Houston Baby Photographer, Sarah Borchgrevink, shares details on flexible scheduling for newborn appointments when the little one has spent time in the NICU.
Commonly Asked Question | What if Baby Misses the 14-day Window
Howdy, gang, and good morning to you! Today's blog post covers a frequently asked question I receive from potential clients: what happens if the baby spends time in the NICU and misses the traditional two-week preferred window for the baby's first session.
Sometimes little ones are born before their estimated due date; because of this, they may spend time in the hospital recovering as the parents eagerly await to bring their newborn baby home. Oftentimes, these parents have booked well in advance, as many of my clients contact me when they're in the second trimester. However, I happily offer very flexible scheduling.
For example, I am previewing the baby girl's session of a client who booked months in advance. She selected her session, signed the contract, sent in her retainer invoice, and was good to go! Life is not always perfectly smooth, however, and as a professional newborn photographer, it is my job to be flexible and understand your circumstances.
You see, newborn girl Isabella was born at 34 weeks. Mom contacted me and let me know she would not be able to come home for at least a few more weeks, meaning she would be outside of the preferred time period I take newborns.
No worries! While 14 days or newer is my preference (especially 6-9 days), I offer many flexible session setups to reflect a gorgeous newborn session. The 14-day window is a general rule for full-term babies.
How We Schedule Your Appointment with Sarah
When scheduling your baby's first professional baby photos with Sarah Borchgrevink Photography (aka me, ha!), let me know when the baby will be arriving home. This will allow me to block off a minimum of 4 dates. I take newborn sessions 7 days per week between the hours of 9 AM and 4 PM. You're sent the dates, and once you relay your preference, I design your session. It's that simple! I always give at least 4 dates and pride myself on being flexible and easygoing with new parents.
Even if your baby is early, you can still have a gorgeous session! Babi’s safety and comfort are of the utmost importance during our time together, and I read baby's cues so that she is never uncomfortable or in danger.
Moreover, you receive a detailed prep guide, so you know exactly what will happen, well in advance. I understand bringing your baby to a new place can be daunting, and parents sometimes feel a little nervous since their baby is brand new. Nevertheless, your session is very laid back and easy going, completely transparent, etc.
Isabella born at 34 weeks | 5 pounds fresh
Sweet Isabella entered the world nearly 6 weeks early. When she visited my Houston Newborn Portrait Studio, she was barely 5 pounds, though she slept perfectly and ate like a champ! Her mom's styling questionnaire, which is given to all clients, reflected requests for pink, mauve, peach, purple, lavender, lilacs, etc. Essentially, all things girly for this brand new, tiny cherub girl. She was such a dream to have in the studio. Her sweet mama was also extremely laid back; she handed the baby to me, sat down and read a book, and told me, "have fun!"
I went through my normal session flow with the mom's permission, even though the baby was outside of the typical time frame. There are many options even if your baby is a month old, like this little one.
Thank you for taking the time to view more information about Isabella's session! If you enjoyed reading this post, you may like reading about options for babies who are *full term* and missed the 14 day period, too!