studio re-opening | safety guidelines

Friends….I’m SO EXCITED to get back into the studio and start capturing your babies’ newborn sweetness and milestone moments again! After nearly 3 months of not being able to open the doors of my studio, I am more than ready to get behind the camera again. While closed, I’ve been busy deep cleaning and re-organizing the studio, as well as educating myself about best safety practices going forward from leading experts in the newborn photography industry, in conjunction with guidelines issued by the CDC. I know many of you may have questions about safety issues as we move forward, which is why I’ve created this blog post. My goal is to answer any questions you may have, and to assure you that measures are being taken to keep your little ones safe while capturing their cuteness!

Guidelines for Studio Sessions

• Studio sessions will be scheduled 72 hours apart. This will allow for deep cleaning of the studio and all equipment before and after each session.

• Hard surfaces will be disinfected before/after every session. Fabric/washable items will be laundered before/after every session. Non-washable items such as headbands, delicate knit wraps, and fluffy rugs will be quarantined for 72 hours between sessions.

• All shoes will be removed upon entry to the studio.

• A hand washing station will be available, and clients will be asked to wash hands upon entering the studio.

• My assistant and I will engage in frequent and thorough hand washing before and throughout sessions.

• Sessions will be limited to immediate family only. Siblings of newborns will be allowed at the studio only for their pictures with baby. Once those are complete, arrangements should be made for them to leave with a parent, grandparent, or other trusted adult.

• Masks will be worn by myself, my assistant, and clients (except babies) throughout the entire session. If you do not have a mask, one will be provided for you at the studio.

• Limited outside items will be allowed in the studio. Clients may bring baby’s car seat and diaper bag, but no other items such as strollers, outside props, etc will be allowed in the studio for the time being.

• I will continue to enforce a strict wellness policy for all sessions. My assistant and I will not work if sick/symptomatic, and clients will be asked to reschedule if anyone in their immediate family is ill, or if there has been a known exposure to COVID-19.

• Contactless payments will be accepted. Please let me know if you’d prefer to be invoiced through PayPal, or if you would like to bring a pre-drafted check or cash in exact change to the session. I do not accept Venmo payments at this time.

Guidelines for Outdoor Sessions

• Social distancing of 6 feet will be maintained throughout the session.

• Hand sanitizer will be used upon arrival to the location, and throughout the session as necessary.

• I will wear a mask throughout the session.

• Sessions will be limited to immediate family only.

• I will continue to enforce a strict wellness policy for all sessions. I will not work if sick/symptomatic, and clients will be asked to reschedule if anyone in their immediate family is ill, or if there has been a known exposure to COVID-19.

• Contactless payments will be accepted. Please let me know if you’d prefer to be invoiced through PayPal, or if you would like to bring a pre-drafted check or cash in exact change to the session. I do not accept Venmo payments at this time.

The health, comfort, and safety of your little ones has always been my top priority. I hope these guidelines offer you great peace of mind as we approach your session. Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns!

~ Kristen

Gorgeous, Jewel-Toned Maternity Session | The Geneva Family

The month of March isn’t necessarily known for its lush, beautiful landscapes, or for being an ideal time for an outdoor photo session. But I’m here to tell you that beauty is still everywhere….even when all the trees and flowers are dormant, waiting for new life.

When Cynthia and I were planning her maternity session several weeks beforehand, we had no idea what kind of weather we were going to be dealing with—whether we’d still have snow, or if we’d just be in that in-between time of not winter anymore, but definitely not spring-like yet either. Our initial session date fell on a cloudy day—which we could have managed with beautiful results—but we intentionally chose to wait for some sun. And I’m so glad we did. Between the golden light, and Cynthia’s jewel-toned wardrobe choices, we ended up with a perfect combination of light and color, proving there really is beauty everywhere….all you have to do is notice!

Jack + Evie | Twin Mini Session

I’ve been photographing newborns for the las five years, but have only had the pleasure of photographing newborn twins twice…so you can imagine my excitement when Jack + Evie’s mama contacted me for their session! She was hoping for a mini session—just looking for a handful of images of them to commemorate this time while they were so tiny and new. I completely fell in love with these sweet little nuggets, and absolutely love the timeless, neutral color palette of their session.

“In this life we will never truly be apart, for we grew to the same beat of our mother’s heart.”

~ Daphne Fandrich

Lucy | Newborn

During Classic newborn sessions, there are a variety of unwrapped poses I like to try and achieve with babies if they are sleepy enough. We don’t always get through this entire series, because we always take our cues from baby, working at baby’s pace, and only doing the poses they are comfortable with. Sweet little Lucy was a complete rockstar for her session, and let me get through this entire set! Which pose(s) are your favorites?

Getting the Most Out of Your Milestone Session

I know what you’re thinking when you come to see me for your baby’s milestone session. At least, I have a pretty good idea…you’re hoping that all of the planets will align, and that your baby will be the happiest, smiliest, cutest version of him/herself, at least for the 30-45 minutes that comprise your session time. But I’ll be honest with you….more often than not, baby isn’t 100% thrilled with the photo shoot, and they didn’t get the memo that they were supposed to smile on cue and be camera-ready and adorable. BUT….there are some things that you can do to prepare for the session, so that things will go as smoothly as possible:

1. Make sure baby is fed and well-rested! I know sometimes when scheduling appointments, it’s tempting to want to schedule when it works best with your timeline, but if that means interrupting or foregoing a nap, or postponing a feeding, that can spell disaster for a milestone session! Our time together will be much more productive if baby isn’t tired or hungry.

2. Let me know if baby is sick! If baby wakes up with a cold, or even if he/she hasn't slept well due to teething or is just generally crabby the day of the session, please let me know—we can easily reschedule to a time when he/she is feeling better. Pushing through a session with a sick baby isn’t fun for anyone, especially the baby!

3. Remember that the studio is a new experience for your baby! Even if your baby came to see me for their newborn session, or previous milestone sessions, they don’t remember me or my space, so it might take them a minute to warm up—and that’s ok! We will work at baby’s pace, without rushing them through the session.

4. Don’t stress about outfits! I keep a studio closet of outfits in various sizes that coordinate perfectly with my prop collection, and styling is included at no extra charge with every milestone session.

5. Don’t stress in general! I know it’s easy to find yourself worried about whether or not the baby will smile or be cooperative, but any stress you’re feeling can be communicated unintentionally to the baby. Remember: our goal is to capture authentic moments that represent who your baby is at this stage in his/her development. Whether we end up capturing smiles, serious or silly faces, or even a few tears, we will have captured the essence of who your baby is right now, and those images will be just as beautiful and meaningful to you as anything “perfect” we might hope to capture.

Erika + Drew | Maternity

One of my favorite maternity sessions to date was with Erika + Drew, at Crockery Creek Natural Area. Everything came together perfectly for this session, from the gorgeous golden autumn light, to the obvious excitement these two had to meet their baby girl, to the way Erika just glowed….ALL the heart eyes for these two <3 <3 <3