You just found out your expecting!
First of all, congratulations! That's SO exciting! I remember both times finding out I was pregnant and feeling like it took forever for the first appointment date to arrive. The butterflies and anxious feelings of wanting to know that everything is good and of course getting that final confirmation that you are in fact pregnant and not just dreaming haha. Then of course the best part of the appointment...hearing the little flutters that mean the most to every mom and dad. The first sound of their heartbeat. Man, that just brings back so many memories.
Why am I going on and on about this? Because it's all in relation to the perfect timing. As a professional award winning Liberty Missouri Newborn Photographer (Kansas City Newborn Photographer), I have been trained to not only safely pose and handle newborns, but I also have knowledge of when the best time is for your little one to have their first session.
The first step, booking your newborn session! (Kansas City Newborn Photographer)
I highly encourage that all parents that are wanting to book their newborn session, to book it after the first initial visit with your Dr to confirm your pregnancy. This may sound way early to be thinking about their first portraits, but as a professional newborn photographer, I generally book up in advice as far as 8 months (sometimes earlier for other types of sessions). Getting you on my schedule ahead of time not only ensures that you'll get a spot thats around your due date, but it also means that we can plan ahead to make sure that your session is perfect all the way down to the small details such as props and colors that you'd like for me to incorporate (it also allows me to buy more props haha).
The way that I book my newborn sessions are with tentative dates. Very rarely do those little ones come other exact due date (unless its booked out as a C-section then of course we can nail it down to the exact date). Once you reach out to book with me, I will send you a few dates that are 7-9 days after your estimated due date (I aim for all of my newborn sessions to occur between 7-14 days after birth) and then once your baby has arrived, we can adjust that date if need be. Booking early on in your pregnancy has always worked out so well for me and my clients because it just lets me know that I should be expecting your little ones arrival and to be on the look out for your message letting me know they have been born.
Now we get to discuss older newborns! (Liberty Missouri Newborn Photographer)
I'm a pretty seasoned newborn photographer and realize that no two birth stories are ever the same. Some get to go home and have a normal stay at the hospital after birth, while others may experience longer than normal stays due to circumstances. Will I turn you away because your baby is older than 2 weeks? Heck no! There's no way I'd ever turn down extra baby cuddles hehe. I've successfully captured newborns up to a month old ( most of those have been some of my best babies). My two week time frame is just a highly encouraged time to get in my studio if possible so that they are less alert and more likely to be posed but yes, I get that sometimes its just not possible so when you book with me and thats okay!
This leads me to those that at first don't have a desire to do newborn portraits but then their little ones arrives and they change their minds at the last minute. Do I accept last minute newborn sessions? You betcha! With my first born, I decided to not do newborn portraits with him and I regret this so much. (At the time I was not a photographer so this has always been a huge regret of mine to this day). It is harder to fit those last minute sessions in, however I always do my best to get them in if possible.
Now that I've gone on and on about timing things just right, let's connect and get your little one on my schedule ahead of time so that we can plan out their perfect first portrait session.
Much Love!
Kimberly Churchman
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