Tips for Classy Breastfeeding Photos | Spokane Newborn Photographer

Breastfeeding photos. We all want them, but we don’t want our goods to be shared with the world, just our baby. I have a handful of tips that keep breastfeeding pictures classy so that you can share pictures of this intimate relationship without sharing your intimates.

Number 1 tip, hire a professional lifestyle newborn photographer to take the pictures for you. Preferably someone with a lot of experience in these types of pictures. We know what you want to share and what you don’t. We can take beautiful nursing pictures for you to cherish that you' won’t mind sharing, because your nips will be covered. We know how to take the angles and keep everything discreet.

Tip number 2, do not make the boob, the center of the focus. The baby should be the focus in these pictures. Focus on the back of the head, the hands, the forehead and eyes, the other family members being around and supporting mom. I like to be very careful to ensure the pictures don’t look like a baby nursing unless you look closely at them. This keeps other viewers from feeling like they’ve seen something they don’t want to see and also keeping the memory for the mom who wants to remember the time when she nursed her babies.

Tip Number 3, wear a nursing friendly top. Everything in photography comes back to wardrobe when you are the one being photographed. Choose a shirt with the right amount of coverage and stretch, with some pretty features. You’ll want your baby to have easy access, but without showing off more than you need to.

Spokane Breastfeeding Pictures | Spokane Newborn Pictures | Spokane Lifestyle Newborn Photography

3 pictures to take of your new baby | Spokane Newborn Pictures

We all take tons of pictures of our new baby with our phones, but I think there are a lot of pictures that parents forget to take of details that they will want to remember later. Straight from a newborn photographer, here are some of my favorite poses or pictures to take of babies and none of them require uncomfortable or unsafe posing.

Mom and Dad together holding their new baby. This is one of my favorites and a good reason to hire a professional to take pictures of your family with your new baby. Mom and Dad together in a picture with their new baby is a priceless keepsake. So many pictures only have one parent in them and babies deserve to see pictures of themselves with both parents together .

Your new baby’s feet. I’ve photographed hundreds of babies and I can say with certainty, no two have feet that are alike. They curve differently, they wrinkle differently. Feet are a huge point of connection with your little one, babies love to have their feet touched. Moms and Dads can’t help but kiss their babies feet. Our feet ground us and connect us. Don’t forget to take pictures of your baby’s feet.

Baby in Dad’s hands. I love pictures of dads holding their babies. Pictures like this serve as a reminder of how tiny our baby once was. Babies just don’t keep and this is an excellent way to remember.

Spokane Newborn Pictures | Newborn Photography | Lifestyle Photographer

How to dress for Newborn Photos at home? | Spokane, Washington

As a photographer, I’ve seen so many wardrobe combinations for newborn photos. I see how dressing can be overwhelming. Here’s what I recommend for dressing your family for newborn pictures.

Book Early.

My first little tip that you did not ask for is to book your pictures early, like end of the second trimester early. The earlier you book, the earlier you can start styling. You’ll have all the tips from your photographer and plenty of time to shop. You likely, won’t want to be planning photos with your newborn in your arms because you’ll be focused on your baby at this point, so earlier is best.

Keep it simple.

Keep your outfits simple. Newborn photos should be intimate and you do not want outfits to be distracting from your new baby. Use minimal accessories like hats, too many layers, or high heels.

Keep it comfortable.

In the early days, you’ll be healing and not sleeping too much, so you’ll want to be relatively comfortable. Think comfortable, but not embarrassed if the doorbell rings.

Colors for any home.

Colors will make a huge difference in your pictures. I recommend choosing colors that are as neutral as possible, because they will not clash with the colors in your home. Wear things like white, cream, black, charcoal, gray, denim, tan, muted blues. These types of colors tend to work in any home and are rarely too trendy.

The baby.

There’s no need to fuss with baby’s outfit too much. Dress them in a white or neutral, fitted, onesie. Have some cute or plain white diapers on hand. Some families like to use a muslin swaddle for a few pictures in a cute color. There’s no need to try to find hats or over the top outfits. The baby is the focus of these pictures, not the outfit. We may take some nearly nude photos as well, so keep everything natural and true-to-life.

Mom.

For mom, I suggest maternity leggings or jeans and a nice sweater or cardigan. Most mamas have a baby bump after the baby is born, so make sure that what you plan to wear will be comfortable. Bare feet or some cozy knitted socks. Be comfortable and cozy. Take a shower and do your hair and makeup in a natural way.

Dad.

For dad, I like comfort. A good pair of jeans or joggers. A nice t-shirt in a slightly darker color than what mom is wearing. Choosing a shirt with texture can add a little bit of elevation to this look, like a comfortable long sleeved thermal. Dad can go barefoot or wear some moccasin slippers. Just keep it natural and comfortable.

Other kiddos.

For your older kiddos, dress them casual but in the same neutral color scheme. Jeans, t-shirts, casual dresses are all great options. Don’t put too much pressure on them, they’re going through changes too.

How to choose the best newborn photographer | Spokane Newborn Photographer

Choosing a photographer is a very personal decision that should never be taken lightly. You are choosing someone to create art for you, to invite into your world. For so many reasons, it is important to choose the best photographer for you, your family and for your investment. Here are a few things to consider when choosing your photographer for newborn pictures.

Studio or Home?

Some newborn photographers work in studios with props and flashes. The babies may look “too perfect” or airbrushed, the parents may be wearing unnaturally formal outfits. Other photographers, like me, work within your home. I’ll focus this post mostly on at-home photography, because that’s my specialty. In home newborn photos are more natural looking, the babies look real, and the parents are dressed in cozy comfortable clothing. There isn’t usually props or flashes used for in home photography. Neither style is wrong, but everyone seems to have a strong preference for one or the other, so it is important to consider this when choosing.

Comfort.

Choose a photographer who you feel comfortable with inviting into your home. Is the photographer a loud person? or a calm person? Is this the energy you want to bring into your postpartum space. Is the photographer someone you are comfortable being vulnerable with? Sometimes tears happen in the early days with the hormone swings, you’ll want to work with someone with empathy. Is the photographer a parent? Sometimes working with someone who’s been in the same phase of life as you is more comfortable. These are all some things to consider. It’s usually best to book your maternity photos with the same photographer to ensure you’re a good match and feel safe inviting them into your home. Following your photographer on Instagram may also help you decide if they’re the best photographer for the job.

Safe for your family.

You’ll also want to consider your husband and other children when choosing a photographer. You want everyone to feel safe and comfortable. Considering things like, does the photographer use colorful language or are they accustomed to being around children? Is this someone your husband is also willing to be vulnerable in front of?

Safe for your baby. I recommend finding a photographer who specializes in baby-led posing. This means, no unsafe props, poses, feeding practices, temperature swings, or removal from the parents. Considering things like, does the photographer wear perfume or smoke cigarettes? Choosing a photographer that you know is safe to have around your baby is so so important, because the feeling of protectiveness is so real in the early months.

Artistic Style.

Look closely at the artistic style of the newborn photographer that you are hiring. Do you like to color tones? What are the people wearing? What do you feel while looking at the pictures and is that how you want to feel when you look back at your own photos? Is the portfolio consistent in quality from image to image? These are all important things to consider, because you are choosing a photographer as an artist. Looking at past work is very telling for what you will end up with for your investment.

Budget.

We can’t finish up this post without talking about budget. Do you value the work enough to pay what the photographer charges? There are photographers of all skill levels and prices out there. Some photographers are not as transparent as others about pricing (meaning website pricing may look lower than what it actually ends up being at the end), so please be sure to ask what is included in the price of your photos, before you book. Newborn photos done the way you want them are priceless. Babies just don’t keep, so it’s important to get good pictures and a lot of them, because the memories will fade faster than you think.

Alignment.

You should feel very aligned with everything your photographer does, because that will help ensure the timelessness of your photos and a positive photography experience all the way through. The whole experience should be seamless and feel natural, that’s how you will know you’re on the right track to choosing the best photographer for your newborn photos.

Newborn Photos Spokane, Washington

South Hill, Spokane Newborn Photoshoot

We’re officially in “baby-season”. There are more babies born in the fall in Spokane than any other season of the year. So in celebration of all the new life in our city, I’m sharing a small sample of a newborn session picture gallery that I recently photographed in the Manito neighborhood in Spokane.

The Manito neighborhood is known for its charming bungalows full of character. If you are fortunate enough to live in this neighborhood, an in-home newborn session may be just right for you. My in-home newborn sessions are lifestyle photography, meaning the poses are very natural and only natural light is used. The photos are somewhat documentary and make a wonderful keepsake of how the time at home with your new baby really felt.

My newborn photo shoots are all-inclusive. This mean that you will know upfront what your photos are going to cost and you’ll never be left to choose between for your favorite pictures when they are delivered. Downloads of the entire gallery are complimentary for my clients.

The beauty of in-home sessions is that your are freezing the moment in time. Your photographer comes to you and there’s no stress of leaving the house with your whole nursery to care for your new baby in the early days. All the memories are preserved without the stress. These sessions are baby-led, so no unsafe handling of your baby and being in your home empowers you to care for your baby as you see fit through the entire session. No over-heating or over-feeding for these sessions, your baby stays in their safe home environment.

The best time to book your newborn session is anytime after your third trimester of pregnancy. You’ll want to schedule your photo session within the first two weeks of your baby’s life to capture all the sweet early details.

Ready to book your session? I’d love to chat with you. Book your spokane newborn session here.