We love every baby that comes through our studio, but little baby J will always have a special place in our heart. He was the very first newborn in our new studio on Main Street in Hackettstown! He certainly made us work for the pictures, as it seems he was in a cluster feeding mood, but topped off with lots of milk, we finally got those beautiful sleepy baby photos that everyone loves!

Want to schedule a newborn session with Melissa Milano Photography? Fill out our CONTACT FORM and we will be in touch soon! We are the premiere Hackettstown Newborn and Family Portrait Studio, because you deserve the best. The best time to book your newborn session is 2-3 months before your due date. Don’t forget to ask about our First Year Package! It features a Belly to Baby to Toddler Portrait Album to celebrate this momentous first year! Featuring 4 sessions; Maternity, Newborn, Sitter and Cake Smash, without a doubt all moments you will cherish forever

Newborn Baby Portraits: Capturing the First Few Weeks of Life

Welcome to the world of newborn baby portraits! Capturing the first few weeks of life for a new baby is a unique experience. Newborn baby portraits are a special way to document your baby’s arrival and to create memories that will last for years to come. In this blog post, we will discuss the ins and outs of newborn baby portrait photography and how to make the most of your baby’s first few weeks.From finding the perfect photographer to selecting the best poses, we’ll provide tips and tricks to help you create beautiful, lasting memories of your precious little one.

Choosing the Right Photographer

Choosing the photographer for your newborn session can seem like a daunting task! There are SO many talented photographers out there, how will you ever be able to narrow it down?
First, when handling newborns, SAFETY should always be at top of mind. Newborn babies come with their own special set of needs and you need someone with experience and training to handle the most precious person in your life safely. Make sure your photographer is insured, experienced, and following the Accredited Professional Newborn Photographers International safety guidelines. See a list of questions to ask your photographer here https://apnpi.com/newborn_safety/

What to Expect During Your Session

• The studio will be warm during the session so that your baby remains comfortable. There will also be a small space heater to keep your little one warm. Please dress in layers so that you can remain comfortable during the session.
• Newborn sessions generally take 3 hours. If a toddler is involved or baby seems to be colicky, a session may take up to 4 hours.
• Please take advantage of this time to rest! I generally won’t need any help, but I’ll be sure to ask you if I do!
• I recommend having no more than yourself, your spouse/partner and children. Too many extra people in the studio make for somewhat challenging creative conditions and can be distracting. Though our studio has toys and activities available, it is best if another parent can take older children out of the studio when family photos are done, as the session can get very long for older children and toddlers!

Tips for Getting Great Shots

• If possible, please have a bottle of formula or breast milk ready for the session, along with a pacifier should we need it. This is especially important with twins and maintaining the flow of the session. I understand that many mothers are trying to avoid a pacifier during this critical time of learning to breastfeed, but I hope you’ll consider that pacifiers are so useful in soothing fussy babies back to sleep during the 3 hours we’re together. If you are not comfortable with the use of a pacifier, please let me know. We are absolutely on board with whatever you choose!
• You will be feeding your baby a FULL feeding when you arrive to the studio, so please schedule your baby’s day accordingly.
• Dress baby in loose fitting clothes to avoid any lines on skin. A onesie that opens in the front is best, as this avoids having to lift anything tight over baby’s head.
• Most importantly, enjoy this time to relax. We know you’re sleep deprived, our studio will be toasty and dim, you are free to take a little nap on our couch!

After the Session

1-2 weeks after your session we will schedule your image reveal and ordering appointment! This is everybody’s favorite part! We will narrow down your favorite images and choose your products and how you’d like to display these special portraits. We will be able to design albums and wall art to match your home right on the spot so you can see exactly what you are ordering and what it will look like. Have the tissues ready, you’ll be amazed at how much your little one grows in the short time between your session and image reveal