Being an expecting mother is exciting but stressful. What if something doesn't go to plan? What if my baby comes early, or needs extra care, or ends up in the NICU. Will you lose your session? I want to answer that clearly, because after four babies of my own, and photographing newborns for 25+ years I've walked this road with many families. Booking with me reserves your place on my calendar. It does not lock you into a single rigid date.

Your booking is a reservation, not a completely fixed appointment

I use a simple starting point for newborn sessions: due date plus about ten days. But that's a starting point, not a deadline. Babies arrive early, arrive late, and occasionally need time before they're ready to come home. None of that should cost you your spot. If your plans change, we reschedule. Flexibility is built into how I work on purpose, precisely because new life rarely follows a calendar.

A little about NICU babies

First, if your baby needs the NICU, (as roughly one in ten newborns do) it doesn't have to be an issue for your session. Babies are admitted for many reasons that have nothing to do with a difficult road ahead: arriving a few weeks early, needing help regulating temperature, a little support with breathing or feeding, monitoring for jaundice, or simply time to grow stronger. Many NICU stays are short. And I would never recommend something that your care team wouldn't.

For babies who arrive early, development is measured by corrected age, your baby's age adjusted for how many weeks early they came. Your pediatric team will use it to track milestones, and it's useful for photos too. Much of that sleepy, curled-up newborn softness is tied to how close a baby is to their original due date. So a baby who comes home a few weeks after birth can still settle into those classic newborn poses right around their corrected newborn window, and working with your care team should always be your first priority of course.

Beautiful photos aren't bound to a strict two weeks

For full-term babies, I usually aim for the first couple of weeks, when newborns sleep deeply and curl naturally. But that window is a preference, not a rule. It isn't the only factor for amazing images. Older newborns and NICU graduates make gorgeous, tender portraits: wrapped snugly, held close in a parent's arms, tiny fingers and toes in soft light. If your baby is ready at three weeks, or five, or later, we simply plan the session around who your baby is when they're home and settled.

No matter what the conditions, during the session I follow your baby's cues and abilities. If your baby is wide awake, we photograph that; if your baby wants to be held the whole time, we focus on cuddly family photos and details. The goal is a sessions that reflect this important new beginning, not a rigid shot list of preferred poses. 

Safety comes before every single frame

This matters most of all. I never photograph a newborn before you and your medical team are ready, and I follow your pediatrician's guidance without exception. My studio is kept warm, calm, and thoroughly sanitized, and the entire session is paced around your baby — feeding, soothing, and sleepy stretches, never rushed. Delicate poses are created safely; I never force a fragile baby into anything. With NICU graduates especially, gentle and patient is the whole approach, and my experience means I know exactly how to get tender images without ever compromising your baby's comfort or safety. Your baby's specific needs, comfort, and abilities are all taken into account during the session. If you have a specific concern, please ask! I am happy to answer any questions you have. 

All it takes is a conversation

Just keep me in the loop. There's no penalty; we just find the right date together. You have enough to carry right now, and coordinating your photos shouldn't be one more weight. Please call, text, or email when your baby arrives. Then update me when you have a discharge date. Let me know your concerns and needs. I'll take everything into careful consideration. 

When you're ready, I'll be here

If you'd like to see what newborn sessions look like, browse my newborn page, and reach out any time through my contact page with questions, before or after your baby arrives, before or after you book. However your story begins, I'll be ready to help you hold onto it.