being able to create beautiful and honest images is our job as lifestyle newborn photographers.  but in order to create images in the best way that we can, we have to make sure that we are in the best environment.  we need to make sure we set up our sessions successfully so they run as smoothly as possible.  being a lifestyle newborn photographer, i take pictures in client’s homes.  this means that every session allows me to photograph in a brand new environment that i have never photographed in before.  while this has it’s challenges, i have found that having clear communication before session day really makes or breaks my success with in home lifestyle sessions.  i am adamant about having clear communication with my clients before their session to ensure that i, and they, know exactly what to expect once i arrive at their home.  to be as prepared as you can, here are 6 questions to ask before lifestyle newborn sessions.

need help know what photos to take?  check out my 10 tips for photographing a lifestyle newborn session.

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6 Questions To Ask Before Lifestyle Newborn Sessions

when thinking about what questions to ask before lifestyle newborn sessions, i thought of all the things that would make me nervous for the session.  if i am nervous about it, i want to be prepared so i know what to expect or so i can prepare myself better.  without fail, i ask the following 6 questions before my lifestyle newborn sessions and it makes photographing the session not only less stressful, but so much more successful.

Question #1 : When Is It The Brightest In Your Home?

because i am a natural light photographer, light is always my biggest concern.  since i don’t use flash or artificial light of any kind, i am completely reliant on the natural light of my client’s home.  being successful with natural light is so easy, if you just ask the question.  after choosing a date with my client, i have my client watch the light in their home for me to help determine the best time of day to schedule their photos to be taken.

after deciding what rooms we will photograph in, i have my client turn off the lights in those rooms and watch the light over the course of a couple days.  i have them note when it is naturally the brightest in the room without any sunshine physically coming into the room on the walls or floors.  usually clients find that the early afternoon is the brightest, but light is different in every home.  knowing when the light is the best helps to ensure that i can create the bright and soft images that reflect my photography style.

are you struggling with finding a photography style that uniquely represents you?  be sure to check out my ebook “the styled photographer.”

Question #2 : Do you need help with wardrobe?

most of my clients tell me upon hiring that they love how honest and bright my newborn photography is.  what people don’t realize is that wardrobe can play a huge role in the tone of photographs.  i always offer wardrobe help with clients by recommending that they only wear soft neutrals like whites, creams and light grays.  i explain the importance of avoiding bright tones and how it can create unnatural skin tones on their baby through color casts.  i also send them a pinterest board that i created just for newborn clients, giving examples of what photographs well.  pinterest boards with wardrobe examples can be very helpful for clients, as it’s very visual.

for additional inspiration on how clients should dress their newborn, check out my post on how to dress your baby.

Question #3 : Does your newborn have siblings?

if there are siblings to incorporate into the photos, it is very important that i know that ahead of time so i can not only prep posing, but so i know how to structure my session.  my session flows differently when siblings are involved, as i like to photograph them first so that siblings can be photographed and finished quickly to avoid combating behavior later in the session.

for more tips on how to incorporate siblings into newborn sessions, check out my 8 tips for photographing newborns with siblings.

Question #4 : What’s your feeding schedule?

among the questions to ask before lifestyle newborn sessions, i always ask about feedings.  because most newborns are on an “on demand” feeding schedule, i build more time into the session for feeding breaks.  it is always easier to stop and feed a baby than to try and photograph one who is fussy.  in the long run, it’s quicker to stop and feed.  while my clients know that i am flexible with feedings throughout the session, i do request that they feed their newborn right before i arrive for their session.  feeding their newborn right before i arrive helps calm and prepare them for the session, allowing us to start photographing right away to make the most of our time together.

Question #5 : Is your nursery set up?

before my lifestyle newborn sessions, i like to prepare my clients for what areas in their home i will be photographing in.  this ensures that those spaces are clean and photo ready once i arrive, as i never want a client to be surprised or stressed about the state of a room.  when discussing their upcoming session, i tell my clients that i generally focus on photos in the master bedroom and nursery, if set up, and around window light.  this gives the client an idea of what rooms they should have ready to go, and what rooms they don’t need to stress about having photo ready.

because i give full disclosure on where i will be photographing in my clients home, it is up to my client to have those rooms ready.  from time to time, i will help declutter a nightstand that will be in the photo or move a piece of furniture that is unbalancing my photo.  but most of the time, clear communication about what rooms i will be in fully prepares clients to have their home photo ready.

Question #6 : Do you have any “must have” photos?

while my clients always give me artistic freedom to photograph their newborn, sometimes they request a particular photo from my portfolio that they have seen me do before.  because my clients hire me because they have fallen in love with my work, i be sure to ask if there was a particular photo of mine that they really wanted me to do.  i always like to ask this because sometimes clients have a particular baby announcement in mind and want a particular photo that will work well with that, such as a close up of the baby’s face.  it’s always better to ask the client and incorporate their wishes into the session that to have a client wishing they had a particular photo.

to ensure that client’s are requesting photos that reflect my photography style, i send them a pinterest board of my newborn portfolio to pin for inspiration.  this minimizes clients pinning images from other photographers, which places unrealistic expectations on me and my photography style.

having clear communication and knowing as much about my clients as i can prior to my lifestyle newborn sessions make my sessions run so smoothly and make my images that much more successful.  when thinking about what questions to ask before lifestyle newborn sessions, think of any potential surprises you might encounter on the day of the session and clarify before booking.  it’s always better to know too much than too little and be as prepared as you can.

What Photography Gear To Bring

and because i know you are probably wondering about my gear, here is a little peek into what i bring with me.

i always carry my wide angle lenses, the sigma art 24mm f/1.4 lens and the nikon 24-85mm f/3.5-4.5 lens.  having a wide angle lens allows me to fit more of the surroundings of my clients home, as well as more people, inside of the frame.  the purpose of lifestyle newborn sessions is to document families within their home, so having a wide angle lens is a key factor in doing that.  i also bring my sigma 50mm f/1.4 lens, as it is perfect for both family and individual portraits.  it’s low aperture also allows me to get some detailed photos of the baby, surrounded by soft bokeh.  because i photograph my lifestyle newborn sessions with more than one lens, i carry two camera bodies, my nikon d750 and nikon d610 so that i can have a lens on each camera body and reduce wasting time by switching out lenses.

lastly, i find it helpful to bring a tripod.  this allows me to set up my shot where i would like it, while allowing me to run back and forth between my clients and my camera.  when photographing newborns with siblings, i find that i am constantly running towards the client to get my older sibling posed just right, then running back to capture the moment.  having a tripod helps ensure that my shot is always set up where i want it, despite my movement.  having a tripod also helps combat low light scenarios, as it helps to steady my camera and allow me to keep my shutter open longer without camera shake.

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with so many photographers to choose from, it’s important that you are not only being chosen for hire the first time, but again in the future as well.  having your photography business attract the right clients for you will help you not only have a successful session, but it will help take you from being a photographer that the client only hires one time to the photographer they turn to whenever it’s time to update their family portraits.  getting hired as their photographer is just the first step in achieving a returning client.  but it is what you do behind the scenes with your business that will make your photography clients rehire you again.  try incorporating these 6 photography business habits when running your business and watch the difference.

are you spending too much time narrowing down photos to edit?  be sure to check out my 5 tips for choosing good photos to edit to help speed up the culling process!

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6 Photography Business Habits That Get You Rehired

our goals as photographers are to not only create beautiful photos for our clients, but to create an experience for them that wants them coming back for more.  instead of having them search for google when it’s time to update their family photos, you want them searching for your business card.  there are 6 principles that i have built my photography business around that have not only made my business very successful, but have created long lasting positive impressions with my clients.  and instead of being a one time photographer, i have become a family photographer who gets rehired time and time again.  keep these tips in mind to help create a photography business that has long term success.

1. Create an Experience

for most families, the idea of getting their portraits taken is quite stressful.  besides capturing wonderful moments with my camera, my main goal is to create a fun experience for my clients so they enjoy their time in front of the camera.  this not only helps to get genuine emotion in my images, but the clients will look back on their images and associate them with a fun experience.  they will replace that feeling of stress and anxiety with a more positive feeling, encouraging them to rehire you for another positive experience when it is time to update their portraits.  in order for you to photograph a family making a fun memory, it’s important that you create one for them.

ways you can do this is by simply having fun with your clients.  take them to a new location that would interest them and allow them to have fun within their surroundings.  encourage them to play games, laugh, and tickle one another.  all of these things help to not only relax the client and make them feel more comfortable in front of the camera, but to create images that have honest emotion.

one of my very favorite sources for posing inspiration is  the design aglow posing guide for family portrait photography.

2. Don’t Offer Mini Sessions

in my opinion, mini sessions are one of the worst things you can do for your photography business.  first of all, you are paying yourself less to do the same work, even if you are offering less images or a shorter session.  second of all, you are attracting the wrong client.  mini sessions attract clients who only want a deal.  and next year when they are looking to hire a photographer again, they are going to be searching for a deal first and foremost.  for me and my photography style, full length sessions are necessary to not only create an experience for my client but to give me time to have some fun and create honest images with them.  it’s not something that can be done in a 15 minute session, but instead i like to take my time with my clients and not make them feel rushed.

set your pricing and stand by it.  the customers who truly love your work will pay for it.  and those are the customers you want anyways because they will help you achieve your photography style as they are invested in it just as much as you are.

3. Maintain A Consistent Photography Style

the reason why clients hire you initially is because they love your work.  the reason why they hire you again is because…they still love your work.  be sure that you are always being consistent with your photography style, as it will help you attract clients and then keep them.  if you are a photographer who has a clear photography style, your clients know exactly what they are going to get by hiring you, and they will be satisfied in the end because you will deliver what they expect.  however, if you are a photography who photographs differently during each session, your portfolio is going to be too diverse, leaving potential clients wondering what they will even get by hiring you.

if you are a photographer that focuses on capturing candid moments with your clients, do it and do it all of the time.  this will ensure that the clients who hire you know what to expect from you, and also ensures that they will be happy with their final images because it’s what they hired you to do.

if you are struggling with finding a unique photography style that represents you and your business, be sure to check out my eBook “The Styled Photographer.”

4. Be Personable and Build Trust

you represent yourself and your business from the very first email a client sends you.  i firmly believe that the client’s session begins way before the session day.  it is your job to build trust with your client from the moment you are introduced.  be personable with your client as you are choosing a location, a date, and confirming their session.  build trust in them by offering additional services before the session like wardrobe advisement.  helping clients decide what to wear to their session not only helps reduce the client’s stress, but it shows them that you care enough about their photos that you are willing to put in some time to show them what photographs the best.  building trust also means following up with your client before the session, by way of sending session reminders and encouraging communication if questions are to arise.

5. Don’t Do What You Say, Do More

if you tell your client you are going to do something, do it better than they could imagine.  for me, i do this in two main ways.  even though i tell my client that it will take me two weeks to edit their collection, i edit and deliver their images within less than a week.  this is not only impressive to my client, but the surprise is lovely for them.  when a client leaves my session, they are already thinking about how their images are going to look so i don’t want them wondering for long, i love to show them right away.  another way that i do more for my client is by editing extra images for them, for free.  even though i quote 20 final images, i always throw in extra images for my clients.  this is not only a great way to say thank you for a wonderful session, but it shows my clients that i care enough about their memories that i want them to have all of them, not just a certain number.  clients remember little things like faster delivery times and free extras.  and to be honest, it takes very little time to do these little gestures.

6. Send An Annual Reminder

every august, before the busy fall season begins, i send emails to my existing clients to remind them that it’s time to schedule a time to update their family portraits.  my clients love the reminder because, being summer, it’s something they haven’t thought of quite yet.  they are glad that you are willing to get them on the calendar while there are many dates to choose from instead of rushing to find a spot when they eventually remember it’s time to schedule.  allowing existing clients to choose session dates before opening up my calendar to the public is a gesture that clients appreciate, and it makes them feel special.  it shows them that you care about their family and want to see them again this year.

successful photographers book clients, but really successful photographers rebook clients.  you know that you are doing it right when your clients choose you again and again.  your goal is to be the photographer your clients turn to no matter what time of year and no matter what occasion.  try implementing these 6 photography business habits to help transition yourself from a one time photographer to you client’s official family photographer.

be sure to join my exclusive email list to receive my latest photography tips and tutorials.  it’s free!

need some photography tips + inspiration?  check out what posts are trending below!