Bay Area Newborn Baby Photographer | What to expect when you book a session with me?

If you’re expecting a newborn baby, congratulations! One of the first things you’ll want to do is book a newborn photography session with Golden Shutter Portraits, SF Bay Area’s boutique portrait studio. In this blog post, I will tell you everything you need to know about what to expect during your session. I’ll also give you some tips on how to prepare for your newborn’s photo shoot. share my vision behind my business, talk about all the different value adds I provide and share a bit about my favorite products too!

“When do I book a newborn photography session?”

Let’s first talk about when should you look to book a newborn photography session. Ideally, you’ll want to book as soon as possible once you know your due date. That way we can ensure that there is availability for both your maternity portraits and your newborn photography session too. I take a limited number of clients every month to make sure I can give you all my attention and provide the best possible portrait experience.

That said, most of my clients reach out to me during their second trimester. As a Bay Area Newborn Baby Photographer, I’ve also had mamas call me when the baby is 2 weeks old to see if I can fit them in my schedule. And I totally get that not everyone has the luxury to think of a photoshoot during their pregnancy, so don’t feel like you’ve missed the opportunity if you don’t have everything planned before the baby gets here! Reach out to me, your fav Bay Area Newborn Baby Photographer, once you’re back home from the hospital with your new bundle of joy and I’d love to set up a quick consultation and will do my best to fit you in the schedule as soon as I can.

“I’ve paid the retainer, what’s next?”

After you’ve booked your session and paid the retainer, I will send you a welcome packet. This packet includes all the details about what to expect during your in person consult as well as tips on how to prepare for baby’s first photoshoot.

During the in-person consult, we will go over your vision for the session, what you’re hoping to capture and I’ll give you a tour of my studio.

This in-person consult with me as a Bay Area Newborn Baby Photographer, will be an opportunity for you to see all the beautiful wall art and prints and albums I offer for you to choose from to display your portraits. We will talk about wall art design and how to select the perfect piece for your home.

I will also take this opportunity to get to know you and answer any questions that you may have about your session. I have been a Bay Area Newborn Baby Photographer for 5 years and I will try my best to guide you as an expert to ensure your experience with me is stellar! Once in the studio, you will get to go through all the newborn studio props I have to offer and choose the ones you like and would like to be included for your baby’s first newborn photo shoot!

Consultations are held in my studio located in Belmont. As a Bay Area Newborn Baby Photographer, one of my favorite things about newborn sessions is working with families to style the shoot based on their unique personalities and styles and keeping their home decor in mind too! I pride myself to be a luxury Bay Area Newborn Baby Photographer and offer full styling assistance to all my clients.

I have a beautiful selection of maternity and newborn outfits as a part of my client closet- maternity gowns look very flattering on the postpartum body and you’re welcome to select one of these for your family newborn photos. I have a large selection of newborn hats, headbands and wraps that are all available to style your session.

We will also use the consult to discuss pricing for all the gorgeous prints and products I offer! I want to make sure you’re 100% clear on prices for all collections I offer as this will be an investment and I want you to be able to see and feel all the beautiful prints and albums you can buy to showcase your newborn portraits.

Once you leave the in-person consult, you’ll know exactly what you’re wearing for our session, I’ll know what color set ups to include for the baby and you will have a clear idea of pricing and what you want to invest in once you see your final portraits!

“What will happen on the day of the shoot?”

On the day of your session, you will come to my studio and we’ll do a hair and makeup consultation before I start photographing the baby. I have a team of talented Bay Area hair and makeup artists who can give you the perfect look for your photos. We want you to feel beautiful and confident in front of the camera!

My clients love this service and esp. as a new mom, first few weeks postpartum are hard and you might not feel like dressing up. But having someone take care of doing your hair and makeup, really helps take the stress off your plate and I hope you’ll use this complimentary service! If you prefer to do your own hair and makeup, the welcome packet will include guidelines for the same and I do recommend you stay as close to a natural look as possible.

During the session, I will be photographing your baby in a variety of poses and setups. I have years of experience as a Bay Area Newborn Baby Photographer and know how to safely pose newborns. The goal is to capture beautiful portraits of your baby that you’ll cherish for a lifetime!

The typical newborn photo shoot lasts between two and three hours, but it all depends on the baby. Some babies are sleepy and want to curl up in a ball while others are more active and want to explore. I will work with your baby’s natural tendencies to create beautiful portraits that capture their personality!

As a Bay Area Newborn Baby Photographer, safety is first and foremost when i’m handling your tiny human. I always take the lead from the baby and if they start to fuss or get uncomfortable, we will take a break and I’ll give them some time to settle down again. I will never force a baby into a pose they’re not comfortable in. I constantly check to make sure your baby’s always safe and secure in props and poses I put them in. If you have any questions or concerns during the session, don’t hesitate to ask! I want you to feel relaxed and comfortable during the shoot. We will take ample of breaks to feed and soothe your baby as needed.

I always recommend that families bring a few special heirloom items from home to include in the newborn portraits. A few ideas are: your own baby blanket or toy, a piece of jewelry worn by mom or dad or grandparents, or even something from the ultrasound appointment- anything that is sentimental and that holds importance for you. These personal items add an extra layer of meaning and make these portraits many fold precious!

Your photoshoot with Bay Area Newborn Baby Photographer, Kirtana, will begin with baby + sibling photos. If this is your first baby, I can start with baby only photos while you’re getting your hair and make up done. When I’m photographing the baby, feel free to relax in my comfortable client lounge and watch TV, read a book or magazine or take a nap! I’ve been working as a Bay Area Newborn Baby Photographer for long enough to be super comfortable with babies and their poop/spit up! so if you notice your baby pooping or spitting up, please don’t panic! all babies do that and most of the time I’ll just change the fabric so quickly, you won’t even notice!

All newborn sessions include photos with parents. I typically photograph parents with the baby individually, but I also love to get a few photos of mom and dad holding the baby- your first family portrait!! These portraits are so special as they capture this fleeting moment in time when your family is complete! As a Bay Area Newborn Baby Photographer, I love extended family sessions too! Grandparents are welcome to join in on the session as well at no additional charge. These generational portraits are such a treasure to have!

At the end of the session, we will decide a date for your reveal and ordering appointment. This is when you will come back to my studio to view your portraits for the first time and choose what products you would like to purchase. I offer a wide range of products, from digital files to heirloom albums and everything in between.

“Session was so fun! When can I see the photos?”

When you’re back for your ordering appointment! I will have a gallery of proofs for you to view and choose your favorites. You’ll use that time to decide what package/collection you’d like to purchase and how many images or wall art pieces you’d like to buy. As your chosen Bay Area Newborn Baby Photographer, I will share wall art mock ups with you too to make sure we choose the right sizes!

Once you’ve made your order, I typically retouch all chosen images and digital files within two weeks of the ordering appointment, but albums and other products can take 4-6 weeks. I am a full service Bay Area Newborn Baby Photographer, and once your prints come from production, I will set up time with you to deliver them to you and even install all your wall art! You’ll be able to enjoy these for years to come!

Bay Area Newborn Baby Photographer, Kirtana, is excited to capture your newborn’s portraits! If you have any questions or concerns about the process, please don’t hesitate to reach out. I’m happy to help in any way I can! I can’t wait to work with you. You can contact me through my website or email at hello@goldenshutterportraits.com