Shreveport Newborn Photographer - Twin Newborn Photographer, Leslie Whitaker - 5 Ways to help your session go smoothly.

Babies change SO fast! Sometimes it seems like by the hour, especially those first couple of days. From one week to the next, your baby will change SO DANG MUCH. Keep reading to find my tips on how to make your newborn session go smoothly.

1. Feeding - Breast or Formula, it doesn’t matter to me. Feed in best in my opinion, but IF you’re breastfeeding PLEASE avoid caffeine 24-48 hours before the session. Also avoid spicy food, broccoli, or anything else that seems to make baby gassy. Feed baby before you leave for the session, and give gas drops before you put baby in the car seat (if you’re not into this, that’s ok - it will just help to settle baby’s belly so that we get those adorable sleepy poses). Bring at least one feeding, if you’re bottle feeding so that I can top baby off if she gets hungry. I’ll probably need to feed her at least once, especially if we are doing unwrapped poses.

2. Paci - even if you don’t think baby ‘likes’ his paci.. bring it anyway! If you aren’t using a paci, that’s ok too… but in my experience the session goes SO much better if we have this option.

3. Carseat - leave baby in her carseat, and allow me to take her out. Don’t worry, I’ll be super satanized and I’ll be wearing a mask throughout your session. I don’t smell like mom or dad, and most of the time baby will stay asleep if I take her out of the carseat.

4. How to dress baby - I always begin my session with ‘simple whites’. So, you’ll bring baby pre-dressed in a white cotton onesie (short sleeves, long, sleeveless- doesn’t matter). If we have to dress her when you arrive, I may not get those precious stretches, yawns and natural images I’m looking for. :)

5. Try not to be nervous - I promise I have you covered. No matter what, I’ll do my very best to fulfill your expectations. My studio is stocked with everything baby needs (including pacis, gas drops and diapers - just in case you forgot).

Ela's Newborn Session by Leslie Whitaker, Shreveport Newborn Photographer

Ela is such a sweet blessing. Her parents, Lauren and Eli, are SMITTEN with her. Eli has the biggest smile when he looks at her, and when he looks at Lauren too.

I get so many parents who are having their second baby who regret not getting newborn images for their first baby, and they are determined to have the works the second time. We do maternity photos and newborn and sometimes even an extra family session, or in home fresh 48 session too! Don’t regret missing out on documenting these milestones. You can’t go back and do them, so make sure to get them done right the first time.

Don’t you just LOVE her hair?! I seem to have had a ton of sweet newborns in for newborn sessions lately with hair, and I am here for it!

All of my babies arrive pre-dressed in a white cotton onesie. Every single baby is documented in this timeless way, and parents always choose at least one of these images, but most of the time three of four. There is something about the focus being directly on baby that every one loves, especially me! Doesn’t Ela look so perfect, just like this?

I love documenting details! Ela’s profile, her sweet little hand and her toes! So precious, and things that deserve to be captured during every newborn session in my studio.

Parent images are so special too! I don’t think I’ve had any parents skip this part in a LONNNNNNG time. My newborn sessions come with COMPLIMENTARY professional hair and makeup services, so why skip it? Hailey did Lauren’s hair and makeup for her session and she looks so dang pretty, don’t you think? She has a snow white vibe! :)

I’d love to talk with you if you’re looking for a newborn photographer in Shreveport, Louisiana. My studio is stocked with everything needed to execute your dream newborn session! Fill out my contact form and let’s start planning!

-XOXO, Leslie

Check out my friend Vanessa’s blog about why digital images are not enough when investing in professional photography: https://www.vkeophotography.com/post/10-reasons-why-digitals-are-not-enough

Shreveport Maternity Photographer | Charde's Mommy and Me | Motherhood by Leslie

Motherhood is special. Motherhood is hard too. Pregnancy isn’t always rainbows, though it can be. The best part is you forget all of the hard stuff after baby is born, why else would we do it again?

I’ve know Charde’ for a long time, well at least 5 years. I first met her when she hired me to take her headshots. She was starting a wedding planning business and needed some marketing maternity. That seems like a 100 years ago. Since then I’ve been her engagement, wedding and now maternity photographer. I was so excited when her husband, Andy, texted me to set something up as a surprise for Charde’.

This will be Charde’s second baby, a sweet boy. And, he doens’t have a name yet! If i’m honest we didn’t name our third baby until a couple of hours before we left the hospital. In Louisiana you can leave the hospital without a name, and you have 30 days to figure it out and file for the birth certificate, but I DID NOT want to deal with all that! So, I texted my husband while he was gone to pick up the older kids and told him to send me 3 names, and I’d choose one. LOL

Hopefully Charde’ wont have to deal with that, it’s not any fun not having a thing with your baby’s name on it for his birth day. I can’t wait to meet her sweet boy, and I hope he’s as sweet as Amilia. She’s a complete doll, every time I see her.

If you’re looking for a maternity photographer in Shreveport, Louisiana I’d love to talk with you! All of my maternity clients receive a complimentary newborn petite session, as a gift from me! I take care of all the details, so you don’t have to take on any more stress. You have enough to deal with.

What made you choose Leslie Whitaker for your Motherhood session?

I admire the simplicity and beauty of her photography. She is always kind and yet super professional!

• What were you nervous about going into your session?

  That I wouldn't like my pictures because I just wasn't feeling very confident in my appearance at my appointment.

• What was your favorite part of your session experience?

  Leslie always makes the atmosphere very relaxing. The session was stress free.

• How do you feel now that you have completed your session and received your images?

  I love the images! I didn't feel like I was at my best during the session but the images captured were simply gorgeous.

• Would you recommend Leslie to other ladies looking to book a maternity session? Why?

  Absolutely! She is professional, down to earth, and passionate about her projects. She has never disappointed me after hiring her multiple times so of course I would highly recommend based on my personal experiences.

https://dreadonphotography.com/how-to-look-great-in-photos/

Daniel's ‘Super Man' First Birthday Cake Smash | Shreveport Portrait Photographer | Leslie Whitaker Photography

Daniel, aka Dani, might be the REAL Superman. He was born early, and on his due date had surgery on his little heart. Before his smash we did some photos to celebrate his journey too. Mama called it his ‘heartiversary'. Yoana has been coming to me since her oldest was brand new.

I hand made Daniel’s city backdrop and built his balloon swag too. :) I am so stinking obsessed with this one. It came out perfectly and the colors POP off of the white background. This cake smash is adorable all the way around.

Why did you choose Leslie to capture your child's first birthday portraits?

I’ve used her since I was pregnant with my first child and LOVE her work.

Were you nervous about anything going into your child's session? Please explain.

I was nervous that he wouldn’t cooperate. Which he didn’t the first day but Leslie was very understanding and she was even able to accommodate us and squeeze us in the next day for a session that he did better in.

What was your favorite part of the session experience?

The setup was perfect! I loved everything about it!

How do you feel now that you have completed your session and received your images?

100% satisfied with the moments she was able to capture!

Would you recommend Leslie to other parents looking to book a first birthday session for their child? Why?

Yessss because she’s so easy to get along with and her pictures are amazing. She makes the backgrounds herself and is so creative! I loved how it turned out!

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Noah - Quarantine Babies - Shreveport Newborn Photographer - Leslie Whitaker Photography

Covid-19 has changed many of the ways we live our life. I'd love to hear from you how it has directly affected your pregnancy. Do you feel like you've missed out on anything during your pregnancy with Noah that you'd hoped for? Do you recall any emotional differences related to the changes you faced towards the end of your pregnancy?

Covid-19 took away so much planned during my pregnancy. With so much changing with the hospital guidelines I was pushed to give in and be induced with my son to not risk having my husband missing out on his birth. I wasn’t allowed to have any family visit me during my stay and my photographer couldn’t be there as well. It was really emotional not having my mother with me as well to meet my son. She honestly didn’t get to meet him until he was 9 weeks old.

How was your hospital stay? Do you recall any differences in processes, how you were treated, etc. compared to your birth plan? How did those differences make you feel?

I honestly loved my hospital stay. I was treated so good by the staff. They helped me understand everything that was going on and I lucked out and got a family friend as my nurse. I couldn’t have done it without Brandi or my husband Michael.

Where was Noah born and at how many weeks gestation? How old was your baby on the date of his session?

Noah was born at Willis Knighton Bossier at 39 weeks. We did his newborns at 6-7 weeks!

What were you nervous about going into your session?

I was nervous about Noah not cooperating and taking him out the house.

What was your favorite part of your session experience?

Being pampered with hair and makeup while Leslie took care of Noah for his session.

How do you feel now that you have completed your session and received your images?

I am so happy! I have been so excited to have these to share with my family 💙

Would you recommend Leslie to other parents looking to document their newborn? Why would you recommend Leslie?

Of course! Leslie is the best. She’s the baby whisper and she knows what she is doing. She is very professional with her work and she is so kind.

There are so many beautiful styles of newborn photos. A simple white background with baby as the focus of the image, that speaks to me. I add color when the parents want me to, but no matter how hard I try.. I always go back to a clean image. Noah, he looks beautiful in a sweet cotton onesie, and all babies do too. Scroll down to check out my favorites from his newborn session. -Leslie

Declan - Quarantine Babies - Shreveport Newborn Photographer, Leslie Whitaker Photography-

Morgan, Dakota and Declan are such a beautiful family! Declan is a perfect little boy with an olive tone complexion and what look to be blue eyes. On the day of his session he was a complete gentleman and went right to sleep once I swaddled him! He was six weeks old the day of our session, and chunky already. I love working with older newborns, I find that they actually do better than most younger babies and settle into positions with less fuss. I’ve already gotten to see Declan and his parents again, at the sunflower fields - but read below to hear more about Morgan’s final weeks of pregnancy, their session from her perspective and how Covid-19 affected her and her family during Declan’s birth, before and after.

Covid-19 has changed many of the ways we live our life. I'd love to hear from you how it has directly affected your pregnancy. Do you feel like you've missed out on anything during your pregnancy with Declan that you looking forward to? Do you recall any emotional differences related to the changes you faced towards the end of your pregnancy or postpartum experience?

Luckily, I was well into my 3rd trimester before Covid-19 related restrictions set in, but my husband wasn't able to attend my last few doctor's appointments. We even ended up going to a different hospital for Declan's birth because my original hospital was only going to allow my husband to stay for the "Golden Hour" before being asked to leave while I stayed another 48 hours. It was very stressful to think that my husband wouldn't be with me or be able to spend the first couple days with his first newborn. I definitely cried in the doctor's office when I found that out, but thankfully it all worked out.

How was your hospital stay? Do you recall any differences in what you had imagined your birth experience to be like? How did those differences make you feel?

So, we solved the problem of my husband not being able to be with me, but there was no getting past the 1 visitor rule! Our family had to wait until we were all home. It was definitely much different than I imagined. Part of me is very thankful that it was quiet and my husband could spend that time meeting our new little one, but it also would have been great to have family there for extra support and to meet their first grand baby.

Where was Declan born and at how many weeks gestation? How old was your baby on the date of his newborn session?

Declan was born at Willis Knighton in Bossier and was 40 weeks (born 1 day before his due date)! He was 6 weeks during our session.

What were you nervous about going into your session?

I wasn't worried about much. I had heard great things about Leslie, but with Covid-19 still lingering in our community, I did feel a little anxious about the possibility of exposing him to anything.

What was your favorite part of your newborn session experience?

It was very relaxed! Leslie was great & coached us non-models into family positions that made for such sweet photos.

How do you feel now that you have completed your newborn session and received your images?

Great! Wouldn't change it for the world. The pictures are beautiful and are a wonderful presentation of us as a new family.

Would you recommend Leslie to other parents looking to document their newborn with a professional newborn photographer? Why would you recommend Leslie as a photographer in Shreveport, Louisiana?

Of course, Leslie has a fantastic selection of props to use. She's very personable and easy-going. Plus her editing skills are A++. Can't wait to get more pictures made with her in the future!