you definitely want to celebrate these amazing moments with your baby! Amanda and Hector will always remember what these early days with their daughter looked like. Don’t miss the rest of their beautiful newborn session below!
