When to schedule your session is the most common question we get, and with good reason. You want your images to look the absolute best they can while maintaining your life's busy schedule. Keep in mind that we are typically booked about 3 weeks in advance, and Saturdays fill up first, so you will need to plan ahead in most circumstances.
Newborns
Call us while you are still pregnant. With rare exceptions, the images you see on our website are of fresh babies who are 4-9 days old. Why is it critical to book so early? Mainly because your baby will lose the "memory" of the womb after a week and won't be as poseable and bendable as in the first few days of life. Between 10-14 days, your baby will start becoming more alert, and around two weeks until six weeks, baby will develop acne and his skin will begin to peel and flake. Waiting until the cord falls off is too late. If you are concerned about the unsightly umbilical cord, we can pose in a way to hide it.
When booking, we will use your due date and add 7 days. If it falls on a weekend or holiday, we will book you for the next business day, with the understanding that baby will come on his or her own schedule! We build "holes" in our calendar so that if we need to reschedule your session, we can still accommodate you. If you have a schedule induction or c-section date, we can plan your session more firmly.
Maternity
To best capture your beautiful growing belly, it's best to see you between 32-36 weeks. (If you are pregnant with multiples, we can see you as early as 28 weeks in most cases.) Booking too soon won't show off the fullness of your pregnant form, and booking late may be uncomfortable for the sitting, laying and moving required for most poses. We have completed sessions for ladies past their due date, so it's never too late, but consider that you will have limited comfort in mobility in your last days.
Babies
The ages and stages of babies are all special, so when to book is completely up to you, but our recommendation for the best images is not ages so much as milestones. Sitting independently (usually between 6-7 months) and standing or walking are best. The first birthday is always special, so we offer a free smash cake with the purchase of a premium session to put a sweet touch on the end of baby's first year.
Family
You can book a studio session any time of the year at any time of day. If you require an outdoor session, we will always book you when the sunlight is best, which is about an hour before sunset. This could be as early as 4:30 in the winter months, or as late as 7:30 during the summer.
Holiday
If you need gifts and holiday cards this year, plan ahead! We begin booking in September, and are usually full by late October, and have to begin our waiting list. For Christmas delivery, our last sessions are completed the weekend prior to Thanksgiving.