Please read prior to your photography session so we can guarantee the best photos possible.
- Daniela
Preparing for your Newborn Session
Newborn portraits are best created within the first 2 weeks of the baby born. Preferably between 6-10 days.. During this time, the baby is still very sleepy and most pose-able. I can mold them and put them in to all of the adorable poses that families have grown to love. They will not be like this for long after birth because they change and grow so quickly. Please notify me within 48 hours of giving birth. A text message or email is fine. Failure to do so may hinder our ability to schedule your session in the given time frame. Unless you are having a scheduled c-section, you are not going to know when your baby will be born. Your due date will be added to my calendar. I leave time in my schedule around your date to ensure I can schedule your session. As soon as baby is born, please contact me or have someone contact me so we can arrange to have your session take place within those first precious days.
Before being photographed, there are a few things to consider, so please read the following to make the experience more successful:
Please keep your baby awake for as long as possible the morning of our session. This is one of the most important steps you will take to prepare for your session. A bath, awake time and/or interacting with your baby for at least 2 hours before the session will ensure that they are asleep during the session. Even if your baby is a sound sleeper, or goes right back to sleep after eating at home, please follow this step. Please feed baby 2-3 hours prior to the session as you will be giving a full feeding at the studio once you arrive.
Please do not overly dress baby in clothing that is hard to take off, an easily removed pyjama outfit will work great so that they do not have to be too disturbed. No tight socks or clothing that will leave an indentation on the skin.
Babies usually need to eat more during a session, so even if you are on a schedule, or the baby eats at certain times, please be flexible with on demand feeding during the session. If you have older children who will be photographed for family and sibling shots, please arrange with your significant other or family member to take them home after their pictures are taken. It is very hard to photograph the newborn if the older siblings become restless during the remainder of the session. A calm environment is the best environment. Family and sibling photos will be taken first and then the remainder of the session will focus solely on the baby.
Baby will poo and pee on all the props. This is normal and expected. Please do not feel embarrassed when this happens, because they all do it.
Breast feeding mommies, there are certain foods that you need to avoid 48 hours prior to your session to limit gassiness and restlessness during the session. Foods such as coffee, chocolate and soda can keep the baby awake because of the caffeine. Citrus fruits can cause gas, spitting up and diaper rash. Dairy can also be a culprit of colic symptoms, as well as broccoli, nuts and wheats. A guide to foods to avoid will be attached. Seems like a long list, however, avoiding these foods 2 days before the session will ensure a happy and calm tummy for your baby.
The studio will be warmer than your home so that baby is comfortable during the session. Please wear light clothes or layers to ensure your comfort.
Please have a pacifier handy, whether you use one or not. This is another important tip. I recommend pacifiers such as the Event pacifier, or any one-piece silicone pacifier. I like these best because they won’t leave lines on the baby’s face after taking it out of their mouths. Some moms may be against the use of pacifiers or worried about nipple confusion, but rest assured that the short amount of time that we may use it will not have a negative effect on nursing.
Don’t worry about baby acne or scratches. My retouching will either eliminate or drastically minimize these. If your baby has extremely dry skin, try putting baby lotion etc on prior to coming to your session, but please avoid any lotion that will leave a shine on your baby’s skin. Please do not use any diaper creams that are white or have a collar in them. Sudocrem is a good example of cream, that when applied, leaves a white film that is hard to wipe off. It is best to avoid these creams before and during the session so it is not seen in photos.
If you are having a boy and are going to circumcise him, it would be best for us to photograph before the procedure OR 6-7 days after the procedure, allowing it to heal before our session. We will NOT photograph your baby before the 6-7 days after the procedure. Failure in letting us know, and booking a session before the 6-7 days, will result in a reschedule.
If your baby’s cord is still attached, please do not be alarmed should it fall off during the session. Sometimes with all the handling, the cord will fall off. This is normal.
If you are having a C-section, and you have older siblings, it may be best to bring an additional family member to help with the children. Once sibling and family shots are done, that family member can be arranged to take the older siblings elsewhere so that we may finish the baby session. It is best if both parents stay during the rest of the session, as mom may not be feeling well.
Please be sure to clean away flaky skin (sometimes it is unavoidable) and any eye boogers with a warm cloth (please also bring a cloth to the studio) If baby has any bandaids on feet or thighs, please remove them as soon as possible to allow imprint marks to disappear.
If baby is being bottle fed, BRING PLENTY OF EXTRA BOTTLES!!! Your baby will need to feed more often than normal during the session.
What to Wear?
If you have chosen a package where parents and siblings are included, your clothing can play an important role in how the photos will turn out. Skin to skin creates beautiful images.
Mom: A subtle application of makeup is all you need to soften skin and accentuate your features. Subtle is best. Please blow-dry and style hair prior to our session. If lack of styling means frizzy flyaways and unmanageable hair, I will not be able to fix that in photoshop. Taking a little extra time getting ready makes a big difference in the overall look of your images.
For wardrobe, you are welcome to wear your own snug-fitting tank top, keeping the design simple and colour neutral. I have a variety of wraps and gowns, which I prefer you to use. Please be sure to keep nails tidy and clean (NO NAIL POLISH). I keep a bottle of nail polish remover and will ask you to remove your polish if you have not done so. A simple french manicure may be kept on.
Dads: Please be freshly shaved with a new razor. shaving cream and moisturizing aftershave to avoid bumps and redness. Trim your beard, sideburns, moustache or goatee. Please make sure to trim stray wiry hairs. Please make sure your nails are clean and trimmed.
For wardrobe, shirtless makes for beautiful pictures, however, if you prefer to not be shirtless, please wear a plain tight-fitting long sleeve shirt (no buttons or zippers) with a pair of jeans.
Siblings look best in neutral colours as well. A simple white shirt or t-shirt looks great. For girls, a white simple dress also looks great.
Siblings should be coordinating, not matching.
***PLEASE BRING EXTRA CLOTHING FOR YOURSELF AND PARTNER AS YOU MAY BE POO’D OR PEED ON BY YOUR BABY LOL!
And finally…
No matter what your baby does…relax! Your session should be a special experience for you and stress-free. Babies can sense stress and it usually makes them cry more. I allow plenty of time for your session and if we need to take a break to feed, walk, rock etc, we can do that.
I am truly honoured that you have allowed me to be part of this experience with you! Looking forward to our session together.
NEWBORN PHOTOGRAPHY CHECKLIST
Email within 48 hours of the child’s birth
Find someone to watch additional children as a calm environment is ideal
Keep the baby awake for as long as possible in the morning
I suggest a bath or awake time
Feed 2-3 hours prior to the session
you’ll be given a full feeding upon arrival
Dress the child in easily removable clothing that will not leave any indentations
Avoiding these foods 48 hours prior to your session will ensure a happy sleepy baby. Citrus Acidic foods, gassy veggies and drinks such as:
Cranberries
Pineapple
Grapefruit
Oranges
Lemons
Strawberries
All berries
Tomato/tomato products
Chocolate
Peanuts-nuts in general
Pizza
Spaghetti
Chili
Tacos/Spicy/Mexican Food/Salsa
Ketchup
Asparagus
Onions
Cucumbers/pickles
Broccoli
Cauliflower
Brussel Sprouts
Cabbage
Please Avoid these drinks:
Soda
Coffee (decaf is ok)
Tea (decaf is ok)
wine & beer
The list does seem long, however, try to avoid it to the best of your ability.
Family Session Prep
Follow this guide to ensure the smoothest family photo session possible!
Family Session Prep Guide
You've just booked your session with Daniela D’Agostino Photography and you're probably wondering “what now?"
This guide will help walk you through the steps you need to prepare your family for your photography session with me.
I'll go over everything from wardrobe to how to get your family ready. I'm so excited to work with you and your family. If you have any questions along the way, please just let me know.
Wardrobe: "What will we wear?"
Once you’ve booked your session, you’ll ask, ”What will we wear?” I'm here to help!
In regards to styling your session, I suggest starting with Mom and then working out from there. Whether you want to purchase all new clothes, or you want to use that dress you love, it's a great place to start. You don't have to start with mom's outfit though. Just pick one item first. Then you can pull your colours and textures and build up from that starter piece. Another good starting point is to think of the colours in your home (these images will be on your walls after all) or maybe your favourite colour, then go from there.
Things to keep in mind:
comfort: you want everyone to be comfy at your session. We'll be moving around during our session, so make sure you put yourself and the kids in something that moves with you and isn't itchy or too tight.
accessorize it: hats, scarves, jewelry, blankets, headbands, suspenders, etc. All these things are a great way to add another layer of your style into your session.
patterns: I love fun patterns, but my favourite is florals! Mixing patterns is a great way to add interest to your photos.
textures & layers: Layers add texture and textures add interest. Denim, chunky knits, lace, cords, etc. I love the way a chunky cardigan looks. Or a denim shirt tied at the waist. These are all great ways to incorporate your style.
colour: make sure the colours you choose compliment each other. Colours that will stand out best are muted, earthy tones. Some examples are: For fall sessions; mustard yellow, mauve pink, browns or khaki, dark blue, hunter green, dark reds/oranges. For Summer sessions; creams, white, denim, blue, light pinks, floral patterns
MAKE IT YOUR OWN: this session is about you! And it's so important to make sure that your family's personality shines through in every aspect.
Things to avoid:
Logos: Please stay away from Logos. Shirts that have giant logos on them can distract from your beautiful faces.
Neon colours: They will distract and take away from your beautiful family and your images
Matching outfits: matching outfits are super cute, but not for family photos. Having different colours, patterns, textures, etc is super important to create interest and diversity in your family's images. Just make sure everyones outfits and colours flow nicely together
What to expect: "What will our session be like?"
My main focus is to capture your family in this season of your lives! I want to capture moments not poses. And I want to embrace all the beautiful imperfections. At our session, we will play, adventure, snuggle, run, jump, and maybe even get a little dirty. We'll start off our session by getting that perfect posed out of the way. I usually like to do one standing and one sitting pose. And then we'll start our adventure. Be thinking of things that you like to do together as a family, little games or small things you want to remember.
I like to start my sessions about 1 hour before sunset, and they usually last roughly an hour or so. I have a few locations picked out at the beginning of each season, and you'll get to pick from those. But if you have a spot for your session in mind (maybe it's special to your family, or you just love the way it looks) I want to know! I love going to new places and experiencing new things. And adding that special element to your session is what makes it more unique.
The week before:
"How do I prep the kids for our photo session?"
The week or two before your session, start bringing the session up. Tell your kids about the fun adventure we'll be having. I am totally not above bribery. A fun ice cream date after our session is always a big hit. However, please do not bring any bribery food with you during our session. I will not edit out handheld foods or candies as well as dirty faces from the bribery. Just make sure you let the kids know we're going to have fun! If they get worried about behaving perfectly then it will show in the images. I love taking time to connect with your kids to get those fun images of them.
"How do I prep dad for our photo session?"
Tell dad we're going on an adventure too! Let him know that all he has to do is relax and have fun loving on his wife and kids. Take the pressure off. He'll do great!
"How do I prep myself, mom?"
Relax! Pamper yourself. Get your hair or nails done (if that's your thing). Don't stress, and remember to just have fun with your family. This is the time to be your true self with your beautiful family, enjoy it.
Need help? Just ask:
I am here to help in any way that you may need, from helping with wardrobe choices, or deciding between whether or not to bring your child's lovey. I want to make this session awesome for you, and I love getting involved in all the details. So if you have a question about anything, please don't hesitate to ask. You can email daniela@danieladagostino.com, text (647-524-4520), or send a facebook message (Daniela D’Agostino Photography)
Session Day: "It's here!"
The day of your session is here! We've picked out the perfect time and location, and your wardrobe is ready to go. You've spent weeks preparing, and it's finally time. I'm getting just as excited as you are.
Things to remember:
Have fun! This is so important that you and your kids enjoy this experience because it will show up in your photos if someone just isn't having it. Relax and love on your family.
This time is about you and what makes your family special. We'll spend the first little bit getting to know each other. We'll knock out the "Christmas Card" photos (ones where everyone is looking and smiling), and then set off.
Moments over poses: after we get the poses out of the way, you don't have to look at the camera anymore. You totally can if you want, but it's not required.
Always touching: be sure that you're always touching someone. Whether it's a hug or snuggle, or just a tender hand on the shoulder. Make contact with your family. This shows connections and love.
Don't stress: if your kids are nervous or acting a little wild, that's totally ok! I embrace children in every aspect of themselves. We're focusing on moments, so a shy kiddo can get extra snuggles and a wildling can have extra run time. It's all about your family in this season! Remember that.
Bring water, a blanket, jackets/cardigans (if it's cold), and extra change of clothes in case someone gets too messy for the car ride home.
Have fun and don't stress!
After the session: "How long do we have to wait to see our photos?"
That is a great question! I take great care to go over all of your images and pick out the perfect moments. When I get home from our session, I immediately back up your images so they are safe. Also, I don't delete the images from my memory card until after I have edited your pictures. Once they are safely backed up, I edit one or two for a sneak peek and I upload your proofs within 3-5 days. Once you’ve made your selections, I edit those and my turnaround time for delivery of your edited gallery is between 2-3 weeks.