- What should I do to prepare my baby for the session?

The day of the shoot, keep the temperature of the house a few degrees higher, that way the baby's skin will not be marbled.

- How should I prepare for the session?

The day of the shoot, make sure the baby doesn't have any tight socks or clothes on. We don't want imprints on skin in any of the photos.

- Do I need to stage my house?

The only thing you need to do is make sure the room where the photos will be taken is clean and that there is plenty of light available. We'll be opening any window coverings to let a lot of light in.

- Why do I need to reschedule if it rains?

Shooting in natural light is essential because it doesn't startle the baby like a flash does. It doesn't need to be cloudless by any means, but it does need to be a partly sunny day at the least.

- How long does a session take?

A photo session will take approximately 1 hour. This will yield about 150-200 photos.

- How long will it be before I see the photos?

Depending on my shoot schedule, it will take 3-5 days to process and post the photos to my web site.

- Should my newborn be awake or asleep for the session?

Newborns are still sleeping a lot at this age and that's okay for the shoot, because they can be easier to work with. On the other hand, even when newborns are awake and looking around they can't focus and can look cross-eyed at times in the photos. Usually you get a little bit of awake time and sleep during a session, so don't fret and let babies do what they do.

- How do you schedule a sitting since a baby's arrival is unpredictable?

Very few babies are born on the dates they are due. The best you can do is pre-book a tentative date with me long before your due date. Then put me on your call list so after the baby is born, we can firm up a date and time. It's very important that you let me know when your new baby arrives (within the first week, if possible) so we can maximize our flexibility with the shoot.

- How should mom and dad dress?

Dress casual and comfortable, but keep in mind that you don't want to wear clothes that contrast with the baby's clothes. So if your baby is wearing light colors you should do the same; the same goes with dark colors or pastels too. Your choice of slacks, skirts or jeans isn't as important, as I'm not shooting your lower body unless there is a family shot with a small sibling.

As a general rule don't wear any stripes or patterns in the photos. They can play tricks with the camera and distract from the baby in the photos. Also, you will be in a good amount of these photos and your hands and fingernails will be shot up close too. You don't need to go out and get a manicure, but do be aware of polish and dirt on your hands before the shoot.

- How should I dress my baby?

I prefer to shoot babies in their diapers, because their bare skin brings more emotion to the pictures. However, your baby can be photographed either way; it all depends on your personal preference.

- Will the photographer need time and a place to set up?

All I need is a place to put my backpack and a few other things. It might take a few minutes to scout out a room with the best sunlight but other than that, when I arrive I'm ready to start taking photos.