Newborn & Maternity FAQ

For any questions you might have, please take a look at our Newborn & Maternity FAQ.

Newborn FAQ…

When is the best time to schedule my newborn portrait session??

The best time time to schedule your session is before your little one is born. This way you can rest assured that your newborn photo shoot will occur within 2 weeks of birth, the very best time to get the sweetest photographs! Timing is crucial as noted in my guide on Newborn & Maternity FAQ.

Of course. I will not take any photographs that you do not feel comfortable with. That goes for maternity & newborn sessions. Also, if you aren’t comfortable with me sharing images on social media or my blog, I certainly would not do so. It’s all detailed in my frequently asked questions about Newborn & Maternity FAQ.

My baby is already born, am I too late to schedule a Newborn Session?

If I have an opening on my calendar, I am happy to accommodate. Most often, however, I am booked out months in advance. They can be done up to six weeks old, but that depends on the baby. After that, some of the most adorable poses aren’t as easy to achieve.

Sleeping baby girl posed at our Rochester, NY studio.

Twin newborn boys snuggled together, Rochester NY Photography.

How long will my Rochester newborn photography session take?

Your session will take between 2-3.5 hours, pausing to allow time for feeding and changing if need. The atmosphere is very relaxed and comfortable and the pace of our session will be determined by the baby.

What is the turnaround time on my images?

You will receive your final images two weeks from the time images are picked and be able to view them in an online gallery set up just for you!

Will you come to my home?

All Newborn Photography sessions are done in the studio. Maternity sessions can be done outdoors on location or in-studio.

Maternity FAQ…

When should I have my maternity photos taken?

Maternity photos are taken between the 31-35 week mark. This is when you’re really showing, but isn’t so close to your due date that you’re really uncomfortable. For more details, refer to my Newborn & Maternity FAQ guide.

What should I wear to my maternity session?

Ultimately, what you wear depends on what you’re comfortable in. That said, I recommend clothing that showcases your baby bump. Empire dresses belted under the bust and stretchy fabrics are two of my favorites. I’d avoid anything extremely loose.

Expecting mother & father posing gracefully for a maternity photoshoot at MJ Memories studio in Rochester, NY, capturing the beauty of motherhood

Woman posed at her maternity session at the Webster Arboretum in Rochester, NY.

When should I schedule maternity photos?

As a general rule of thumb, I like to schedule your maternity session shortly after you’ve told friends and family the exciting news! This will give us plenty of time to find a great day that works well for both of us.

What about props for sessions?

A questionnaire is sent for the session that will ask what you’d be interested in using during our shoot. For example, I have various backdrops, blankets, baskets and other items. I am also 100% open to you bringing your own props. In fact, I love it when parents have their own props! After all, using the child’s blanket instead of the one that I have may prove more meaningful to you.

https://mjmemories.photography/studio-newborn-photography-rochester-ny

Where do we take the photographs?

Where we take photographs depends on the type of session we’re shooting. For maternity, we can do on-location, outdoor photographs to maximize our access to natural light or in-studio. This can be in a beautiful pasture, quaint park, in the woods or even in urban settings. Newborn and milestone photographs are done in-studio. For specifics, you can refer to my Newborn & Maternity FAQ.

Can my partner or child be in the photographs, too?

Of course! I love incorporating mom, dad and your other children into our session photos. While in most cases you, dad and baby will be the stars of the day, I believe it’s so important to have several photographs with the entire family — especially during my maternity and newborn sessions that I outline in my Newborn & Maternity FAQ.