Session Styling Questionnaire | Best Houston Newborn Photos

Sarah Borchgrevink Photography shares the newborn styling questionnaire and how she creates stunning baby portraiture sessions by keeping your preferences in mind.

Designing Gorgeous & Unique Photography for New Babies

Hi, gang! Good morning to you! Today's blog post is all about what you can expect when it comes to newborn styling and session design. If you've ever taken a quick peek at my Houston Newborn Photography Studio, you'll see that I have a huge array of props and items on hand just for you. Part of booking a newborn collection with me includes having full access to all of the amazing, custom and handmade items for new babies.

However, sometimes it can be overwhelming to parents when they try to consider all the different options. They see the buckets, bowls, crates, headbands, wraps, backdrops, etc., and it becomes what I call "analysis paralysis" where it's just too much and overwhelming. Since most parents do one newborn session and these truly are once in a lifetime photos, I have developed a great newborn styling and stat questionnaire tailored to each baby to ensure you have the most beautiful, breathtaking and gorgeous photos possible!

For example, the questionnaire covers things like skin tone, baby's weight, and your feeding preferences. These type of questions are really important to ask because it helps me know what colors will look good against baby's skin, which props they'll fit best into, and also if I should bring you in earlier since a formula fed baby eats quicker than a breastfed baby. It helps with scheduling and planning. 

Moreover, your questionnaire covers things like the type of colors in your home or baby's nursery or if there is a prop you love on my website and you'd like to make sure it makes your way into the nursery.

What You May Expect from the newborn questionnaire

• What is baby's birthday?

• How much does baby weigh?

• Is baby jaundice?

• Is baby bottle fed or breastfed?

• Does baby take a pacifier?

• What colors are found in your nursery?

• What are a few colors you would like to avoid?

• Is there a prop you love?

• What are your favorite poses?

• Is there a pose you'd like to avoid?

• Do you have any concerns I may assist with?

These questions are a fantastic starting point for me so I know how to design something you're sure to love, treasure and adore for generations to come. Remember: these photos will be passed down as heirlooms and you're not just taking these for yourself, but for your little one, who will then show them to his or her own children (many years from now, ha).

Creating the Best Houston Newborn Photography

Each session is an individual - just like your family and baby. I take your answers to the styling questionnaire and creating a unique session just for you. It removes the guesswork for you and takes stress away from parents. Everything is provided by me. Please do not feel like you must bring any props from home. :-) 

For example, for this session I am going to preview, Mom relayed answers to all of these questions listed above. She explained baby weighs just under 8 pounds, is not jaundice, is breast fed, does not take a paci, and that she really would like to see only mint, sage, pink, blush, neutrals and purples in baby girl's session. She was also open to all sorts of props. Mom and Dad did not want any naked bean bag posing - just simple, cozy and sweet newborn styles of wrapping for a more modest session.

Here's what I came up with for Baby girl R. 

I am so excited to have worked with this family again, too! They're some of my favorite clients and we've had a wonderful time getting to know one another. :-) 

Girl Newborn Photography Session Color Scheme Ideas

Baby R's session was filled with all things girly, sweet, timeless and classic. Soft, muted colors such as lilac and blush pink; sage and mint also made an appearance as well as organic neutrals. Check out some of my favorite images. She is truly one of the most stunning newborn baby girl's I've had the honor of photographing!

As always, thank you for visiting my little creative corner of the earth in which I share fun details about my professional Houston newborn photography! If you enjoyed reading about the newborn styling questionnaire, you may like reading about these topics, too:

• Favorite newborn poses during baby's first photo shoot

• Cozy & unique styles of newborn wrapping

• Why Sarah is the Best Houston Newborn Photography Choice for You

When is the Ideal Time to Schedule Your Posed Newborn Session?

Houston Newborn Photographer, Sarah Borchgrevink, shares important details about the ideal time to schedule your baby's first professional photography session.

Age Matters | Posed Newborn Appointments

When you first see the + sign on a pregnancy test, you're probably not thinking about when you should book your custom posed newborn portraiture session. That's perfectly okay! Awaiting the arrival of a new baby is full of excitement and many important details. There's numerous (and sometimes lengthy) doctor appointments, baby showers, nursery decor, prenatal classes, breastfeeding classes, and several other items that contend for your attention such as scheduling your maternity leave, etc. Pregnancy is a wonderful time but it's filled with hustle and bustle! 

In addition to the above, you're also thinking about your health and the responsibility of growing a new life: drinking plenty of water, sleeping enough, taking your prenatal pills, trying to get through morning sickness, figuring out when and how to announce, touring hospitals, etc. It's no wonder newborn photos are often put on the back burner.

Before I specialized in newborn portraits, I figured photographers took photos of babies at pretty much any time. I assumed that because baby is only a few months old, it did not matter. However, it does: age is one of the most important parts of having a successful newborn session.

The Best time to Book is the second trimester

Scheduling your baby's first photo-shoot in the second trimester is the most ideal time to book because this ensures you have an appointment on the photographer's calendar. Just because babies come on their own schedule does not mean photographers book babies once they're actually earth side. Part of offering a luxury service is having a calendar full in advance, but also taking a limited number of appointments so each client can have the attention to detail they deserve. This includes consultations and designing a beautiful, timeless baby session for your little cherub. By booking in advance, you're sure to have an appointment when your baby is the right age.

For example, I take 15 due dates per month as of 2018. This keeps me very busy. In addition to my photography sessions, I also have many business tasks, as I am a full time business owner, and I cannot take last minute appointments typically since I usually will have a deadline or consultation already scheduled for that day.

Furthermore, finding the right newborn photographer can take time. It's a lot of research and many important factors to consider, such as the 9 Questions You Should Always Ask.

When do newborn sessions take place?

Newborn sessions at Sarah Borchgrevink Photography take place when the baby is 5-8 days new if they're a full term baby. Premature babies have more flexibility in scheduling, however. I will take newborns up to 30 days if needed, though I rarely go this old since the older baby is, the less the cooperate. Around 14 days old, the baby becomes very alert and does not sleep through the posing, wrapping and all of the set ups.

For scheduling, I have parents notify me when baby has arrived. Afterward, parents are sent 3-4 dates from which they may select. By booking early, your due date secures the appointment on the calendar and makes sure I don't book too many newborns in the same time frame as you. 

Newborns have top priority on the calendar. Babies come when they come.

By booking in advance, you're sure to have an appointment during the optimal time listed above, which is 5-8 days new. For instance, I have four young children myself and with my last baby, I booked his newborn session with a professional photographer when he was 16 weeks new. It was very important to me I have my preferred portrait artist and I made sure I secured her talent so we can have her stunning work on our walls. :-) 

What can you expect?

At my photography studio, expect to have an absolutely stunning newborn session! I delight in working with brand new babies + their darling parents. This time in life is beyond special and precious; there is something almost sacred about the first few weeks as parents bond with their new baby. You can expect the most lovely posing, organic wrapping and textile, hand made and custom props, as well as baby to be at peace. Baby's session should evoke a sense of tender, unconditional love. 

Sample Images of Babies Who Visited at 5-8 Days New

As always, thanks for visiting my blog! I hope you enjoyed reading about when is the best time to schedule your little one's first professional photography session! If you liked reading about this topic, you may find the following blog posts to be helpful, too!

• 22 Babies who Rocked Their First Photos

• How to Work With Alert Newborns in Studio

• How I use Artificial Lights to Create Natural Light Look in Studio

You know you’re a Newborn Photographer if you’re Guilty of these 6 Quirks

See the top list of 6 funny, quirky, and goofy traits that are the mark of a newborn photographer.

Hi, friends! Thanks for visiting my blog! My name is Sarah Borchgrevink; I am located in beautiful Houston, TX and serve the entire area + surrounding suburbs. As a newborn photographer, I've begun to realize I have developed a few quirks that are completely privy to the art of baby portraiture. Perhaps this is because professional newborn artists are often perfections, each detail making our hearts sing. We think about how to provide the best experience for our clients. Moreover, one of the biggest aspects to our work is our vast array of studio props, lighting, and accessories. My husband jokes that I have a hoarding problem when it comes to my studio, however, my studio is perfectly organized so he is just silly, ha! Let's get started. :-) 

Brush Flokati Rugs As if it's a pet

I have a slight obsession with collecting thick and fluffy flokati rugs. I buy them in each and every color. My current stash has the following hues: winter white, natural, butter yellow, tan, lavender, pink, blue, cobalt, Bordeaux, red, sky blue, coco, chocolate, apple, grey, mint, purple and gold. 

Before a session, you see, I sit on the floor of my studio and brush my flokati rugs lovingly. My husband also calls them my "chewbacca" rugs, lol! I think it's because they're hairy and thick, lol! I love when they're fluffy. I bought a special dog brush for "thick haired" dogs and I make sure the rugs get a good brushing before each use. If they're not fluffy, it makes me so sad! Only a newborn photographer can understand the joy of a fluffy flokati and how beautiful they look with baby sweetly laying on the rug. 

Organize everything by color and size

This is something that makes me so happy! When I walk into my studio, I cannot tell you how excited I am when my props are organized by color, shape, size, and different styles. For example, for my newborn girl headbands, I love when they are categorized by neutrals versus muted tones, or vibrant colors versus seasonal. The custom knitted hats and bonnets are organized by color and the type of yarn used. My buckets and bowls can be found by size and then all of my backdrops are organized in shades of light to dark. I always know where everything is and can easily reach things.

Make secret trips to the antique stores

One can never have enough vintage inspired props. The best place to find these amazing and classic items is at your local antique store. They're unique and something you won't necessarily find in a big box store. Anyway, sometimes I sneak away to the antique store because while I know I probably have enough props on hand and don't want to seem materialistic, I also know there is a hidden gem waiting to be found and used in a session. Babies in a bucket, for instance, are the BEST. A rustic crate with gorgeous texture and distressing a goldmine and when I find a vintage pail, I cannot wait to style it.

Walk into a room and say, "Hm, it's cold in here."

I keep my studio at a toasty 80 degrees. However, when I'm not in studio, I always feel cold. Newborn photography has made me really cold-nature. It'll be the middle of summer, I walk into an air conditioned room and say, "Wow...it's really cold in here. What is it, like 70 degrees?!" LOL! I find myself always having a sweater on hand or cardigan to keep warm.

Refer to newborn babies as "squishes". 

If you have not figured out yet, I love all things newborn baby. There is something so precious about them - their sweet faces, button noses, tiny toes, cute little bellies. I love their gorgeous features and chubby cheeks, tufts of hair, bee stung lips. Of all the traits, nonetheless, their squishy chunky rolls are DIVINE. 

I personally call newborn babies by the name of "squishes" because they're just fresh, new and oh-so-chubby, aka squishy.

I also sometimes call newborn babies earth side cherubs, bambino, little loves, lambs and tykes. Squishes, however, is the absolute embodiment of their gorgeous little selves. :-) 

Have a very precise name for each color in the rainbow

In the world of custom newborn photography, there is no such things as simply "blue" or "green" or "pink" when you're styling a session. Oh no! There is a world of magnificent color that varies for infinite shades that truly encompass the beauty of all the stunning hues in between. 

For example: if I were sorting through my props for a "blue" wrap I would consider colors such as iron, surf, aqua, mint, river, bluejay, country blue, whisper blue, etc. If looking for green I would search for sage, marsh,  ever green, moss or hunter. Hues of pink could lend a coral, melon, apricot, peach, whisper pink, cameo, rosewood, deep mauve, sedona, berry or even iris. Neutrals could be colors like ivory, pearl, natural, pebble, stone, twig, thistle, etc.

You see: each color has their own magic. Limiting yourself to a standard hue would be boring, don't you think?

As always, friends, thank you for visiting my blog to read about funny or goofy quirks that newborn photographers may do! I wish you a wonderful rest of your weekend. Before you go, I would love if you could take a chance to read more about my recent sessions, check out my newborn portfolio, or even send me a message if you are looking for your own custom baby session. 

Sarah Borchgrevink Photography is a Houston Newborn Photographer specializing in gorgeous posed newborn sessions. Her studio is located in Northwest Harris County. In addition to breathtaking baby portraiture, Sarah also offers stylish natural light family photography as well as dynamic outdoor maternity sessions for expecting mothers and couples. Sarah joyfully serves the entire Harris and Montgomery county areas including Houston, Cypress, Tomball, Spring, The Woodlands, Kingwood, Memorial & West Houston, Katy, Sugar Land, Pearland, Richmond, West University and Rice Village.