Newborn Portraits: Capturing those First Precious Moments
Newborn Portraits
As a parent, you know that the first few weeks with a new baby are both exhausting and amazing all at the same time. You are probably running on very little sleep and trying to adjust to this new normal. In the midst of all of this, it is so important to take a step back and remember to cherish these moments.
You want to remember every detail of your newborn baby. From their tiny fingers and toes to their first smile, you want to capture it all. Newborn portraits are the perfect way to do that.
At Belly to Baby Studios, we specialize in newborn photography. We understand how important these first few weeks are and we work hard to capture all of the precious details.
I will work with you to schedule a session that takes place within the first two weeks after your baby is born. In fact, this is when they are typically at their sleepiest and most content. This is the perfect time to get those sleepy, curled up shots that you will treasure forever.
I have a variety of props and backdrops to use during your session to create beautiful and unique images that you will treasure for a lifetime.
To help you prepare for your session, we have put together a few tips:
• Choose a comfortable outfit for your baby. For example, we recommend something that is easy to put on and take off, like a onesie or sleep sack.
• Make sure your baby has had a full feeding before the session. A sleepy baby is a happy baby!
• Plan to be at the studio for 2-3 hours. This allows plenty of time for feeding and changing breaks.
We can’t wait to meet your new little one! Contact us today to schedule your newborn portrait session.
We encourage you to view our online portfolio and to learn more about our sessions and artwork. We are a full service studio, conveniently located in the Galleria area in a commercial office building. Also, our studio has a private nursing lounge so you can relax and feed your baby between sets.
Houston newborn and family portrait photographers can be reached at 713-461-2862 to discuss your session and help you create art for your home and family to enjoy for years to come.
Book your maternity, newborn, and family portrait session.
Helpful Tips for Families Before Their Portrait Session
Spring is here and this is the perfect time to photograph your outdoor family portraits in Houston! We have compiled a list of our 5 most helpful tips for families before their portrait session. Lisa & Michael Carr, one of Houston’s top family photographers, both have over 20 years of photographic experience.
They will make sure your Family Portrait is beautifully crafted. We will help you with coordinating and planning clothing for your family portrait to make sure everyone looks their best.
Here are the 5 tips for families before their portrait session:
Scheduling The timing of your family portrait session is very important. We recommend early morning, around 9am, or late afternoon, around 4pm. As summer approaches, 6:30pm may become an option. We use a balanced mixture of natural light and professional grade location lighting equipment to insure everyone is lit properly.
The portable location lighting is equivalent to studio lighting but used in an outdoor setting. The lighting results are a crisp well exposed portrait. We will work with you to determine the best time of day for your portrait based on the location as well everyone’s schedules.
If young children are to be included in your portrait, you should pick the time that is not right during their nap time but when they are at their best. For outdoor portraits we always recommend scheduling two dates in the event of rain or bad weather. We do have a studio available which can also serve as an option for your family portrait should weather become an issue.
Clothing Selection Everyone’s clothing does not need to match in colors, but there should be harmony with everyone’s attire in the portrait. For example, if you want a casual spring or summer portrait then the children could wear shorts with light colored tops or dresses, and the adults could wear casual pants and khakis with light colored shirts and blouses.
Colors should be complimentary and in the same tonal range. It is always recommended to stick to solid colors or a very small pattern so clothes are not distracting. Long sleeve shirts work best as well.
We will discuss your portrait vision and clothing options during your pre-portrait consultation here in our studio.
Hair and Makeup For men and children in the portrait, we recommend a hair trim about 2 weeks before your portrait. For ladies, a trim or haircut and color if needed 2 weeks before your portrait is recommended. This is not the time to try a new hair color or a new haircut or hair style!
We partner with a nearby salon that takes care of our client’s hair and makeup for their portrait. The salon will help you look your best and make sure you are picture perfect and ready to go! Remember to have a manicure and pedicure the day before your portrait too! On the day of your portrait be sure to bring a hair brush and comb, powder, lipstick or gloss and makeup for touchups during your session.
Get Plenty of Rest Rest is so important before your portrait. If you are tired or up late, it will show in your images. Go to bed early and stay well hydrated before your portrait.
Portrait Location and Scale During your consultation, we will discuss where you plan on hanging your selected portrait in your home. This is important for us photography wise so we capture your images with the end in mind. For example, if the space warrants a vertical portrait, we want to make sure we have plenty of vertical images for you to select from.
During your portrait order appointment, we will show your images and project your images in our studio. We will also show you the proper size portrait based on the space in your home where the portrait will reside.
About Us
Michael andLisa Carr are full time portrait photographers specializing in creative and timeless family portraiture. We offer outdoor family portraits, at home portrait sessions in the Houston area, as well as timeless in studio portraits.
We are a full service portrait studio. What this means to you is that we complete your portrait from the beginning to the finished phase: conception, capture and full artist embellishments to your final wall portraits. We also offer custom framing for your wall portraits.
We hope you have found the 5 tips for families before their portrait session a helpful article. To learn more about our studio and portrait photography for your family portraits, visit our online portfolio to learn more. We would love to talk with you about your family portrait. You can call us at 713-461-2862.
Becoming a new parent during the COVID-19 pandemic has definitely come with it’s own set of challenges. Many new parents either missed out on having a professional newborn photography session due to lockdown restrictions or were hesitant to bring their newborn baby and family into a studio space they were unfamiliar with. Then, there were also the expecting mothers that held off on booking a newborn portrait session because they were not sure if restrictions would be lifted.
They ended up booking a newborn photography session after their newborn had arrived and well beyond the typical 7-14 day recommended timeframe. New parents continue to call me asking if it’s too late to have a newborn session and are wondering if they should just wait until their newborn baby reaches their next milestone. So, when is the best time for newborn photography?
The great news is that it’s never too late to have professional images taken of your new baby!
Typical newborn sessions are scheduled around the time your newborn is 7 to 14 days old. However, I do photograph newborn babies of all ages. I believe that all parents should be able to have gorgeous newborn portraits to grace the walls of their home.
Whether you decide to book your newborn in at 7 days, 67weeks or at 6-7 months, I can photograph a variety of beautiful newborn and family portraits for you, and capture this very special time for your family.
When your newborn baby is 7 to 14 days old your newborn is more flexible and does tend to enjoy tighter swaddling. This allows me to capture some of the more common newborn poses. Newborn babies are easily curled up, wrapped and can be photographed naked in different newborn photography props which is sometimes harder to achieve with an older newborn baby.
With order newborn babies I will recommend to families that they book the full newborn photography experience that includes family portraits in addition to photos of only your newborn baby. Older newborn babies are more likely going to be wide awake for the duration of the photography session. Family photos taken together will not only help to comfort your older newborn, but having those family photos capturing the connection between parents and siblings and the new addition to the family will be cherished for many years to come.
When I am photographing newborn babies that are older, I will let them lead the session by allowing them to move around a bit to get comfortable so I can create and photograph those nice relaxed and natural poses. If your newborn baby arrived ahead of time, the 3 to 5 week mark is actually the perfect time to have your professional newborn portrait session. Premature newborns have had the extra time to gain some weight and to adjust to life with their family outside of the NICU.
Alternatively, when your newborn baby turns 6 – 7 months old we can also plan to photograph your baby in studio. Milestone baby portrait sessions are perfect for documenting this special stage where babies are usually sitting up on their own, providing lots of giggles, showing us their big gummy single-tooth smiles and not to mention their cute cubby rolls. It’s also the perfect time to have them photographed with their new favorite stuffy or snuggle toy.
At this age, infants are usually quite content to sit on parents and siblings laps which can provide us with an excellent opportunity to document the new addition to your family with family members. I truly believe it is never too late to schedule a professional photography session for newborns, older babies or young toddlers!
If you are still worried that you missed out on the perfect time to have a newborn photography session, don’t be! Get in touch with me below and we can discuss all the possibilities for a customized portrait photography session for your baby!
We strive to create artwork for your home that can be hung in a nursery or hallway. Newborns stay this small for a short window of time. So many parents come back to us at 3 months and 6 months to document the growth of their baby. It is very important to capture this time in a baby’s life since they grow so fast.
We encourage you to view our online portfolio and to learn more about our sessions and artwork. We are a full service studio, conveniently located in the Galleria area in a commercial office building. We have a private nursing lounge so you can relax and feed your baby between sets.
We can be reached at 713-461-2862 to discuss your session and help you create art for your home and family to enjoy for years to come.
I’m going to address questions that I get asked A LOT: “Why does newborn photography cost so much? And “Why is newborn photography so expensive?”
I’m sure you all have noticed that the price of newborn photography is just as expensive as family portrait sessions. I get so many inquiries that start off with raves about my work and then fall off the planet when I forward my pricing.
A good rule of thumb is: If you are paying under $200 for a newborn session chances are your photographer is either A. inexperienced or B. not running a legal business. I have taught myself lighting, bought a camera, lenses, and fully stocked my professional studio with lots of props and accessories for the babies. On top of that, I also pay professional association dues, insurance and don’t forget the business taxes. It is simply not possible to run a profitable business at the end of the day only charging $100 for a portrait session.
Here are a few things that come into play as to why newborn photography is so expensive:
Training
Your little one’s safety is of the utmost importance and should be priceless.
I have invested thousands of dollars and hundreds of hours in classes to learn proper safety and posing techniques for newborns. I also attend classes in order to continually learn and improve. Newborn photography is one of the hardest genres to learn and proper technique and placement of your baby’s limbs is crucial to their safety and comfort.
Please chose someone that you know is experienced to handle your fragile and precious new gift.
Flexibility
Babies come on their own timeline.
We can plan and pick dates all we want but they show up when they are ready. I cannot designate a day on my calendar for a session until the baby is actually born.
Sessions need to be done within a two week window after birth. This means that there are a limited number of sessions I can book per month. Limiting the number of sessions means upping the cost to make up the difference in my number of clients.
Time: Newborn photography takes time. The average full gallery newborn session can last 2-3 hours or more with multiples. Once the baby arrives at my studio, he or she will need to be fed and then soothed to sleep.
From there we move to posing, soothing, positioning, changing backdrops, changing outfits, stuffing props, cleaning messes, stopping for cuddle time, and possibly another feeding. Those of you who have seen me work know it takes a lot of patience to get every finger and toe settled into the perfect place and position. It took many hours to learn how to manipulate your little ones in a way that does not disturb them.
Editing
My work only just begins when you leave my studio, this business is WAY more than pushing a button.
I pay for editing software, presets, and I pay myself for my time. The amount of time spent editing is more time consuming compared to most other sessions.
We all have this ideal picture in our head of newborns with creamy smooth skin when the reality is just the opposite. Newborn skin can be red, yellow, purple, blotchy, acne covered, or all of the above. They come with peeling skin, stork bites, hairy bodies, Mongolian spots, and gunky eyes.
Many hours of work go into creating the creamy and beautiful finished product that you receive.
Newborn Props
Although they may be for the smallest humans, the outfits for newborns are probably the most expensive.
I spend around $25 per headband, $25 per hat, and $30 and up per diaper cover or tutu on the LOW end. That is for ONE item. Custom designs are even more expensive.
It is not uncommon to pay $40 shipping costs on something as simple as bowls. Newborn poop can stain and occasionally things cannot be hand washed and have to get thrown away and replaced. I also wash in between every single baby for sanitary reasons so things tend get worn out quickly.
Lastly, I ask you to remember that while this is a passion of mine, it is not just a hobby. It is a business. I pay taxes, rent, insurance, and have to buy groceries just like everyone else. These days, it seems like anyone and everyone calls themselves a photographer.
However, it really takes time, money, and passion to get to know your craft and give your clients quality and professionalism. I urge all of you to consider these things next time you’re pricing photographers in your area and thinking newborn photography is so expensive. We make room in our budgets for so many extras; trips to the movies, dining out, the latest cell phones, etc.
The cost of documenting your memories should be priceless.
We encourage you to view our online portfolio and to learn more about our sessions and artwork. Belly to Baby Studios is a full service studio, conveniently located in the Galleria area in a commercial office building. Our studio has a private nursing lounge so you can relax and feed your baby between sets.
Houston newborn and family portrait photographers can be reached at 713-461-2862 to discuss your session and help you create art for your home and family to enjoy for years to come.
Houston Newborn and Family Photographer, Belly to Baby Studios, recently photographed this newborn’s first portraits here in the studio. In addition to having their newborn photography, we extended the session to include family portraits as well. Your baby will only be this small for a short time. Portraits tell a story and help us remember moments in time.
A newborn’s first photography session is recommended to be scheduled within 7-12 days of birth. We recommend calling and having a consult before your session so you can prepare in advance. We always have an assistant on set to help with baby safety, and posing of your baby. We want to make sure your baby is relaxed and in good hands during the session.
For your in studio newborn portrait sessions, we have a prop closet full of wraps, baskets, blankets and backgrounds available for your baby. You do not need to bring a thing; just your baby! For your family portraits, we will have a brief clothing consultation over the phone so we can provide suggestions for your attire so there is harmony in your portrait. We want you to view your portrait 20 years from now and it look timeless versus dated with trending clothing and fancy photoshop effects. We realize you just had a baby, and probably do not have time to shop. We always will suggest and work with clothing that is already in your closet. We want to keep the portrait session simple and easy on your part.
Belly to Baby Studios, is located in the Galleria area, in a professional office building, 77057. We specialize in Maternity and Newborn portrait photography as well as Family Portraits. We strive to create artwork for your home that can be hung in a nursery or hallway. Newborns stay this small for a short window of time. So many parents come back to us at 3 months and 6 months to document the growth of their baby. It is very important to capture this time in a baby’s life since they grow so fast.
We recommend scheduling your baby’s session actually before your delivery date, if at all possible. In some cases, this is not always possible and we understand that. We do have Moms call us that have already had their baby, and their baby is a few weeks old. That is ok, we do not turn babies away when they are outside of the ideal 12 day old window. The important thing is to get your baby photographed when they are still tiny and a newborn. After all, the newborn phase is a short window of time.
We encourage you to view our online portfolio and to learn more about our sessions and artwork. We are a full service studio, conveniently located in the Galleria area in a commercial office building. We have a private nursing lounge so you can relax and feed your baby between sets. Houston newborn and family portrait photographers can be reached at 713-461-2862 to discuss your session and help you create art for your home and family to enjoy for years to come.
