Expecting a Baby? Here’s How to Start Preparing for Your Newborn Photos in Mechanicsburg, PA

04.24.24

When you’re pregnant, you’re doing so much planning and preparation – readying the nursery, stocking up on clothes, diapers, and other essentials, and so much more. But now is also the perfect time to start preparing for your baby’s newborn photos. After all, you want to capture those beautiful newborn portraits in your baby’s first ten days of life, so if you can have all the details taken care of in advance, it makes your life so much easier after you give birth. From your friendly newborn photographer, here’s your pregnancy checklist for your newborn photos in Mechanicsburg, PA.

Studio newborn photography of baby girl posed on purple with flower crown.

What to Do During Pregnancy to Prepare for Your Newborn Photos in Mechanicsburg, PA

What should you have on your to-do list during your pregnancy to prepare for your newborn photos? Don’t worry, it’s very simple! All you need are these key steps:

Choose and book your photographer. Ideally, book your photographer by the time you start your third trimester so we can start planning ahead for your session. If you book with me, this is actually the only thing you have to do – I’ll walk you through the rest!
Make a plan for displaying your newborn portraits. You don’t need to know the specifics, but it’s great to have an idea of where in your home you want your portraits to be so I can design your session to suit the room’s decor. I’ll meet with you for an in-home consultation to help you with this too.
Pick out your outfit. While you don’t have to be in your baby’s newborn photos, a few portraits with your growing family can be such meaningful treasures! Neutrals and classics are typically best, but I’ll help you pick out your outfit during your consultation.
Consider any special requests. This isn’t a must but think about and let me know of anything specific you want in your session, like sentimental items or family heirlooms you want to incorporate, whether you’ll be including your baby’s older siblings if they have them, and so on.

New parents pose with their newborn baby girl in newborn photography studio near Mechanicsburg PA

Preparing for Your Newborn Photography with a Full-Service Photographer

As a parent-to-be, there isn’t too much to do in planning your newborn photos especially if you hire a full-service photographer like Karissa Zimmer Photography, but following these simple steps now makes such a difference when your baby is born. To learn more, contact my photography studio.

Studio newborn photography of baby girl wearing green and resting head on heart pillow at Karissa Zimmer Photography

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Preserving Mechanicsburg Newborn Photos: Benefits of a Newborn Photo Album

12.11.23

As a photographer, I’m passionate about making sure that my clients don’t just get amazing portraits but that they also have a way to display those portraits. Every family has their own preferences, whether you want wall art, display folio cases, or other options, but one of my favorites for my clients is a premium custom photo album. There’s no wrong way to enjoy your Mechanicsburg newborn photos, but there are a few unique benefits of these albums that you might not realize.

Newborn photo album by Karissa Zimmer Photography

Seeing More of Your Baby’s Portraits

Wall art is fantastic, but it does limit you to highlighting one or two favorite portraits. An album gives you the opportunity to see a full collection of your many favorites in front of you. You can, of course, do both wall art and an album! Either way, adding an album allows you to enjoy more of your newborn photos in your home.

Best newborn photos near Mechanicsburg PA

Displaying Your Mechanicsburg Newborn Photos in a More Concise Way

As wonderful as wall art can be, it undeniably takes up a lot of wall space. Not all families have that space available, or you might not like the look of a gallery wall or multiple portraits on your wall. With a bespoke photo album, you’ll have your favorite newborn photos at your fingertips in a space-friendly way.

Best newborn baby photographer near me 17050

Maintaining a Portable, Shareable Heirloom

Portrait albums offer a convenience that many families enjoy because they’re easy to transport and move around. For families who may move often, this can be a way to keep your child’s newborn photos within reach without the logistical difficulties of wall art. Albums are also easy to pass down within your family, like gifting the album to your child when they grow up and move into their own home.

professional newborn photography albums near Mechanicsburg PA

Celebrating Your Harrisburg Newborn Photos with Custom Photo Albums

If you’re interested in learning more about custom portrait albums or booking your Harrisburg newborn photos, let’s chat! Contact Karissa Zimmer Photography.

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Mechanicsburg Newborn Photography Myths Busted

05.14.23

There’s a lot about Mechanicsburg newborn photography that isn’t common knowledge, and in fact, there are many myths and misconceptions about this type of photo session. As a photographer, I’m here to bust those myths and help you have a better idea of what to expect from newborn photos.

best newborn photographer near mechanicsburg PA — Newborn Photography studio near Mechanicsburg PA

Myth #1: Newborn Photos Must Be Taken in a Specific Timeframe

You’ve probably heard people say that “real” newborn photos have to be taken before a baby reaches a certain age - some say 14 days, some even say 10 days. That’s gatekeeping at its finest and I’m not here for it.

Yes, it’s ideal to take newborn photos in a baby’s first two weeks of life because you can capture how new and tiny they are at this early stage, and because they sleep so much during these days. But there’s no set deadline for newborn photography, and it’s not uncommon for NICU stays or other circumstances to require us to wait until after that 14-day mark.

Newborn Baby girl photographed in bucket by Karissa Zimmer Photography — Posed Newborn Photos

Myth #2: Studio Flash Photography Will Hurt a Newborn’s Eyes

It used to be common advice to avoid flash photography in front of newborn babies, but according to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, extensive research has shown no evidence that camera flashes damage babies’ eyes. While harsh camera flashes in a dark room can irritate babies (just as they can with adults), studio camera flashes are designed to be gentler.

Newborn Photography Froggy Pose on Green — Froggy Pose in Mechanicsburg PA newborn photography studio

Myth #3: Your Baby Needs to Sleep for Their Mechanicsburg Newborn Photography

Many parents worry that their photographer won’t be able to take newborn photos if their baby won’t sleep, but that isn’t the case. Sleeping babies are easier to pose and photograph, sure. But nearly all babies will sleep for at least part of their photo session, and even while your baby is awake, we can capture plenty of beautiful portraits.

Baby girl smiling in newborn portraits — Mechanicsburg PA Newborn Photographer

Booking Your Mechanicsburg Newborn Photography

If you have a baby on the way, I can help you preserve a piece of their first days that will last a lifetime. Contact my PA photography studio today.

Newborn baby girl photographed on orange — Newborn Baby Girl Photography Poses

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What to Bring to Your Mechanicsburg Newborn Photo Session

05.29.22

When I’m planning a Mechanicsburg newborn photo session, I know that these sessions inevitably happen when your family is in the middle of a huge adjustment period. You just welcomed a brand new family member into your home, and that family member needs a lot of time and attention. No matter how experienced you are as a parent, every newborn is different, so you never know exactly what to expect.

That’s why I aim to make the newborn photography process simple and stress-free for you. This is an incredible time in your life and you’re capturing photos you’ll treasure for the rest of your life, so the beauty of this moment shouldn’t be sullied by chaos and anxiety. For that reason, I make sure to have a thorough discussion with every family who schedules a newborn photo session with me to discuss the process ahead, how they can prepare, and what they should expect.

If you’re preparing for a newborn photo session, what should you bring with you? While every photographer has their own supplies and recommendations, I’m sharing a quick list of the top items you should plan to bring.

What You Should Bring to Your Newborn Photo Session

While I provide just about everything you’ll see in your baby’s finished newborn portraits, there are some items you can bring to keep your baby and your family comfortable. My newborn sessions can last up to six hours because we give your baby as many breaks as they need to eat, rest, get changed, and more. To make sure you have an enjoyable and relaxed experience, I recommend that you bring:

Anything your baby will need to be comfortable throughout the session, such as extra diapers, pacifiers, and so on
Any items you need to comfortably feed your baby during their session, including bottles, a breastfeeding cover, a breastfeeding pillow, etc.
An extra change of clothes for any family members who will be in the photos…because accidents happen, especially when nude newborns are involved!
Any special items you want to incorporate into your newborn photos, like family heirlooms, a family member’s armed services or first responder uniform, or other pieces
Items to keep you comfortable during your session – remember, we’ll spend much of the session photographing your baby solo while you relax, so feel free to bring snacks, drinks, a book, or even a pillow if you’d like, as well as your breast pump
Anything that may help entertain your baby’s siblings if they’re coming to the session, like books, games, puzzles, a tablet for watching videos, and so on –make it easier on the entire family, though, I recommend a sibling add-on session instead for “big siblings” under the age of five, which allows us to get sibling photos with the new baby at home so your kids can stay home or with a sitter instead of attending a lengthy newborn photo session

What Your Photographer Will Supply for Your Newborn Photo Session

As a newborn photographer, I will of course have all the photography equipment I need to create stunning newborn portraits. In addition to the obvious items, though, I also supply:

Cushions and fabrics to create cozy backdrops for your baby’s portraits
Wraps for your baby in countless colors to customize your color scheme, as well as complementing accessories like hats and headbands
Props needed to create sets that align with your desired theme

Booking a Stress-Free Mechanicsburg Newborn Photo Session

If you’re in the exciting and life-changing time of preparing to bring a new baby into your family, I would love to help you commemorate this experience and chronicle your baby’s first days with custom, one-of-a-kind newborn photos. Schedule your Mechanicsburg newborn photo session with me today for a simple, easy experience with outstanding results.