Hello, World! Happy, Little, & Loved | Poses with Family, Siblings, and Both Parents

A new baby brings much joy and adventure to your home! Beautifully preserve this incredibly special time in your life with a custom newborn session for the whole family by Sarah Borchgrevink.

Type of Combinations & Setups Offered:

At SBP there are currently, as of 2019, four main session types that encompass the first 14 days of life, specifically your newly earthside baby boy or girl. The bean bag and wrapped newborn sessions include the option to add family, sibling, or parent images, while the petite and full options include all things family. While there is no pressure to book one session over the other, these do appeal to many parents who would also like to participate in the spotlight! After all, Little One will only be small for a short time; as one of the top Houston newborn photographers, four years in a row, and also a Mama to four spirited kiddos, I can attest this time is fleeting.

There are three main components to this portion of your little one’s first professional photo shoot. These include the following:

• Family as a whole

• Parents

• Sibling
  
  We generally spend about 30-35 minutes of our time together cycling through several setups and options so you’re sure to have a fantastic proofing gallery full of gorgeous setups, connections in which everyone interacts with Baby, and also traditional portraits, too. Much care and thought is put into the posing, lighting, wrapping, and preparation for your time in front of the camera. There is an even more detailed breakdown of behind the scenes at this post. There is also the option to read about an adorable, simple, and timeless gallery of first-time parents.

This blog post will showcase the groupings you can expect as well as the type of lighting and posing implemented. Let’s get started!

Baby + Family Photography

During time part of your baby’s session with Sarah we will spend plenty of time capturing your immediate family as a group, such as family images with the newborn and also any other kiddos you may already have. If you would like to bring Grandparents please let me know in advance and you made add them for a small fee if you would like to do so. Moreover, if you’re unsure about what to wear to Baby’s photoshoot, have no fear: all of this is covered in your newborn styling questionnaire.

We always use a solid backdrop, such as a rustic wall, and also use the all-white, gorgeous lighting that’s called back lit. Both types make for dynamic images, variety, and truly encompass all the beauty of your clan. It’s always nice to have a traditional, classic image in which everyone is smiling and looking happy! However, lifestyle options, in which everyone interacts and focuses on the youngest member, is also a wonderful addition to your gallery.

Parents | Studio Poses with Mom & Dad

The second portion is an even smaller breakdown of our time together, too! The ‘parent’ portion includes both individualized setups of each parent with Baby, but also parents together. For instance, it is nice to have setups showcasing father and newborn photography, photos with both parents, mommy and new baby together, too, as all of these are part of your story. I am honored to capture these for you!

Dad & Baby

If you’d like further reading on Safe Poses for Newborn & Father click on over for more details and explanations.

Mom & Baby

A mother’s love knows no bounds. This post showcases my favorite poses and ways to showcase the bond and connections between new mommies and their cherub loves.

Sibling

Newborn photography with sibling(s) is a very popular request! Like family and parent images, sibling setups include classic, rustic, and timeless images for a dreamy gallery of your little ones!

For more information ways I safely pose your new addition please click on over to 3 Safe & Simple Baby Photo Ideas with a Sibling.

Thank you for stopping by this week’s blog post to read about how we pose your family with the new bundle of joy! If you are currently pregnant I would love to connect with you below. I am currently booking posed, in-studio newborn sessions for March - October 2019. Appointments take place in my Houston Portrait Studio 6 days per week. See more information about online booking & scheduling as well as a fully transparent digital pricing guide with full resolution images for download.

7 Essentials to a Perfect Studio Environment | Newborn Photography Career Checklist

Dreamy and timeless infant portraits begin before clients arrive. See 7 effective ways to prep your studio!

When I first began my newborn photography journey, I was about 24 years old and accidentally fell in love with baby portraiture. You see, I started out as a family photographer. At the time, my husband, Kevin, and I had our first baby, Emma, and capturing and connecting with families was my jam! However, as those families returned to me with their new additions, I instantly realized newborns are meant to be my specialty and my heart will forever belong to them.

Nevertheless, 5 years later I have worked very diligently and with much dedication to learn how to set my galleries apart and create wonderful works of art. The best advice I can give is to have a solid foundation and to ensure your studio is not only welcoming to parents, but also creates a calm, soothing environment so you may focus on your creativity. The space in which you work is how you set the stage for a great session! To date, I’ve photographed over 900 cherubs!

Here are 7 ways my studio is prepared so that the session runs very smoothly. This blog post is going to cover the following:

1. Temperature

2. White Noise

3. Lighting

4. Newborn Safety

5. Props & styling

6. Gear

7. Post Processing & Retouching

1) Toasty and Warm

Parents are often surprised how warm a studio needs to be when photographing a little one. While many pediatricians recommend your home be kept 68 - 72 degrees Fahrenheit, when you’re in studio the room needs to be warmer because the baby is naked. Remember, when your little one is at home sleeping they are often clothed, swaddled, and typically in a room without any stimulation.

My studio is usually kept at 77 degrees via my air conditioning. I have experimented with keeping the room a little cooler than most studios, but that is because I have space heaters on hand to supplement for warmth if needed. That way, the room itself has air circulating, though if the Baby is showing signs of being cold we can instantly have a source of heat without making the entire room overheated.

Even full-term and healthy newborns may not be able to maintain their body temperature if the environment is too cold. When babies are cold-stressed, they use energy and oxygen to generate warmth. By keeping babies at optimal temperatures, neither too hot or too cold, they can conserve energy and build up reserves.

2) White Noise | Sleepy Studio Vibes

If you’re not using a white noise app or machine of some sort, do yourself a favor and try one! My favorite option will help baby sleep soundly during their session.

White noise is the ultimate soother when it comes to putting a Baby to sleep. This is because this noise is gentle and very consistent; as parents, we often hold our new addition to our chest, softly bounce them, and whisper, “shh,” over and over. This repetitive sound is calming to your precious little baby. White noise mimics this sense of peace because life outside the womb can be a little overwhelming for a baby. Imagine spending 9 months in a perfect world; it’s dark, cozy, and everything you need is instantly provided. The womb is all your baby knows. Once they leave this cozy place, the sounds of the world can cause stress or over stimulation for them. White noise is simply familiar sounds that keep your baby calm and help them drift off to sleep.

3) Dreamy, diffused lighting

Lighting is the most important part of producing amazing galleries because photography is nothing without light. The word "photography" was created from the Greek roots φωτός (phōtos), genitive of φῶς (phōs), "light" and γραφή (graphé) "representation by means of lines" or "drawing", together meaning "drawing with light".

This in mind, I have chosen to use studio lighting, which is an artificial source, for the consistency it allows. Each gallery should be the same type of lighting no matter what time of the day you photograph sessions. While the lighting in my space has an ethereal, diffused look there is not a single window in my current studio. I create the soft, natural light look with several lights used in different manners.

Whether you’re team studio or natural lighting, choose a side, and be consistent! This will also make your editing much easier and allow you to do things such as creating your own presets and actions based on the type of white balance and other settings you utilize.

4) Newborn Posing & Safety

Always acting with caution and perceiving risks is a huge part of working with newborn babies. Before attempting many poses and setups, it is a great idea to take newborn safety courses such as mentoring, workshops, and other classes on lighting, handling, posing, editing, and many other responsible options. This is because the safety of handling a new baby is often done through post-processing tricks, such as the magic of the froggy position; the former link, for instance, shares step by step instructions on how I safely pose babies into this very advanced yet popular pose.

By taking workshops and choosing to mentor under an industry leader, you will have the confidence and knowledge to successful photograph your petite clients; this is part of creating an amazing studio environment because you should lead your session and never be unsure in what you’re doing.

Babies are absolutely precious and deserve to be treated with the utmost respect so I urge you to always practice newborn safety and training when working with them. Remember: this is a human life.

5) Props and Styling | Swoon-worthy

For my particular brand, all props are rustic, dreamy, and timeless! I use vintage-inspired floor props, which are the buckets, bowls, crates, baskets, and more!

Floor props are also a wonderful way to add variety to your session because baby may be wrapped or added into many different types of props so that your session is full of stunning images! We want each image to stand alone and be gorgeous.

However, in addition to floor props, I have a huge stash of wraps and organic textiles, too. You’ll also find several flokati rugs, backdrop options, and more! By having a wonderful prop stash available, this enables you to create stunning baby and family portraits because you’re surrounded by everything you need. The options are endless and you’re only limited by your creativity; the more creative you are, the more ways you can pair items together. In fact, I have so many props on hand, I made a goal for 2019: do not purchase a single prop and truly be unique in my session design.

Layers and texture are a great accompaniment to newborn sessions, too, because you have contract, interest, and different types of fabrics. In general, however, I prefer knits of the jersey and sweater variety, particularly from responsibly sourced vendors who take pride in their craft.

Moreover, there are the sweetest nuances found within the daintiest of newborn headbands & tiebacks as well as caps, hats, and bonnets. All of your props and designs work together in harmony to showcase all things wonderful about a new addition to earth, a brand new baby boy or girl! However, please note that it has taken me about 5 years to collect this many props and my own unsolicited business advice to you is to purchase a few things at a time, learn to build your brand and style, and to be patient. You do not need every item at once, no matter how tempting it is. You’re a business and your profit and loss margins are very important!

6) Professional Gear | Lenses and More!

As of now, there are two popular brands for cameras and lenses: Nikon or Canon. I liken these to brands like Pepsi or Coke. Both are leading in their categories, but different people like different things, which is totally fine! I personally drive a Subaru Outback, but the Volvo is amazing, too, ha! Because quality is important to me, I use the best Canon lenses and camera bodies designed for professional newborn photography. Check out what’s in my camera bag for more details on my must haves.

Using professional gear is part of creating a perfect studio environment because your gear is your medium. Without sharp lenses and advanced focusing systems, for instance, you’re not the boss of the images. You need to tell your camera what to do. Sometimes clients say things to me like, “Your camera takes nice photos!” I, Sarah, take nice photos. My camera is simply a tool. Within reach I have two full-frame professional bodies as well as several prime lenses, such as the ‘L’ version and the Sigma ART versions.

These tools produce breathtaking images but because I set the white balance, shutter speed, metering for skin tones, aperture, ISO, and focal points, just to name a few. These can change at anytime. For instance, if you’re photographing a toddler sibling, they may move, so your shutter speed, aperture, and ISO would be different than if you’re photographing a baby in a bucket, for example, but at all times you must ensure the look is the same throughout the session for consistency. You adjust as you go.

7) Post-processing and retouching

After your set the temperature, turn on white noise, style your session, light your studio, photograph your session, this finally brings you to the final piece of the art puzzle: editing. I included this portion in a studio environment because editing is what makes the images shine and polishes them up for gallery preparation. At this point, you’ll have your own workflow on how you present images to clients, but the post processing, no matter how you showcase images, is truly important. In my studio, I have a custom built PC that is a dream! Not only is it super fast, but it is designed to fit my needs as a photographer.

For instance, this is when you’ll do your culling, and I’ve shared 3 tips on how I cull sessions, especially since I am habitually an ‘over-shooter’, ha! I also predominately use Lightroom for editing a posed newborn session.

During post-processing, your studio is where you’ll do all of the behind the scenes work. This is where you’ll create impeccable skin tones, remove baby acne, sharpen your images, adjust and crop, the list is endless! When editing, choose a time in which you feel relaxed and at ease.

And there you have it! While this blog post is lengthy, these 7 tips are the foundation to being one of the best newborn photographers in your area. As always, thank you for reading! Stay tuned for next week’s blog post in which I will share information about family photography, outfits, and ways we pose your children together to ensure safety.

Do you have further questions? Let’s connect, friends!

Ideas for Baby's First Photos | Newborn Girl Styling through Dainty Accessories

Sarah shares samples of the setups you can expect when visiting for a posed infant session.

A popular question I receive from parents is, ‘where do you we buy all the props we see in your photos?’ Have no fear: I provide everything for your sessions and do so with thought, creativity, and also ensuring our session is all things classic, timeless, and forever preserves this incredibly special time in your life.

Prop Philosophy | Enhance Through Simplicity

As a professional newborn baby photographer, the branding behind my studio encompasses all things natural, dreamy, and simple. The props you’ll find on hand are often inspired by my love of vintage and antique vibes, but also lets the baby shine and does not detract from your little one. Baby should be the star of the images. Props and accessories add gorgeous touches such as interesting textures, background, and rustic floor items, but simple is always best as to not take away from the beauty of a newborn baby. This approach also ensures your photos are forever timeless. I liken this to the little black dress we, as women, all have in our closet. Classic, forever chic, and never too trendy, as those trends do fade.

Handmade with Love from all over the world

Moreover, each piece you find in my Houston Newborn Baby Portrait Studio is carefully selected to curate an amazing collection for our time together! Many of my favorite vendors are sourced from all over the world such as Poland, Italy, Australia, Canada, and more! While the states has plenty of neat vendors, there is something incredibly special and unique about purchasing handcrafted, small batch props that are custom designed for petite clients. As a photographer, I build relationships and repertoire with my vendors and am so happy to have many options for all of my needs.

For instance, I purchase all of my luxury little sitter props from GeorgeandAnnie, located in Brisbane, Australia. My hand-knitted, darling and precious newborn baby bonnets are from MoonlightLittleKnits, located in Milan, Italy. These beautiful photography props for newborn babes make for the dreamiest of sessions! By using handmade photography props, the quality is excellent and also unique! When it comes to my ninja wrapping newborn skills, however, I love to purchase baby headbands and wraps from ClothApothecary.

However, my absolute favorite vendor for headbands, tiebacks, and dainty, petite accessories for little ladies is Created by Carli, props for little people, located in the UK. Her items are so amazing it’s worth using the pound, ha!, and converting it over to American dollars, ha! Of all the vendors I’ve encountered, her headbands, florals, halos, and tiebacks are the perfect addition to adorn any chubby cherub baby girl.

Delicate, Natural, and Lovely

Ahhh, if you’ve made it this far I am truly excited to show you, through recent newborn baby girl sessions why I provide all styling, such as props, accessories, lighting, etc., because my studio is the perfect place for your little one’s session. Simply bring their diaper bag and leave the rest to me. A newborn styling questionnaire & posed prep guide are always provided for parents, but put your feet up, relax, and leave everything to me. During our time, I’ll ensure Baby is comfortable, safely posed, and you have a little break.

Thank you for visiting my blog to see beautiful newborn girl baby props that create stunning works of art! If you’re located in the Greater Houston Area and are perhaps expecting your own bundle of joy, please do not hesitate to reach out. I am currently accepting new clients and would love to work with you during this special time in your life.