One of the last things you need to be panicking about after having a baby is whether or not your newborn photos are going to turn out. If you've done your homework in looking around and hiring a recommended, experienced, and professional photographer, odds are they've seen it all and will know exactly what to do during the session and after in post editing to get your photos just right. 

But, understandably so, there are a few things that you just may not expect to have happen during your session (but don't worry, us photographers are TOTALLY expecting it). Here are the things that you don't have to panic about during your newborn session! 

1) Dry Skin 

"My baby has so much dry skin and is flaking like crazy!"

I assure you, pretty well every single baby that comes into my studio is experiencing some degree of dry skin. Some not so bad, some worse than others. But they ALL have it. Photoshop has these fancy little tools built right in to make your baby's skin as smooth as.... well, as smooth as baby's skin (or, how we portray it to be, anyway!) This also goes for scratches, red spots, pimples, and jaundice. We are like a make up artist and our software is our make up kit. The only thing I don't and won't remove are birth marks and those little white bumps (milia) on newborn noses, which are a true newborn marker and I absolutely love them.

2) Potty Breaks...

"I am SO sorry my baby just...." 

Peed and pooped on my nice things?! How could she! Just kidding. Again, they almost all do, and whether your baby vacates their bowels on my backdrop or not, it all gets washed anyway. I mean, we're dealing with naked newborns here, and we all know how the saying goes. "Poop" (and pee) happens. And yes, it's happened on my things, it's happened on parents, it's even happened on me. We just clean it up and keep going! No need to feel bad about it. 

3) Me So Hungry! 

"He's hungry again?! He usually doesn't eat so much!" 

He's probably not hungry. He's probably mad... at me. And needs some soothe time with Momma (or a soother, if you bring one along - a life saver!) I try to be as gentle as possible while transitioning your baby from pose to pose. But, sometimes they wake up and just need the lady they know best and the amazing comfort she offers - food and snuggles. Newborn sessions take TIME. And sometimes lots of it! Just stay calm and relaxed and your baby will soon drift back into la-la-land. 

4) Big Baby Blues

"She normally sleeps this time of day, why is she wide awake?!" 

New surroundings. New person. New... everything. Don't worry, like I said before, newborn sessions take time. Some babies show up sleeping and leave sleeping. Some show up awake, and end up falling asleep later, or some show up sleeping and are wide awake by the time we're done. Whatever, the order, we still get great pictures. And honestly, some awake shots are adorable to have! You're baby is ALLOWED to be awake, they just aren't allowed to be cranky ;) 

5) Mamas, I Got You! 

"Can you hide my belly pooch?" 

GIRL. You just had a baby. Cut yourself some slack! Your body has done an AMAZING and BEAUTIFUL thing. But yes, rest assured, I will pose you and your beautiful new baby in a way that all the focus is on your faces - you will look like a million bucks, I PROMISE. So relax and embrace the moment with your baby. I got you, I got you!

Trust me, I've seen them all. Big babies, little babies. Happy babies, not-so-happy babies. Babies who hate being touched, babies who hate being on their tummy, babies who need to be wrapped, babies who need to have their hands free, babies who need to be patted, babies who need white noise, babies who need silence, babies who need Mumma, babies who need to be just LEFT ALONE. 9 week old babies, 3 day old babies, cluster feeding babies, hairy babies, bald babies, jaundiced babies, red babies... babies of all shapes, sizes, temperaments and moods. 

I've literally worked with HUNDREDS of babies. So do not panic, I am prepared! :) 

Trust me, I've seen it. I know how to deal with it. If I need you, I'll ask you for help. So sit back on the couch, relax and enjoy the fun and the moments. Don't apologize for your "uncooperative baby". They don't know how, they don't know why. But I can comfort them, pose them, and get the photos you want - I promise!