In-home Guide
LOVE, FEEL + CHERISH
YOUR NEWBORN SESSION IS THE START OF A BEAUTIFUL JOURNEY TO MAKING MEMORIES THAT WILL LAST A LIFETIME
You have done the hard part by booking a session; now here comes the fun part: planning your newborn session with your newborn and new family in mind at home.
My sessions are baby and family-led. I want authentic connections to shine throughout my art. You are in good hands with me; please take some time to go through this guide. My aim is to prepare you and make you feel relaxed about your session and get to know me a little before the day. I am dedicated to making you Love, Feel and Cherish your time with me that you can enjoy forever.
MateRnity
CAPTURING YOUR MOTHERHOOD ERA
If you have booked a newborn session but haven't made your mind up about whether or not to get a maternity photoshoot here are some pointers of why you might want to consider adding this to your package. You can have a studio, home or outdoor session. This is a time that is all about you the parents to be. Its a way to connect with each other and feel connected to your baby bump. Having a session before your baby arrives can help with the newborn session. We get to know each other and I will show you how to interact with each other and with the camera without the pressure of looking after your little one. You feel relaxed when we next meet as we already know each other also we can speak to each other about how to feel supported as parents in and around Cambridge. Pick my brain about which is the best baby yoga to attend. If you would like to add this to your session then just let me know and we can find a date that works. This session can be at any time of the day. We could even have a sunset session one day after work.
LINK TO MY MATERNITY PACKAGE MATERNITY
CAPTURING YOUR MOTHER-HOOD
ERA
AT YOUR HOME
Your home is the heart of your Family this should be documented and celebrated.
Photos of your home / space
I ask all families who would like a in-home session to send photos of your home / spaces a head of time. This helps on the day to give me some idea of how to best set up the session and get the best for lighting.
The best photos are often photos taken with natural light. so photos of your windows will be great.
If you could send me photos of the following spaces.
- Your home
- Your living room
- Any big windows
- Your bedroom
Please e-mail this photos to me @carolinealicephoto@gmail.com
Arrival / TImE
This is your time to relax and bond with your baby. I only take one client a day, so today is all about you. All newborn sessions take place at 10 am and can last up to 2.5 hours. I believe in giving my full attention to each client, so there’s no rushing during our photoshoot.
I will arrive at your home at 10 am and take a few moments to set everything up for the session. It usually takes around 20 minutes to get everything ready, so feel free to make yourself a coffee and enjoy the experience as I prepare for the session. This time is for you to unwind and connect with your baby.
- Baby beanbag
- Blankets
- Baby wrap
- Baby wardrobe of cotton clothes
- My camera bag
- A hotwater bottle to heat up the beanbag
Natural, Timeless + Romantic
Feeding
Most of the session will involve feeding, dressing + keeping your baby comfortable. I like to respect everyone when it comes to how you feed your baby. When it comes to planning the photo session some clients ask to be photographed whilst breastfeeding or bottle feeding. If you are all for this then I can add this into the set. If you would like a photo of you feeding the baby but done in a more relaxed position on the sofa then just let me know it is ok. If you would like me to leave the room so you can feed your baby in private then please let me know on the day.
UMBILICAL CORD
Depending on how old your baby is will depend on whether or not your baby will still have its umbilical cord. This is not a problem for the photoshoot.
LOVE
baby Wrap
In my experience wrapping your baby up makes them feel comfortable and happy. This makes for great photos too.
Dress changes
I have a range of cotton outfits for your baby to pick from. We tend to take photos of what you child is wearing at the time of the session and then change into another outfit after some time. All my photoshoots are baby led so we will go with the flow of the baby.
.
Crying
Most of the time, babies tend to love a photoshoot session. It might be a bit like attending a spa. There will be relaxing music playing, a heated beanbag for the baby to fall asleep on, and relaxed parents. If a baby starts crying, it might be that they are hungry. Please feed your baby whenever you like. Soothing or holding the baby can help. As most babies feed during the session, they sometimes might get a bit of wind. Again, time is your friend; take the time to care for your baby in whatever way possible. Some babies like to be held; this can make them feel secure.
Even if your baby cries, what I often see by the end of the session is that they are very relaxed, happy, and loving sleeping on the beanbag. However, if your baby gets too distressed and you are finding it all too much, this has never happened, but you would be very welcome to park the session and I can return at a later date.
wardRobe
I tend to find that my parents tend to dress casually / formal. A lot of clients tend to dress in similar colour tones. Motherhood is a changing time of life and that can be said for our bodies too. I have many a clients worried about their baby weight. To me, baby weight and scars are a beautiful testament to all that you’ve achieved over the past nine months. They symbolize the incredible journey of carrying your little one, and I want every one of my clients to feel proud and confident in their bodies. You’ve done something truly amazing. I want all my clients to feel good. If there is anything you are worried about yourself when it comes to the shoot such as what to wear or anything you are worried about do let me know I will do my best to make you feel comfortable and at ease. If you would like to book someone to help you style your session in more detail Nerys Copping is here for you she is Cambridge.
Link - Nerys Copping
If you also would like hair and makeup done for the photoshoot this will be an additional cost and can be arranged.
FEEL
illness
It’s highly recommended to avoid scheduling your newborn session on the same day or days after your baby’s vaccinations, as it can help ensure your little one is feeling their best for the shoot.
If you or your baby are unwell a couple of days before your session, or you haven't yet established feeding, please message me to let me know. We can schedule another time when I have availability.
SentImental
Some clients like to add sentimental object into the session such as a cardigan someone close to them has made or a little toy. Please let me know that you would like them to be added to your session before we start the session.
Cherish
Art Gallery
After your session, you’ll receive access to your personalised online art gallery within a couple of weeks, where you can browse your beautiful photos from the comfort of your own home. If you've selected Package 1, you'll enjoy the benefit of fast-track editing, meaning your photos will be ready just one week after your session. And remember, you can always upgrade your package at any time.
Once you receive your download link, be sure to download your images as soon as possible to ensure they’re safely stored. Your art gallery will remain accessible for 3 months, giving you plenty of time to choose prints, albums, or frames that perfectly suit your style. Plus, you’ll have the option to see how your photos will look in different frames by simply clicking on the image or shopping cart. Enjoy the process, and let these beautiful memories last a lifetime!
planning wall Art, Prints + Albums
Planning where to display or store your photos is an important step, and if you don’t have children yet, now is the perfect time to think about it! Once little ones arrive, finding the time for this kind of planning can become a bit tricky. Depending on the package you've chosen, after your session, you’ll be asked to select the photos you'd like to download. Don’t worry—you’ll always have the option to upgrade your gallery as well. I recommend taking a moment to browse through my shop. If you need any assistance or guidance in choosing prints or artwork, I’m here to help you narrow down your options. The day of the shoot is also a great opportunity to discuss your vision for prints and artwork. If you already have an idea of where you’d like to display your artwork at home, feel free to send me a photo of your space ahead of time. With my background in architecture, designing beautiful spaces is something I’m passionate about, and I’d love to help you choose the perfect piece to complement your home.
Link to shop SHOP
Memories
My aim in the day of your sesssion is to give you a day to remember. Having a newborn photoshoot is a time to spend with your baby. Taking the time to look at your little one for hours. This experiance will be something you will never regret. It's a time to enjoy your little one entering the world and all you have achieved as a little family. Your photos will be an everlasting reminder of LOVE, FEEL+ CHERISH
THANK YOU!
I'm grateful to all the parents that allow me to do the best job in the world make art for families. I always thought the best job in the world would be to design homes however taking photos and capturing photos of babies who have just entered the world is the best feeling in the world and this job allows me to spend time with my own family. I'm truly greatfull for all my amazing clients.
If you have anymore questions please do ask I'm here for you and your family.
cambridge
ComMUnity
Finding a feeling of support as a new mum can be hard but lots of groups are being created to help parents. Here are a couple of links for feeding support + feeling connected to other mums. For new mums feeding can be a little challenging at times. Over my last year I have got to know corinne Neville a really nice beastfeeding support . If you could let her now I recommended her to you that would be very helpful. :)
Corinne Neville - Tongue Tie Practitioner & IBCLC Lactation Consultant. Link. Corinne Neville
