There are a few small “rules” with newborn portraits. Most importantly is to PLAN!!! (Take notes anyone who is expecting!!) Virginia contacted me weeks before her actually due date. I sometimes get calls or emails from mamas who’s babies are already born, trying to schedule an session. The best time to photograph a newborn is preferably within the first seven days, but definitely within the first two weeks of life. I understand mama’s who are laboring when nature calls have a hard time planning these kinds of things, but since Virginia was delivering by c-section, it was fairly easy to schedule the session. Due to a small setback, Owen was 15 days old at his portrait session. Virginia was well prepared with a special blanket made be Grandma, a darling hat and basket, Big Sis and Lil Bro shirts, and a master bedroom with great light. On my part, I failed to tell her to have him naked and just fed when I got there. Lol, we made do. I often get comments like “this is exhausting, I don’t know how you have the patience for this” A little bit of planning and preparation can go a long way. Many times during a session someone (sometimes me!) will get pooed on, peeed on, or spit up on. The baby may fuss or cry or just not want to stay posed. It happens. That’s why we plan ahead for this special opportunity of savoring the newborn in photographs, so that we can have the best session possible. Newborns are tiny for just a moment and then you blink and it’s gone. They get chunky rolls, they sit up, they talk back. Every stage of life has it’s beauties and it’s uniqueness… The newborn stage just seems to be the most fleeting. Grab hold of it, nuzzle it and snuggle it before it’s gone.