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bobbie
bush photography • 35 congress street • salem, ma 01970 •
978-744-6918 • bobbie@bobbiebush.com
Newborn Baby Portraits
Frequently
Asked Questions
by Bobbie Bush Photography
In our experience, there are a number of commonly-asked questions that most new parents ask when choosing the best portrait photographer for their newborn baby. Often, this is the first time they have searched for a professional photographer since their wedding day, yet the set of questions are indeed very different. To assist you in the process, we have put together this helpful guide to address most of your questions and for you to know what to expect for this special time!
We're
still anticipating the baby's birth, so how do we know when to schedule
a newborn portrait session?
It
is best to let us know your due date in advance. That way, we can anticipate
the baby's birth, be on the alert and be ready to fit you in to our schedule
soon after the baby is delivered. We can usually accomodate you with only
a week's notice if we are expecting to hear from you. It's not uncommon
that clients will actually call us from the hospital room to get themselves
into our schedule.
When is the best age to photograph a newborn baby?
Newborn babies are best when photographed at one to three weeks old --
the younger the better! In fact, most newborn sessions are held between
five and fourteen days old. Your baby grows so quickly, that it's important
to capture their precious little size as early as possible.
What
should we expect in a newborn session?
We're looking to create a variety of photographs of your baby, capturing
how special and tiny a newborn can be. We'll do some images of the baby
sleeping, the baby wrapped in soft blankets and the baby in your arms,
plus we'll capture those tiny newborn feet! We often keep the studio warmer
than normal, so that the baby will be comfortable and will hopefully go
to sleep for us. Sleeping babies are so angelic. See some recent
newborn images on our blog. See our YouTube newborn video behind the scenes of a newborn session!
Do
you offer consultations?
Of course! In fact, we encourage you to come visit the studio in advance
of your session, if at all possible, to preplan your session and to get
to know us. This
is such an exciting time for you and we invite you to see our work and
discuss your wishes for a successful newborn session. We recommend that
you schedule a specific date and time with us so that we are able to give
you our fullest attention.
Where
will my session take place?
Newborn sessions generally take place in the studio. Here, we have all
the props, lighting, supplies and resources necessary to capture amazing
portraits for you. In addition, we've got plenty of extra wipes, diapers
and baby blankets on hand.
Where
are you located?
We are located in historic Salem, MA. The studio is located near the Salem
waterfront in Shetland Industrial Park. Visit our website for complete
directions
with a detailed map & parking information.
What are the studio hours?
The studio is open by appointment. We're generally here during normal
business hours, however, given the nature of our business with a mix of
studio and location assignments, our hours can vary. Plus, our clients
appreciate our undivided attention when they are here for a session. So,
it is best to schedule a time to meet with us.
What
will a session cost?
Your investment starts at $150 for a weekday session at the studio. Included
in your initial investment is Bobbie’s time and talent during the
session and a personalized follow up consultation to assist you in making
your portrait order selections. For more information, see our investment
guide.
How
long will you spend with us?
Your session will last approximately 90 minutes -- sometimes as long as
2 hours -- depending on how many feedings or short breaks we may need
in order to capture your baby sleeping and awake. We’ll do a mixture
of color and black & white imagery, with some of the baby alone and
some with you together. Ideally,
we love to get some angelic sleeping baby images as well as ones with
your baby awake and alert. Quite often, we take short breaks for feedings
to comfort the baby.
How
should we dress the baby?
Newborn babies are best photographed naked, or with just a diaper on.
As a general rule, the more skin showing the better. A naked newborn baby
is so lovely and so small -- it's important to remember how small they
once were!
What
should we bring?
If you have a special receiving blanket, that would be great to bring
with you. Or if you have a special stuffed toy you wish to incorporate
into a portrait.
Do
you photograph me with the baby?
Yes, of course. We encourage it. We adore when the parents choose to be
a photographed with their baby, as there is a lovely connection between
a parent and a newborn infant. The relationship between you and your baby
at this early stage is precious to behold. You'll want to remember just
how tiny your baby was at time.
What
should we wear?
Frequently,
we photograph you and the baby in black & white. Therefore, we suggest
wearing a color darker than your skin tone in order to accentuate the
faces in the portrait. If you own a black long sleeved t-shirt, that would
be great to wear for the images of you with the baby. The solid dark color
is a nice contrast to the baby's skin and looks great for black &
white imagery. If not black, any solid long sleeved dark shirt would suffice.
As a back up, I also will have a spare long sleeve shirt if you do not
have one to bring. If your spouse is in the photograph as well, we recommend
the dark colors as well. You may also want to bring a fresh shirt with
you to change into after the session in the event of any small accidents
while your baby is naked.
Do
you offer birth announcements? And how quickly can I get them?
We have a wonderful selection of birth announcement designs available
and are always adding new ones. Turnaround time on birth announcements
is pretty quick -- we usually have them ready for pick up in one week's
time from your approval of the layout.
What
if my newborn has baby acne?
No worries -- we see this all the time. Every portrait
in your order will be individually enhanced for lovely skin tones. We
will smoothen and soften the blemishes or boo boos, so not to worry!
Do
you photograph digitally or with film?
Bobbie photographs 100% digitally with the latest Canon professional digital
cameras. Each image is captured in a high resolution file format and is
individually adjusted for color, exposure and contrast.
What about black & white?
Any of your portrait images may be prepared as a beautiful black &
white photograph. Let us know in advance if you have a preference for
black & white and we will prepare your images accordingly.
When
will I get to see my photos from the session?
Approximately one week following your session, we invite you into the
studio to review all of your images, assist you in making your selections
and to place your order. We recommend that all of the decision makers
are present at the time of the ordering appointment. We are happy to accommodate
you in the evening for these appointments.
How many images will I see from my session?
Bobbie may photograph dozens of captures in a given session, however not
all are keepers. She will capture as many images as necessary in order
to present you with a strong body of images. Typically, we will present
you with the best 25-35 images in order to simplify your selection process.
What is it like to work with Bobbie?
Most of our clients say how much fun it is to work with us! See our behind the scenes videos on YouTube and read the reviews on Yelp.
What
should I expect to spend on my portraits?
It's entirely up to you what you decide to spend on your purchases from
your session, choosing from our gift portraits, wall portraits, gallery
wraps or custom hardcover books. We offer as many as six gift and desk
sized portraits for under $100. Fine art wall portraits start at $150
and are available in four elegant finishes: premium lustre, classic linen,
fine art canvas and our most desirable gallery wrap finish. For more information,
see our investment
guide.
What
happens if I need to reschedule my session?
We understand that personal emergencies, illness or inclement weather
sometimes require sessions to be rescheduled. Bobbie kindly asks that
you provide as much notice as possible in order to make that time slot
available to other clients.
Do you offer gift certificates?
Yes, of course, in any amount you wish. Wouldn't you love to receive a
gift certificate toward portraits of your loved ones? What a great shower
gift!
Can
I see more examples of newborn photos?
The best place to see our latest images is in the newborn
section of Bobbie's blog.
Bobbie
Bush Photography is a professional photographer specializing in children's
portraits, babies & bellies, maternity, pregnancy, toddler, infant,
newborn, baby, child and family photography. Bobbie Bush is located north
of Boston, MA on the north shore of Massachusetts in historic Salem, MA.