February 15, 2023

5 Ways to Prep for Your Newborn Session | Newborn

February 15, 2023/ Mallory Shelton

As a mama, you can do all the things to prep for your newborn session, and still be thrown a curve ball. We recently had our newborn pictures taken for Baby Boy #3, and even I had a few bumps in the road. I even wore baby boy while I did my hair and makeup so I could be ready beforehand. Yes, you read that right! My favorite wrap saved the day! I thought I had a plan for swapping out our bedding, but nope it didn’t go as I had hoped.

But guess what it’s okay! I tried to stay calm and not stress about it. I knew it wasn’t something I could change, so I made do. I changed my vision, and it all worked out!

Mama, the more you stress, the more stressed your baby and family are too!

Here are 5 tips to prep for your newborn session:

PICK YOUR OUTFITS OUT BEFOREHAND

Plan ahead. Go shopping and pick out your outfits beforehand. Make sure you try them on and lay them out to see how it all looks together. YOU are the most important one that day. Make sure you feel comfortable in whatever you choose to wear!

2. ASK FOR HELP

It is okay to ask for help. Have a friend or family member come over to hold your new little one or help with the big kids so you have time to get ready without feeling rushed. Take some pressure off yourself.

3. MAKE SURE YOU PULL OUT THE IRON FOR BEDDING AND OUTFITS

Iron all the things. Does your bedding need to have a wrinkle or two ironed out? This is really if you decide to put something new on. You see I was going to put a new duvet cover on and opened it up the day of. It had an orange string through the trim, and I realized if I was going to use it, it would need to be ironed. All that to say, you do NOT need to purchase new bedding for your newborn session we will be using it in our bedroom once I get a new one.

4. FEED YOUR BABY 30 MINUTES BEFORE

Make sure your baby is well fed. It is a good idea to feed your little one about 30 minutes before your session then allow mama to put her clothes on and finish any last minute touch ups.

5. TAKE A DEEP BREATH, AND RELAX

Lastly, take a deep breath and relax. Yes, easier said than done. Your energy feeds to your baby and family. If you are relaxed, everyone else will be too.

I also shared 3 must haves for your newborn session. If you missed it, you can find the blog here.

If are interested in booking a newborn session, I am currently booking through early Fall, and I would love to chat with you! You can reach out to me here for booking information.

March 24, 2021

3 Lifestyle Newborn session Must Haves | Dallas, TX Newborn Photography

March 24, 2021/ Mallory Shelton

The new baby smells, little toes and baby coos that melt your Mama heart. It is in those earlier days that time passes way too quickly and you need to capture the littlest details of your precious newborn! I love entering a home a seeing the nursery all set up, hearing where some of your favorite pieces came from or how you picked your little one’s name! All of these little details help me as I begin to capture your new family and tell your story!

Newborn sessions can vary from 45 minutes to 2 + hours depending on how your baby is doing. Each individual newborn determines our session from start to finish, well unless there is an older sibling. If there is an older sibling, then we let them lead the session!

3 LIFESTYLE NEWBORN SESSION MUST HAVES

These are a few of my favorite newborn must haves which can help you prepare for your session before your little one arrives. This will give you as the Mama a little more peace of mind before your session!

Simple Swaddle: Yes, I love to utilize just a simple white, blue, pink or swaddle with a small print to capture your newborn. This keeps your baby wrapped up tightly, which must prefer. Sometimes their sweet little arms, rolls or hands get out and this just adds to the perfect little newborn detail shots. Some of my favorite swaddles are Aiden and Anais, SpearmintLove or Little Unicorn
White noise: Many times a walk into a clients home and ask about a sound machine. Yes, newborns are used to hearing some calming noises from the past 9 months. The white noise can help soothe them to sleep or just keep them content while we work through the session.
A simple onesie, bows or hats: Simple, small bows for baby girls are perfect to put on during our session. This can add just that touch of pink to the session gallery. I also tend to lean towards swaddles, but if you have that perfect coming home outfit or onesie you want to use we can always utilize those special details during our session!

3 small tips to help you prepare for your lifestyle newborn session! And if you are ready to book your newborn session before it’s too late, please reach out to me and let’s get you on my calendar!

March 11, 2021

What to Wear for your Spring Session | Dallas, TX Family Photography

March 11, 2021/ Mallory Shelton

Spring Sessions are just around the corner! And yes, I know it can be a bit overwhelming to get all the outfits together! I am sharing tips for planning your spring photo-worthy wardrobe; as well as, a few outfits for the whole family!

Start early! Look now for your Spring wardrobe. It is always best to begin looking as early as possible. You never want to wait until the last minute to put your wardrobe together. This only makes us mama’s a bit more stressed!
Mama, start with you! Yes, it is always best to start with the women of the group. Mama’s you can some times be the pickiest. Find a flowy dress, cute top and white pants, or skirt and top combo. I particularly think dresses are prettiest and most flattering for pictures, but that’s not to say I have some of my favorite pictures in a top and white jeans combo! You want whatever you choose to be flattering and make YOU feel good! I may ask you to sit or bend down, so make sure you feel comfortable doing this in your outfit!
Coordinate. Yes, I did say COORDINATE not matching! We want the family to be coordinating wearing like colors and a pattern or two, but not all in those old traditional photos where everyone is matching. A coordinating wardrobe will last a lifetime! Do you have siblings that you want to match? Yes, you can do that, just try to have the family coordinate.
Lay it all out. I always suggest for clients to layout all the clothes. See if they look like they go well together. This way you can switch out options if you have multiple outfits for a child or you. I personally like to lay them on a simple, clean background like the floor to have all the distractions out of the way.
Try it on! Mama, make sure that dress fits or that those cute little outfits tucked away for the kiddos aren’t too small! It’s always good to try them on before hand in case you have to make a change. Also, don’t forget the shoes! Yes, you want to make sure the kids shoes fit before your pictures or they may not want to wear them! But hey, I love a good barefoot picture too, so I am okay with no shoes on the kiddos!

Lastly, if you are client, I am always happy to help with your wardrobe selections or ideas! Just reach out, send me an email and I would be more than happy to help guide you as you put your outfits together!

If you are interested in more information or booking a family session, please contact me here for more information and availability!