Oakland Newborn Photographer

Timing for newborn sessions is flexible based on my style. Some families want to capture the earliest moments and some prefer to feel more settled at home first.

Newborn sessions at home typically last about 2 hours to allow plenty of time for feeding, soothing, and to capture a variety of images. I’m flexible and don’t place timeframes on these sessions because I want to be sure we capture all of the important moments. I do try to keep Fresh 48s shorter since you will have just had your baby and want to provide plenty of time for you to rest.

Newborn sessions are baby-led, so we take breaks as needed for feeding, soothing, and diaper changes to ensure your baby is comfortable.

Keep your baby comfortable with a warm room and have extra diapers, wipes, and blankets on hand. For Fresh 48, just have a few simple outfits ready; the focus is on capturing natural moments.

Don’t avoid an indoor session just because you are worried your home is not picture perfect. I promise it doesn't matter. I have techniques to minimize background clutter by changing angles and moving in closer. What is important is documenting this special time. Of course, it looks best to tidy up before the shoot, but you still want it to look like your home. I’ll provide more specifics in the Newborn/Infant Session Guide and during our pre-session phone consult, but this part is easy and not something I want you to worry about at all.

Keep it simple. Choose outfits that make you feel comfortable and most like yourself. If you are breastfeeding, it might be best to find something that makes feeding easier or changing is also an option. Partners should also dress comfortably, but avoid shirts with logos or that are too busy to keep photos timeless. For babies, I recommend a neutral onesie and we can add color and warmth with swaddles. We’ll discuss this more and you’ll also receive more information about this in your Session Guide.

I frequently hear from folks that they feel uncomfortable in front of the camera. My goal is to make everyone feel relaxed and to enjoy the session because I believe sessions should be easy and relaxed. I provide gentle guidance to support connection and enhance lighting and composition. Primarily, I want you to be yourselves so we capture this moment in time.

It is a big transition having a new baby around, so I like to keep it very easy for older siblings. I’m a parent and early childhood special educator, so I happily will play and engage your older children. I share more details in your Session Guide after booking and we’ll work together during pre-planning to make sure everyone feels comfortable on the day of the session.

Absolutely! Your pet is part of your family, too, so I’m happy to include any pets during in-home sessions.

You may reschedule once if you notify me at least 48 hours in advance. We can transfer the session payment to a new date as long as it is within 6 weeks of the original booked date. This does not include rescheduling due to weather (rain, extreme cold) or a conflict out of my control. If I'm sick, I will also reschedule because I would never want to expose your family. In the event of session cancellation for any reason (other than weather), the retainer will not be refunded. If you cancel, all retainers paid are not refundable.

You’ll receive your edited high-resolution digital images within 4 weeks. A private online gallery will be provided for you to view and download your photos.

I provide light edits that may include adjustments in lighting, color, tones, and cropping. While I take pride in my craft and want to create beautiful and meaningful images for you, I don’t make extensive changes since my goal is to create natural and authentic photos. I'll remove little blemishes and polish things up, but I want your photos to represent reality. Please let me know in advance of your session if there's something specific you're sensitive about and I’ll do my best to accommodate.

I do not share RAW images. The photos I take with my camera are not the final product and are considered unfinished works of art. I spend a great deal of time in post-processing and it’s the combination of capturing and processing the photos that allows me to artistically create the final images included in your gallery.

Yes, additional digital images and prints can be purchased. I offer various collections and print options to accommodate a range of needs.

Booking is easy! Contact me via my website to schedule an initial call. A retainer is required to secure your booking. If you decide you’d like to book both, you’ll receive a discount on your second session.