People always ask, “How do I prepare for a C-section?” Whether your surgery is planned or unexpected, knowing what to expect can make the experience far less overwhelming. A C-section, or cesarean delivery, is a major surgery, but with the right preparation, you can feel confident and ready to welcome your baby or in our case, babies.

In this guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know—from packing your hospital bag to setting up your home for recovery. With these tips, you’ll be well-prepared for a smooth and stress-free C-section journey.

When do I feed my baby to prepare for our newborn session? This is a very popular question because as new moms, your whole life revolves around feeding your new baby!  Trying to coordinate feeding your newborn with a scheduled appointment may seem a little tricky. This is the beautiful advantage of having your newborn session in your home!  No stress of feeding before loading your baby and all of their belongings into the car!  You’ll want to feed your baby before our session but not necessarily before I arrive to your home. 

How old should my baby be for their newborn session?  This is probably the biggest question newborn photographers get asked by expectant parents.  The short answer is less than two weeks. Before two weeks, your baby is still getting used to being outside of your womb and is still extremely sleepy and flexible. As they get older they become increasingly alert to the world around them. They sleep less than they did in the first days and their muscles become stronger making sleepy poses more difficult. Around two weeks they have a growth spurt that makes them cluster feed more than usual and if any skin issues arise it will usually be after the two week mark. Although, around 14 days is my personal sweet spot for photographing newborns I’ve had plenty of successful sessions with older newborns.

Planning for your maternity photos can be a bit overwhelming if you’re left to think about all the details to make your vision come true. Why not hire someone who specializes in making pregnant women feel beautiful and empowered? Choose a photographer who understands your vision and has the means necessary to make your maternity dreams come true. Here are my top 5 tips when preparing for your maternity portrait session:

I’ve watched this woman grow and have photographed her in some of the most memorable moments in her life. She chose me as her senior portrait photographer and last year I captured her family’s first family portraits with their first daughter. Now, this sweet couple is awaiting the arrival of their second daughter and I was so honored to capture these memories for them!

One of my favorite things to see at a newborn session is two, brand-new grandmas with their new titles, doting on their first grandbaby! Watching moms witness their own babies become parents is something magical. They are supportive, yet give space, offer advice when prompted, and step aside when not needed. It’s a beautiful dance of everyone metamorphosing into new roles! So, naturally, I had the grandmas jump in for pictures with their babies holding their new baby! Imagine, one of the first portraits of your new baby and their grandma is professional and frame-worthy! Three-generation photos are some of my favorite images to capture!