thank you for choosing kelli barnette photography!
congratulations on your newest arrival! i am so excited to capture your precious baby during their first days!
how to prepare
In the weeks leading up to our session, keep an eye on the times of day your home gets the best natural light (especially the nursery, living room, or master bedroom). Natural light with no lamps/overhead lighting/etc.
Be sure to declutter the spaces you hope to take photos in (I recommend focusing on the nursery, master, and/or living area but truly where ever the best light is - clear that area out)! Examples of things you can do to clean up spaces: don’t leave dishes in your sink/countertops, fold blankets in your living space, put any laundry away, tidy up toys into baskets etc. All of these can add distractions from your photos. By taking a little time before I arrive to tidy up, it helps keep me from spending my time upon arrival moving things around that we might realize we don’t want in the background of your photos. However, we will primarily shoot in the areas that have the best natural light.
Keep in mind that monitors/cameras, cords, and outlets will not be removed from photos. If you don’t want a monitor camera in shots in the nursery, for example, please be sure to remove this ahead of time.
Nursing Mamas : to help prevent a gassy/upset tummy for baby, consider avoiding these foods 24/48hrs prior to our session. Acidic foods (lemon, orange, berries, pizza, chili, tomato products), gassy vegetables (broccoli, onion, cabbage, asparagus, pickles, cauliflower), large quantities of dairy (small amounts should be okay unless your little one has a dairy intolerance), and caffeine (coffee & tea).
Feeding - Try to feed your baby right before I arrive, after their awake time and/or bath. This should help ensure they are sleepy and content when I arrive.
A Paci can work wonders to help soothe a baby in between shots. If your baby doesn’t typically take a Paci, it can be helpful during these few hours but I would never require or force you to try this - it is entirely a suggestion and up to you!
It can take anywhere from 20 minutes to an hour to get your baby happy, comfortable, and sleepy.
Added guests : I ask that only those being photographed during our session be present for our time together. I find this helps to avoid distractions for everyone involved and allows me to connect with those being photographed. If a grandparent wants to be present to help with an older sibling after we’re done, that’s totally fine.
Pets - I’ll always try my best to include family pets into a family portrait, but please understand I believe in safety above all else. If at any time I feel unsafe or feel baby is unsafe I’ll skip any portraits with pets. I also ask that your pets be kept in another area of the home when I’m taking photos that don’t include them. This keeps everyone safe.
Last but not least, this is baby’s show. I will capture a gorgeous collection of images of your baby doing what they do best—being beautiful! I let baby lead & follow their cues for posing.
sick safety
precautions
At Kelli Barnette Photography, safety is my top priority. Here is what you can expect from me and what I will be asking of clients to prevent unnecessary contamination.
Arrival - I will remove my shoes upon entering your home. We will avoid hand-shaking all together. Please know I am still excited to see you and your sweet family!
Sick Symptoms - Please notify me immediately if you or anyone in your family become ill. This is not limited to Covid symptoms but any type of bug, cold or flu as well. I will also notify you if myself or my family should fall ill. Your session will need to be postponed until further notice if any one of us are sick. Please don’t let me arrive to your home if your family is ill in any way. I will need to leave your home and your retainer fee will not be refunded.
Hand-washing - Everyone will be asked to wash their hands before starting the session, including me. This includes siblings, but not newborns.
Cleaning - Please know I have always cleaned all my studio items I bring to your home before and after each session. However I am taking extra precautions by laundering all studio items I bring with me to your home regardless if they are soiled or not and sanitizing all hard surfaces with Lysol after each session to ensure everyone’s safety.
Touching - I will avoid touching parents as much as possible and will use hand sanitizer throughout the session. I also ask that you use sanitizer as needed. I may need to hold and touch your baby during the session, however I will make sure I use hand sanitizer as needed.
Clothing - I ask that all clothing worn by both parties be freshly laundered. Meaning I will wear clean clothing before your session and will immediately launder my clothing once the session is over. I ask that you please do the same for parents, siblings and newborns.
day of session
Please try to keep baby awake for 1-2 hours prior to my arrival for your session.
A warm environment will encourage baby to snooze. Kicking up your homes thermostat or using a space heater during this session is ideal for baby’s comfort (or simply turning AC down a smidge & turning off fans if during summer months).
Plan to be burping or on baby’s second side for feeding as I arrive. Once baby is done feeding, plan to check if he/she needs a diaper change & is content/happy in their outfit or ready to swaddle in order to help them settle and feel cozy!
Dress baby in something that is easy to change & wouldn’t upset them before I arrive.
Once I have my gear ready, and you all are done feeding/burping, we’ll walk your home together to scope out spots with the best light.
what to wear
Here are a few wardrobe tips to consider when styling your family session:
basics : Think about coordinating your family vs. being matchy-matchy. Wear colors that flatter your skin & hair color. I was given the tip once “select moms outfit first & coordinate dad & the littles with her”. Often times mamas put themselves last, but are often the hardest on themselves. Kiddos are confident & happy in most anything, so consider selecting your outfit first & coordinating everyone else to you!
colors : When selecting your outfit colors, think about muted colors vs. bright/vibrant colors. Simple neural, solid colors and fabrics are absolutely beautiful and timeless. Solid colors photograph much better in a lifestyle setting. Grey tones, white, ivory, beige/oatmeal tones photograph wonderfully & keep baby the center of focus. Muted greens/blues/pinks also do well.
For the boys : fitted tees, polos, or button-ups. Remove Apple Watches if you do not want them in photos or remember to turn the screen off so that notifications are not showing in your photos.
For the girls : tank tops, blouses, or a flowy maxi dresses
For the babies : Couple of options here — simple onesie or a special outfit (I recommend one that allows us to see babies shapes as gowns can kind of swallow them whole & not make them feel cozy where they’ll settle & be content during our time together) is absolutely an option! If your baby stays pretty content, this is a great option. I also will bring a swaddle (color of your choice) if baby won’t settle swaddling can help calm them & often they fall asleep where we can breeze through a variety of combinations.
body type : Don’t be afraid to accentuate your shape (mamas & daddy’s!). Flow-y, fitted fabrics always look fantastic! When buying outfits for children, select well-fitting clothes vs. something that they will grow into.
comfort : Please never wear something you are not 100% comfortable & confident in. If you have doubts, it will show in your photos. If you love wearing maxi dresses, wear it! If jeans & a stylish top are more your jam—go for it! You all will shine brighter in your photos if you feel good about what you are in!
check for these: Make sure that your bra straps aren’t coming out of your sleeves easily.
barefoot : Something about being barefoot seems more relaxed & natural. If this is natural for your family—I have no problem with bare feet!
stylish : Last tip, (I promise!). Dress a little extra special. I’m notorious for being in leggings & a long shirt in my day-to-day life. However, for your photo session, consider selecting an outfit for you and each family member that is just a little step up from what you all would wear during everyday life. Think about jewelry, shoes, and other accessories to help make your session special.
I love helping families coordinate outfits! If you have an outfit idea and want someone to bounce ideas off of, please reach out! I’d love to hear from you & help you piece together your family’s wardrobe.