I do everything that I can to make mom, dad, and baby as comfortable as possible when I arrive, but there are also things that you can do as a parents beforehand to prepare for your newborn shoot in the Franklin, Nashville, Brentwood, and Spring Hill areas. I also travel so if you are located beyond my standard range contact me!

Tips for your newborn photography session
• Newborn portraits are unique in that they can’t be scheduled months out, and often I’m booked out months, and even a year in advance but if you let me know within a few months of your due date I will build time into my schedule around that timeframe for your session.
• Call me soon after you deliver so you can arrange a time for the session. Ideally the session should take place within 5-14 days after birth. Infants older than two weeks tend to be much more difficult to photograph as they are more fussy and resistant to coaxing into positions.
• If the session will be taking place at your home – do not worry about the state of your house. You just had a baby. I do not care if dishes are piled up the sink and clothes basket runs over!
• Make sure your baby’s diaper isn’t too tight or diaper marks around the legs and waist may show in the photos.
• Have your house warm. Ideally, you’ll want the thermostat set around 80-85. For the adults it will be hot, but the baby will be warm and happy.
• Collect any items you want used in the session beforehand – family heirlooms, toys, monogrammed blankets, etc. I’ll go through these with you to determine what will look best in the pictures.
• If you’d like pictures taken of the baby in the nursery, be sure all the curtains and shades are open to let in lots of natural light. No need to clean, but just try and make sure the clutter has found its way to a closet.
• Decide if you’d like pictures taken with your baby, or if want pictures of only the baby. Ahead of time many parents assume they’ll be too tired to get ready to be in photos but most change their minds once we start. Often just a simple neutral colored t-shirt is all the dressing up you’ll need for beautiful photos as a family. You’ll always be glad you did!
• Make sure the baby has a full belly before I arrive. Often we’ll take a quick break or two for a ‘snack’ as needed.
• After the baby is full, make sure they are burped well. Gas can take a sleepy, happy baby to an uncomfortable and irritable one in just a few moments.
• Be patient. If the baby gets fussy or alert, don’t stress out. A baby can sense your anxiety and we want to keep the environment as mellow as possible. We will try and get the baby comfortable again, but if that just doesn’t seem possible, we’ll take a break or we’ll work with what he’s giving us. Sometimes the best pictures are ones when the baby isn’t doing what we want.
• Be assured that if there is ever a point where you’re uncomfortable with the poses, simply let me know. Likewise, if you have ideas that you’d like to try please let me know! Often parent’s will email me with several images that they especially like or have a few examples ready on their computer when they arrive.

Newborn Photographer in Nashville, TN

One of my favorite aspects of being a photographer is getting to be a small part of my client’s lives. Last year I did this little guy’s newborn photos, and seeing big sister becoming a little lady a year later was so much fun!

My husband Markus teamed up with me for this shoot to assist in lighting – using a combination of natural light with artfully placed studio lights give an incredible depth and perspective as well as beautifully saturated colors.

Oh…and if you see Markus ask him about what crazy jungle antics he did to get the little guy to smile…

Creative kids photos

Kid's outdoor photos in Franklin

Factory at Franklin – www.factoryatfranklin.com
230 Franklin Rd, Franklin, TN‎ – (615) 791-1777‎

The Factory at Franklin is an incredible spot for photos of any kind. It is a national historic factory with 15 buildings with dozens of shops for shopping, dining and entertainment along with special event facilities – and of course beautiful photo spots! While some locations are dependent on weather and time of year The Factory is a special place no matter if it’s bright and sunny or the dead of winter. There are always wonderful places for photos with everything from fun stairs, broken down walls, courtyards, trendy hallways, and retro buildings for limitless possibilities for your photos.

Winstead Hill – www.franklin-gov.com
Columbia Ave Franklin, TN 37064 – (615) 794-2103

Winstead Hill Park is located south of downtown Franklin on Columbia Highway and consists of 61 acres with a walking trail, parking area, and restrooms facilities. I love taking photos here. Winstead Hill seems to be an undiscovered gem of a park where sometimes we can do an entire shoot and never see another person. It’s especially beautiful in the fall with the gorgeous color leaves that we can play in while we shoot. In the spring and summer the green grass is lush and walking along the paved trails we can find wonderful photo opportunities. Alongside the park is a beautiful road with interlacing branches that form almost a tunnel with the light shining through the leaves.

Pinkerton Park – http://www.franklin-gov.com/parks/pinkerton_park.html
405 Murfreesboro Road, Franklin, Tennessee (615) 794-2103‎

Pinkerton Park is located on Murfreesboro Road and is the most popular park in Franklin. The Harpeth River is along the west side of the park while Fort Granger lies to the north. There is also a playground with perfect places for family photos and children’s photos. There is a one-mile paved pedestrian track that goes around the entire park. There are great places for photos along the river, bridge, and the fort. If you’re up for a short walk there is a pedestrian bridge that connects Pinkerton Park with downtown Franklin and some great railroad tracks for more photos!

Historic Downtown Franklin – http://www.downtownfranklintn.com/

Downtown Franklin should count for about 20 favorite photo spots! There are fifteen blocks that are listed in the National Register Historic District with more than 70 unique shops, restaurants and antiques. Franklin has been cited as one of the most beautiful downtowns in the South. There are old churches, the downtown square, sidestreets with historic buildings and homes, railroad tracks, old trees, the historic movie theater, benches, and of course Starbucks for a little coffee break if needed! There are so many places for photos downtown that many of my clients will take a walk around the area prior to our session to pick some of their favorite spots.

Downtown Franklin Wedding Photos by Allison Hendrickson

A few tips for baby photos:
Make sure that your bundle of joy is well rested and fed before the shoot so they are not hungry or tired.

Depending on the child’s age bring snacks and toys or a bottle, we’ll take frequent breaks as needed to keep everyone happy!

Bring several outfits, and any toys, blankets, or other props that you’d like to use. Different outfits will photograph differently depending on the set-up and spit up and other accidents can necessitate changing outfits!

Plan for plenty of time to shoot, I’m not rushed as I want you and your child to be as relaxed and comfortable as possible.

Most of all have fun!

Franklin Baby Photos

Newborn photos in Franklin

Family photos in Franklin

Mom and Baby photos

When selecting your flowers for your session I recommend experimenting ahead of time to make sure that your hairstyle compliments the flowers that you have chosen, or vice versa if you have already decided on your hairstyle. If you are interested in the symbolism of different types of flowers you may want to check out this article on flower meanings.

Thanks to www.HappyHourBride.net for assembling the hair examples below!

Tucking a flower in your hair evokes a romantic, flirtatious, bohemian look. Here are some of my favorites…

Wedding Hairstyles

Images courtesy of: TheKnot.com & Brides.com

Newborn photos are best scheduled in the first 2 weeks after birth when infants are generally more sleepy and happy to be posed and patient with mom and dad holding them while I snap away. I almost always recommend photos taking place in your home where everyone is most comfortable and if baby needs snack or nap breaks we can take our time until we get just the right photos. Using natural light near a window with a favorite blanket or outfit is perfect!

Newborn photography in Spring Hill, TN

I also designed a 5 x7 in. birth announcement for Caroline on beautiful linen cardstock to celebrate her arrival! If you’re interested in having custom designed birth announcements please visit my website for more info.

Custom Designed Birth Announcements