How to Choose a Newborn Photographer

How to Choose a Newborn Photographer

Need some advice on how to choose a newborn photographer? After seven years in the business, I know how important it is that you find the right match. As a mom, I also know that you have a ton on your plate! So before you type “newborn photography near me” into the computer and get overwhelmed with thousands of options, here are some tips to narrow down your search:

Tips for Choosing a Newborn Photographer

The Basics

You are putting the most precious thing in your life into someone else’s hands. So make sure those hands are experienced! Newborn photography is a highly specific art that requires training in newborn safety and posing as well as skill with a camera.

The Experience

What kind of an experience are you hoping for during the session? Does the photographer have a studio where you can relax while they provide all the cute props and setups? Are they okay with including other family members in the session? Think about how you want the session to feel, and see how photographers in your area align with that vision.

The Photos

There are so many styles of newborn photography! Take a look at your potential newborn photographer’s gallery. Some variety is good (and often indicates that they customize each session for their clients). But there should be elements of their style that are consistent and that you can count on seeing—and loving!—in your own finished photos.

The Photographer

How you feel about the photographer themselves is super important! Check out their About page. Do they sound like the kind of person you’d like to get to know better? Also, see what other people are saying about them. Reviews can be very revealing and give you more insight into what you can expect.

Before you even get started, take some time to jot down what you want in each of these areas. This will make the task of choosing your newborn photographer way easier. Knowing exactly what you’re looking for can simplify the search and make it even more exciting when you find exactly the right person to trust with your baby’s pictures!

Preemie Newborn Photography | 8 Week Baby Pictures

This little lady was such a sweetheart—and in a hurry to get started with life! She arrived 9 weeks before her due date and had to spend a couple of months in the NICU. Mom and Dad were so worried that by the time she was released from the hospital and they could do the newborn photo shoot that she would be too big. As a photographer, I do have to take a different approach when I do preemie newborn photography, but as you’ll see, I worked my magic and got them some beautiful shots!

When baby is born around their due date, I recommend getting them into the studio for baby photos within a couple of weeks. (One of the reasons I encourage booking early!) But it’s a different story with a premature baby. Often they’ll be a month older or more for “newborn” pictures. Yes, this does rule out some poses, but it certainly doesn’t mean it’s too late for beautiful baby pictures!

Instead of swaddles, we used some bed and rug props for this preemie newborn photography session.  This allowed our 8 week old baby girl to stretch out and kick around a bit. She was much more awake than a typical newborn, but we kept her happy and took advantage of that wakeful state to capture her big dark eyes and some super cute expressions! She did doze off for some of the session too, so we got some sleepy newborn pics as well.

I’m so glad baby girl is doing well, and that mom and dad finally have her home with them! Congratulations to this wonderful family!

As a newborn photographer, I know that every stage of your baby’s life is special and deserves to be recorded! No matter how old your little one is, contact me and let’s get them into my NJ photo studio for an amazing session!

5 Things to Bring to a Newborn Photo Session

There are so many adjustments as a new parent! One that you don’t always hear about? Remembering to pack that diaper bag with everything you’ll need! Don’t worry, you’ll get to the point where it will be a breeze, but usually your newborn photo session takes place in the first couple weeks of baby’s life—when you’re still getting used to being a parent. It’s okay, I’m here for you! Here are 5 things to bring to a newborn photo session that will make your session easy and relaxing.

Wipes and diapers. I know, seems obvious. But I have had instances where clients have forgotten this crucial duo. A fresh clean diaper makes for a happy baby, so be sure you have some extras packed for your session.

A pacifier. Even if you don’t normally use one, a pacifier can be really helpful if baby needs a distraction or a little something extra to settle down. I only use them for a few seconds at a time (if baby needs it), and I definitely recommend that this is one of the 5 things you should bring to your newborn photo session.

A receiving blanket or two. I like to use these to cover the baby during certain poses to help keep them cozy. Although I have blankets at my New Jersey photo studio, it’s nice for baby to smell the familiar scents of home on their very own blankie.

Extra bottles of milk. I’ll have you feed your little one right before you come, but sometimes baby needs a little top off during the session. An extra bottle of milk, whether formula or breast milk, can be just the ticket for soothing a fussy baby and getting them back to sleep.

Something to do. This is for you! Bring a book, tablet, coloring stuff—whatever fun thing you haven’t had time to do since bringing baby home. This is on my list of 5 things to bring to a newborn photo session because your baby’s session is time for you to sit back, relax, and enjoy some “me time.” You really don’t have to worry about a thing while you’re at the studio. I’ll take care of all of it!

Can’t wait to see you and your little one in my New Jersey newborn photo studio sometime soon! If you’re ready to book your session or would like more information you can fill out the contact form here and I’ll be in touch shortly.

When to Book Your Newborn Photography Session

If you’re expecting, let me be one of the first to congratulate you! And I really do mean one of the first—if you’re wondering when to book your newborn photography session, the answer is “now!” regardless of where you’re at in your pregnancy. A lot of times, your newborn photographer will know you’re getting ready to welcome a little one before family and friends do!

Why Book Your Newborn Photography Session So Early?

There are a couple of reasons it’s important to get your professional baby pictures scheduled as early as possible.

First, New Jersey newborn photographers book up fast! Sessions take time—not just in terms of the photo shoot itself, but also in sanitizing the studio, setting up before and cleaning up afterwards, and editing all of your photos to perfection. So most photographers limit the number of sessions they’ll do each month to give themselves time to give each client the detailed attention they deserve.

The second reason you should know when to book your newborn photography session is that we’ll want to get baby into the studio very soon after birth—usually within a couple of weeks. The best newborn pictures are so much easier to get when baby is still sleeping a lot and is also flexible enough for all those cute poses you see on Instagram.

If you’re worried about baby not arriving exactly on the due date, don’t be. As both a mom and a newborn photographer, I know better than anyone that babies live by their own schedules! I always allow wiggle room so we can adjust your little one’s session date as needed.

Didn’t jump on the baby picture bandwagon early enough? Reach out anyway! While I encourage booking early, I’m always happy to accommodate last-minute appointments whenever my schedule allows. Hope to see you and your baby in my New Jersey newborn photo studio soon!

NJ Newborn Photography ~ Sweet Baby Boy

Loved photographing this precious baby boy over the summer at my West Milford NJ newborn photography studio! I hope you enjoy peeking at this small collection of his photos as much as I enjoyed taking them!

Sleepy Baby

This little guy was such a sweetie! He was very sleepy—and as a newborn photographer, that’s exactly what I want! It’s one of the reasons I encourage people to book their sessions early so they can bring baby in sometime during the first couple weeks after birth. This is the time when these little ones are easiest to photograph since they’re usually sleepy and cooperative, as well as flexible for those cute newborn poses. This little man did a great job and slept through almost the entire session. But he did wake up long enough for us to get a shot of those gorgeous eyes!

Another thing I loved about this baby boy was his hair. So much of it! And such a beautiful dark color. We didn’t do a lot of hats with him because we wanted to show it off!

I had such a great time with this family and their newest addition. It’s always a pleasure to meet these sweet little ones and capture memories of those first days of life. There’s truly nothing like the wonder and love you feel as you hold your newborn in your arms, and I love helping people hold on to that forever through NJ newborn photography.

Newborn Photographer in New Jersey

If you’re looking for professional newborn photography in New Jersey, I hope you’ll be in touch! Feel free to scroll through the newborn gallery for more examples, or follow me on Facebook to get a better idea of my style. I’d love to welcome you and your family to the studio!

NJ New Baby Photography

It was great to see this beautiful family again—this time for some NJ new baby photography! I photographed big sister’s one year cake smash session a few years ago (she’s gotten so big!) and have also been their family photographer for all their holiday photo sessions. I’m already booking those again this year, by the way, so be sure to get on the schedule before it fills up!

Two Beauties

This newborn girl had so much amazing dark hair. I absolutely loved it! We did lots of pinks and creams for her colors, and the contrast with that gorgeous brown hair was picture perfect! What a gorgeous little gal. We also made sure to get some new baby and sibling photos with big sister. It’s always so fun to see my little clients back in my New Jersey photography studio when they’re not so little anymore. I love seeing how much they’ve grown and getting to know their personalities. Big sister was the best helper and clearly very proud of “her” new baby. I think these two sisters are going to look a lot alike, don’t you?

Outfit Fun

We kept most of this NJ new baby photography session pretty girly, but it never hurts to throw some variety in there too. In this case, the family are Star Wars fans (who isn’t!) and so we decided to do something fun to incorporate that. Don’t you love that little crocheted light saber and Jedi outfit? Cutest Padawan learner ever!

Baby girl was so good for me. She slept like a dream and really was just an angel throughout the entire session. I love every single one of my sessions as a professional newborn photographer, but when they’re super easy like this it’s even better! Loved spending some time with this sweet family and I hope I’ll see them again in the studio before too long!

Best New Jersey Newborn Photography

This was the best New Jersey newborn photography session! We had so much fun together! This was my first time meeting this sweet family, and I fell in love with them immediately. Just the nicest, most amazing people—and with the cutest little boy ever! He was so adorable, and slept like a dream for me.

Best New Jersey newborn photography, Photo collage of baby boy in studio with parents

Stars Wars

As I’m sure you can tell from the pictures, this mom and dad (and Grandpa too!) were big Stars Wars fans. We included “Baby Yoda” in their session and they even brought a Star Wars quilt too. I love the personal touch, which is why every one of my newborn photo shoots is different from the next. Each one is fully customized so it reflects the personalities and tastes of my clients. And while I have lots of props and fun stuff in my West Milford NJ photography studio, parents are always welcome to bring special items from home to make their photos even more unique and individual.

Of course, it wasn’t all Star Wars. We also made sure to get some more classic baby shots that will make beautiful home décor, gifts, or memories for an album. Deciding how to use your newborn pictures is one of the many fun decisions you’ll get to make!

Personalized baby photography NJ, Star Wars theme baby boy photo session with parents

Newborn Photographer NJ

Speaking of decisions: If you’re expecting, I hope you’ll get in touch with me so you can learn more and decide if my services are right for you. Some of the things that allow me to provide the best New Jersey newborn photography are my passion for capturing that brand new stage of life, my experience with newborns, attention to detail and commitment to customizing every session, and a studio that has absolutely everything you’ll need! I hope to see you and your little one there soon!

Newborn and Family New Jersey Photographer

It was great to be the newborn and family New Jersey photographer for this sweet little gal and her parents and big sis. Baby girl was a total sweetheart and slept beautifully for me!

It’s always fun to include family in newborn photos. Capturing the relationship between a new baby and parents is one of the most precious things in the world. And I love working with siblings too! This big sister was amazing and a total natural when it came to holding baby. We got the cutest shots of the two of them snuggled up together. (And I’m totally in love with big sister’s hair! Such a pretty color—and all those curls!)

Mom really loved flowers, so we made sure to incorporate lots of those in our session. As a newborn and family New Jersey photographer, it’s important to me that your pictures feel unique to you and match your vision of what you want to see displayed on your walls or preserved in a baby album. Customizing each and every session is one of the things I pride myself on. I love taking the time and going the extra mile to make sure your images turn out exactly the way you want them too—or even better!

I love the pretty creams and pinks we chose, and the darker contrast of mom and dad’s clothes turned out so well! Such a beautiful little newborn and family!

Get in Touch

I’m honored to be the baby photographer for so many families in and around New Jersey. Every story is precious, and capturing those amazing stages of life is what I do best. If you’re looking for a professional newborn and family New Jersey photographer, I hope you’ll be in touch! I would love to record your journey!

Passaic County Newborn Photography Studio

Oh my goodness, can you even believe the cuteness of this little man? Adorable! And I love the serious, thoughtful expression on his sweet face. I loved having him in my Passaic County newborn photography studio for his baby pictures.

Baby boy photo shoot in Passaic County newborn photography studio

Swaddled Newborn Session

We decided to go with a swaddle session on this one. As a newborn photographer, wraps are one of my favorite things ever—and babies love them too, so it’s a win-win! Little ones this age almost always love to be wrapped up snug, so I’ll often use the swaddle to calm fussy infants if they’re having a tough day. Not that this baby boy was fussy. On the contrary, he was the sleepiest baby on the planet! So easy to work with. He just snoozed our entire session and let me do my thing!

Even though we were focusing on wrapped poses, a little variety is always great. We mixed things up with some naked baby shots (I always keep my Passaic County newborn photography studio nice and toasty so that baby is cozy the whole time) and also did a few bucket poses. These are really popular right now. I’m sure you can see why!

Swaddle newborn photography session Passaic County NJ photographer

Passaic County Newborn Photographer

Loved spending some time with this adorable little dreamer and his sweet mama. I’m honored to welcome families from all over New Jersey to my Passaic County studio where we can capture these special memories. If you’re looking for a professional newborn photographer who has a magic touch with babies, is experienced and meticulous, and will create a customized session just for you—you’ve come to the right place! I hope you’ll get in touch with me soon so we can start planning the perfect newborn photo shoot together. Can’t wait!

Northern NJ Newborn Portrait Studio | New Baby Girl

This baby girl was such a cutie. She wanted to get a head start on life and arrived a few weeks early—always a bit of a scary thing for parents—but she’s doing great! Healthy, happy, and absolutely adorable. It was a pleasure to have her in my newborn portrait studio in West Milford, NJ.

Northern New Jersey newborn photography baby girl session

One of the things I love about being a newborn photographer is that I get to meet so many great people. Although I sometimes know my clients through friends and family or previous photo shoots, most of the time a session means meeting someone new. And I love that! There are so many wonderful people in this area and I feel super blessed to meet so many of them—especially at such a special and memorable time of life.

We did lots of swaddle shots with this baby girl—mostly because she just looked so cute all wrapped up! We also had fun with several different headbands, hats, and flower crowns. I keep a huge variety of props and outfits in my New Jersey photography studio so that people can choose exactly what they want. Every new baby is completely unique—and the baby pictures from your photo session should be too!

Customized newborn portraiture in Passaic County, New Jersey, newborn and family portraits

Mom and Dad chose mostly pink as the color scheme for these newborn photos, but we also used some blue. It’s not just for boys, and I have the flower crowns and girly accessories to prove it! Baby girl looked beautiful in everything.

Newborn Portraits in Passaic County, NJ

Looking for professional newborn pictures? Feel free to check out my newborn gallery to get a better feel for my style, or get pricing information here. Each of my newborn sessions is meticulously customized, and I look forward to hearing how I can create the perfect newborn photography experience for you and your little one.  

NJ Most Loved Newborn & Family Photographer

Can’t even tell you how much fun I had doing this newborn and family photo session a few months ago. I have known this family for years and I absolutely LOVE them! I’ve photographed big sister’s newborn session, cake smash, and everything in between. So you can imagine how excited I was when I learned that little sister was on the way!

Baby girl was the cutest thing ever. So much gorgeous dark hair, and she loved being swaddled. And big sis did a great job posing with her. She is always fun to hang out with, and is already a great big sister. Absolutely adores the new baby and is a great helper for mom and dad.

New Jersey most loved newborn and family photographer

All of my sessions are completely customized, so I get lots of input from my clients to make sure the session I create is in line with their vision. For this family, we did most of our session with neutral colors (I love the high contrast black and white), but added some splashes of purple too.

Northern New Jersey photographer, newborn and family portraits

All the Love

We mostly wanted to capture the relationships—which is what newborn and family photography is all about! Because of that, we didn’t do a lot of props or fancy backdrops. Just lots of beautiful portraits as we highlighted the love between this sweet baby girl and each member of her family. I can’t imagine anything more perfect.

Loved having this family in the studio again as they welcomed their second daughter! It was such a joy to see them for photographs every few months while big sister was growing from newborn to toddler, and I hope I’ll be able to record that same amazing journey for this new little one. Congratulations to one of my favorite families—love you!

New Jersey Newborn & Family Photos | Baby Sister

Every time I do a newborn photography session I’m reminded of just how lucky I am to have the best job in the world! I was so excited to have this family in my West Milford, NJ photography studio again towards the end of last year. I did a cake smash for their oldest daughter about two years ago, and have also done family photos for them in the past. Always love to see past clients in the studio again!

It was fun to see how much big sister has grown since I last saw her. She was adorable with her new baby sister. Mom and Dad told me how excited she was to have a sister. I think that’s so sweet, and I could definitely tell she was loving it by the way she interacted with new baby! So cute to watch them together.

New Jersey newborn and family photos, Northern New Jersey photographer

We did mostly whites and neutrals for these newborn and family photos, but we added some splashes of color as well—mostly pretty pinks and blues. I love that they wanted some blues—a lot of times people only pick that for boys, but girls look so pretty in blue too. And there are lots of ways we can make it more girly-looking by adding flowers, lace, or headbands.

I love that we had the whole family in the studio for these newborn pictures! We got so many beautiful images and just had a wonderful time together. Congratulations to mom and dad on this latest addition to their lovely family!

New Jersey newborn photo studio, professional newborn and family portraits

New Jersey Newborn Photographer

Looking for newborn and family photos in New Jersey? Please get in touch with me! I love creating customized sessions for my clients, and would be honored to help you record your family’s memories.

Baby Sister | New Jersey Newborn and Family Photos

Had so much fun welcoming this family back to my photography studio in West Milford, New Jersey over this past summer! I photographed big brother when he was a brand new baby himself. Can’t believe that’s been three years ago already. He’s gotten so big and it was great to see how much he’s grown. He is also thrilled to be a big brother! It was adorable to watch his excitement while we did these newborn and family photos. He is so proud of his new baby sister.

We decided to go with a traditional pink and white color scheme for this sweet little girl, but we used very pale pinks. This is one simple way to have some nice color in your photos while still keeping things neutral enough that your artwork can be used to decorate any room in your home.

Baby sister was the star of the show, so most of our session focused on her, but we also used our time together to get some updated family photos. A newborn photo session can be a great opportunity to do that—especially if you have other little ones. Kiddos change so fast, so it’s wonderful to record how older siblings are growing at the same time you celebrate the arrival of a brand new life.

This is such a sweet little family and I loved the beautiful images we created together. Such an exciting time!

Interested in Newborn and Family Photos?

If you’re interested in getting professional newborn and family photos of your own, I hope you’ll contact me! It’s my pleasure to serve families throughout the New Jersey and New York tri-state area. I would love to help you record your family’s journey with a custom photography session!

Stars and Stripes Baby Girl Newborn Photography Session | Northern New Jersey Studio

I hope everyone is having an amazing holiday season! I know it’s a bit of a weird one this year, but I hope you’ve had bright spots and things to be grateful for. One of the things I am always thankful for, no matter what the time of year, is my job as a newborn photographer and all the precious babies I get to meet!

This little sweetheart came to my Northern New Jersey photography studio earlier this year (during the summer). Her mom is my daughter’s teacher, so it was really fun to help her welcome this little darling into her life with a custom baby photography session.

Personal Touch

I really enjoy customizing each of my sessions to match my clients’ vision. I have tons of cute and beautiful props in my studio, but of course parents are always welcome to bring a little something from home that has sentimental value and will make their child’s baby pictures extra special and unique. This mama wanted to bring her wedding veil, which was wonderful! Baby girl newborn pictures with mom’s wedding dress or veil are super popular, and I can see why! It’s a way to add an elegant personal touch to the photos, as well as a sweet reminder of the beautiful things that have come out of mom and dad’s relationship. Love it!

We also did a cute stars and stripes setup, which turned out great! It tied in the sprinkling of pretty gold stars we used with mom’s wedding veil, and was perfect for summertime. Loved meeting this sweet baby girl and helping mom celebrate her arrival with a special newborn photography session!

Newborn Photos

If you’re interested in custom newborn portraits, I hope you’ll get in touch with me. ! I’d love to record this precious time for you!

Win a Custom Newborn Photography Session! - Northern New Jersey (NJ) Newborn Photographer

BABYYYYYYYYYY!

GIVEAWAY TIME!!!!!

Let's celebrate that soon to be little one! Let's freeze those special soon to be moments with a FREE portrait session!

This giveaway is for one Newborn Portrait Session.

*****The winner's free session will include a design appointment, a full session in my Hewitt studio, a reveal appointment and a complimentary matted portrait of your choice (a $490 value)!*****

To enter the giveaway... (PLEASE READ)

1. Leave your email in the comments below; The winner will be notified via email.
2. Tag a soon to be mom (or yourself!) who would love a custom portrait session. Every tag is an entry so stack those odds, sister!

One winner will be announced on February 14, 2020 by e-mail. If you've already booked and win this giveaway, your session fee will be refunded! Woohoo!!!

Baby Boy W | Newborn Session in Northern New Jersey

Well after a very long November, I am back in the swing of things with newborns! I am so excited to get back to photographing these sweet little ones. I had baby boy W in my Northern New Jersey studio a few days ago and look at how sweet he is here! Thanks for looking! <3

Baby Boy H | Wrapped Mini Newborn Session, Northern New Jersey Newborn Photographer

Once again I forget to blog… I blame it on the amazing summer I have been having with my family and getting to photograph some amazing babies, kiddos and families!

Baby Boy H came in my studio located in Hewitt, NJ a few months ago and he did not disappoint! Guess what, he will be coming in to my studio in a few short weeks for his Cake Smash! How in the world did that go by so fast?!

Stay tuned for his amazing Cake Smash session! <3

Baby Boy S | Posed Newborn Session, Northern New Jersey Newborn Photographer

Baby boy S was one of the sleepiest newborns to date! He was super squishy and loved being posed. He had the sweetest big sister and she loved him so much.

We of course had to incorporate what his daddy does too! <3