Welcome to KCB Photography, LLC. I’m a newborn, baby, and maternity photographer located in south central Pennsylvania. My studio is in Lebanon County, conveniently close to Hershey, Harrisburg, Lancaster, and Lebanon.
When planning for a newborn session, many clients stress about whether or not their baby will sleep for the session. It’s important to note that babies may or may not sleep for the full newborn photoshoot. In the several years I’ve been a newborn photographer (8 years for those wondering), I’ve never had a baby that would not sleep for a portion of their time in the studio. Most babies will sleep for a large portion of their session and many even for the entire photoshoot.
I have a lot of tricks to help babies sleep. From a warm, cozy studio temperature to noise machines and swaddling. Please rest assured that the responsibility of getting your little one to sleep is not yours–I will do my best to help shush, swaddle, and sway your precious babe so we can get those adorable snoozing shots.
With all that being said, there are a few things parents can do ahead of the session to help increase the chances of a sleepy baby.
- As difficult as it may be, try to limit how much your baby sleeps in the 3 hours prior to the session. Sometimes a warm bath helps to stimulate baby enough to wake him/her for a while.
- Just before leaving to come to the studio, give baby a substantial feeding. I would suggest letting him/her eat as much as they want to get a nice full tummy. This meal, along with the car ride, should help baby to fall asleep just before your arrival.
- Dress baby in something easy to remove. Those sweet little gowns with the open bottoms are perfect for this. These garments are easy to slip over baby’s head while not disturbing them.
- Pacifiers can be a great tool for the session. For some babes, a pacifier can make a session go more quickly and smoothly. Even if you don’t plan to use one regularly, I recommend bringing one along for the session. It will only be used when necessary.
- Be sure to bring plenty of diapers and feeding supplies. Pack your diaper bag with more than you anticipate needing.
- Clothing recommendations for mom, dad and siblings: I recommend neutral colors such as tan, cream, gray, black, and white. I would refrain from wearing bright, overpowering colors as well as bold patterns like flannel or large floral prints. Moms keep in mind you just gave birth… give yourself some grace when choosing your outfit. Something non-constrictive will be more comfortable. I have a selection of beautiful, flowy dresses in the studio for moms who want more options.
- Patience is paramount. These sessions take longer than the typical photography session. Expect to spend about 2-3 hours at my Lebanon County newborn photography studio. I want to take my time handling and photographing your little one. The images you get will last a lifetime; a few hours will be worth the wait, I promise!
