They don’t stay little forever. To capture those early days, it’s nice to leave it to a professional. Or, at least get insights from one.
For a first moments snap of your newborn, Bella Baby Photography offers a complimentary in-hospital session to families throughout the New York City area, with options for purchase starting at $35. Hospital partners include Northwell Health, NYU, NewYork-Presbyterian, Montefiore Health System, Stony Brook University Hospital and Richmond University Medical Center.
The session lasts for 15 minutes, after which families receive a same-day digital slideshow, allowing them to share the celebration instantly. Through Bella Baby’s Hello World program, you can register in advance for your in-hospital session, to ensure a photographer is on-site to capture your baby’s first moments.
When your bundle of joy is a bit older, the company also offers Bella Baby Life Sessions, where a photographer will visit your home or a meaningful location to you and go shutter crazy; sessions start at $875.
Area director Jeiris Ferrer, of Queens, has over eight years of experience as a Bella Baby photographer and thousands of newborn sessions under her belt. She advised to dress for success.
“Wear soft, neutral-colored clothing without bold patterns or logos,” said Ferrer. “This keeps the focus on your baby and ensures a timeless look.”
Keep accessories to a minimum, be wary of props overload and embrace simplicity. “A swaddle is all that’s needed, but if you have a meaningful blanket, heirloom item or a special hat, we’re happy to incorporate it,” said Ferrer. “However, we can create beautiful images with just what’s available in the room.”
Time your session savvily. “For the best experience, we find that newborns are most content right after a feeding,” said Ferrer, noting that all is not lost if your little one is fussy, since pro photographers are experienced in soothing techniques.
And remember to relax. Enjoy these first precious moments and let the photographers take care of the rest, said Ferrer. “We look forward to capturing this special time for your family.”
Based in New York City, Mother by Abbey Drucker also serves clients regularly in the Hamptons, Miami and Los Angeles. More specifically, the studio specializes in luxury fine art portrait sessions.
The referral-based studio works with babies aged 5 months and older, coming to the client’s home for an art-directed session complete with production support, turning your space into a mobile studio.
“With access to their crib and everything familiar and cozy, we create a relaxed, intimate environment to capture precious moments.”
Drucker recommends scheduling sessions between 5 and 18 months. This is “when babies are most expressive, interactive and can sit up on their own,” she said.
Coordinate your shoot around a special occasion. Think about what breakthrough event you’re looking to memorialize.
“Our clients often seek us out to preserve milestones like weaning or their baby’s transition into toddlerhood,” she said.
Let your child nap, too. “We work around sleeping, playtime and feeding schedules to ensure we capture the best mood from your baby,” said Drucker.
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