Everything You Need to Know Before Booking a Newborn Session at Imagine That Photography
- Imagine That Photography
- 7 hours ago
- 9 min read
Your complete guide to a safe, beautiful, and unforgettable newborn photography experience in Long Island, NY.
Your baby is here. Those tiny fingers, that impossibly soft skin, the way they curl into you like they already know you — these are the details that feel so vivid right now and yet slip away faster than anyone warns you. A newborn session at Imagine That Photography is how you hold onto them forever.
My name is Tatiana Bogdan, and I've had the privilege of photographing hundreds of newborns across Long Island — from Dix Hills and Huntington to Melville, Syosset, and beyond. I know that handing your brand new baby to a photographer requires an enormous amount of trust, and I don't take that lightly. Safety, cleanliness, and your baby's comfort are at the heart of everything I do.
If you have questions before booking — about safety, timing, what to expect, or anything else — this guide is for you. Every question below links to its own in-depth post, so whether you want the quick answer now or the full picture, it's all right here.
The Questions Every New Parent Asks
Here's everything we cover in this guide. Scroll through for a summary of each topic, and click the "Read the full post" link at the end of each section for the complete deep-dive.
1. When should I book a newborn session — before or after birth?
2. How old should my baby be for newborn photos?
3. How do I prepare my baby for the session?
4. What should parents and siblings wear?
5. How long does a newborn session take?
6. Is a newborn photo session safe for my baby?
7. Can siblings and pets be part of the session?
8. What is a studio newborn session like?
9. How much does a newborn session cost?
10. What props and setups are used?
11. How will I receive my images?
12. Why do newborn photos matter?
1. When Should I Book a Newborn Session — Before or After Birth?
The answer is always before — ideally while you're still pregnant. I recommend reaching out between 20 and 30 weeks to secure your spot on the calendar.
Here's why: newborn sessions need to happen within a specific window after birth (more on that in section 2), and the most popular dates fill up months in advance. When you book during pregnancy, we pencil in a flexible due-date window rather than a fixed date. Once your baby arrives, you simply contact me and we confirm the exact session date based on their birthday.
Waiting until after your baby is born to start looking for a photographer almost always means scrambling — and often missing the ideal newborn window entirely. Book early, and you'll have one less thing to think about in those beautiful, exhausting first days.
2. How Old Should My Baby Be for Newborn Photos?
The golden window for newborn photography is within the first 5 to 14 days of life. During this time, babies are still in that deeply sleepy, curled-up newborn stage — they settle easily, they naturally tuck into those beautiful poses, and their skin still has that fresh, delicate newborn quality that simply cannot be recreated even a few weeks later.
After around 2 to 3 weeks, babies become more alert and wakeful, and achieving those classic sleepy, posed newborn images becomes significantly more challenging. The images are still beautiful — but they're a different kind of session entirely.
If your baby is already past the two-week mark, don't worry — reach out and we'll talk through what's possible. Every baby is different, and some sleepy little ones photograph beautifully a little later than the typical window.
3. How Do I Prepare My Baby for the Session?
The most important thing you can do is keep your baby awake for about an hour before you arrive — a slightly tired baby settles into deep sleep much more easily once we begin. A feeding right before or during the drive over also helps enormously.
Beyond that, dress your baby in a loose, easy-to-remove outfit for the journey to the studio. Avoid anything with tight waistbands or sleeves that leave marks on the skin — those imprints can take a while to fade and show up in photographs.
On my end, the studio is kept comfortably warm — much warmer than you might expect — because babies sleep most deeply when they're cozy. I always recommend parents bring a light layer for themselves so you're comfortable too.
4. What Should Parents and Siblings Wear?
Wardrobe is fully taken care of at Imagine That Photography. Our studio includes a beautiful collection of gowns for mom — flowing, elegant pieces that photograph beautifully and are designed to flatter and feel comfortable in the early postpartum weeks. You don't need to stress about finding something to wear — we have you covered.
For partners and siblings, soft, neutral tones work best — think ivory, cream, beige, dusty blue, sage, or warm grey. Avoid bold logos, busy patterns, or bright colors that draw the eye away from your baby. Coordinating rather than perfectly matching always looks the most natural and timeless.
5. How Long Does a Newborn Session Take?
Every Imagine That newborn experience begins with a design consultation before your baby arrives — either in person at our Dix Hills studio or over Zoom — where we plan your vision, discuss prop and color choices, and preview our fine art product collections. This means on session day, everything is already decided and you can simply focus on your baby.
The session itself typically runs 3 to 4 hours. Newborns set the pace — we allow plenty of time for feeding breaks, settling, soothing, and changing setups without ever feeling rushed. A few days after your session, we'll meet for your ordering appointment, where you'll see your finished images for the first time and choose your collection and artwork.
6. Is a Newborn Photo Session Safe for My Baby?
This is the question I care about most — and the one I want every parent to feel completely confident about before they walk through my door.
Safety is my absolute number one priority. Always. Every single decision made during a newborn session — from how a baby is positioned, to what they're wrapped in, to the temperature of the room — is made with your baby's safety and comfort first.
Here is what you can expect at every Imagine That newborn session:
There is always a pair of hands within reach of your baby. No pose is ever achieved, held, or photographed without a spotter present and ready. Any images that appear to show a baby in a more advanced pose are always the result of careful composite photography — two or more images safely combined in editing, never a single risky shot.
Everything that touches your baby's skin is freshly laundered before your session. Wraps, fabrics, posing props, blankets — all of it is washed and sanitized between every single session, without exception. Your newborn will never be placed on or wrapped in anything that hasn't been cleaned specifically for them.
All props are professionally crafted by trusted, specialist newborn photography suppliers. Every basket, bowl, bucket, and posing prop in my studio has been selected for its safety, stability, and quality. There are no DIY setups, no improvised surfaces, no shortcuts.
I always wear a mask during sessions and sanitize my hands frequently throughout — before and after every time I handle your baby, every time I adjust a prop, every time I change setups. Your baby's immune system is new to the world, and I treat that with the seriousness it deserves.
My studio is maintained as a calm, cozy, home-like environment — not a clinical or chaotic space. The temperature is kept warm and comfortable for your newborn, the lighting is soft, and the atmosphere is unhurried. Many parents tell me it feels like spending a few peaceful hours in the most beautiful, well-prepared living room they've ever been in. That feeling is completely intentional.
You are always welcome to stay close, hold your baby between setups, feed whenever needed, and ask questions at any point. This is your session. Your baby. Your comfort matters as much as theirs.
7. Can Siblings and Pets Be Part of the Session?
Absolutely — and sibling portraits are some of my absolute favorites to create. There is something extraordinary about photographing a toddler meeting their new baby for the first time, or an older child cradling their sibling with that mix of pride and wonder. These are the images families treasure most.
For siblings, I recommend scheduling their portraits at the beginning of the session while everyone is fresh and cooperative, then transitioning to baby-only setups once siblings have had their moment. I always recommend bringing a small snack and a favorite toy to keep little ones happy between shots.
For pets — yes, we can include them too, with a little planning. Reach out when booking and we'll talk through how to make it work safely and beautifully.
8. What Is a Studio Newborn Session Like?
Every Imagine That newborn session takes place at our private portrait studio in Dix Hills, NY — a warm, calm, home-like space designed specifically with newborns and their families in mind. From the moment you walk in, the environment is intentionally relaxed, unhurried, and comfortable.
All props are included — there is nothing additional to source, rent, or bring. Every basket, wrap, headband, bowl, and accessory has been professionally crafted by specialist newborn photography suppliers and is available for your session at no extra cost. Mom's wardrobe gowns are also included, so the only thing you need to bring is your beautiful baby.
The studio stays warm — much warmer than a typical room — to keep your newborn settled and sleepy. Soft music plays in the background. There is no rushing. We work entirely at your baby's pace, and I am with you every step of the way.
9. How Much Does a Newborn Session Cost?
Imagine That Photography offers a boutique, full-service luxury experience — and our investment is designed around something most photographers don't offer: tangible, heirloom artwork you can actually hold, display, and pass down.
Here's why you won't find a full price list on this page: our pricing is directly tied to the fine art products we create — handcrafted keepsake boxes, acrylic albums, large-format wall portraits, and more. Without seeing and touching those products in person, a number on a screen simply doesn't tell the full story. It would be like pricing a piece of furniture you've never sat in.
That's why every experience begins with a design consultation, where I walk you through the artwork collections in person. You'll see exactly what your images could look like displayed in your home, understand what's included at each level, and make a decision that feels genuinely right for you.
The session fee is $300, which covers your design consultation, access to our full prop and wardrobe collection, your photo session, professional retouching, and your ordering appointment. Collections — which include your fine art products and digital images — start at $990.
There are no hidden fees, no pressure, and no surprises. Everything is transparent and outlined before you commit to anything.
10. What Props and Setups Are Used?
Every prop at Imagine That Photography has been thoughtfully and carefully sourced from the best professional newborn photography suppliers in the industry. Nothing in my studio is improvised or generic — every basket, wrap, bowl, bucket, headband, and accessory has been selected specifically for its safety, beauty, and quality.
All props are included in your session at no extra cost. During your design consultation, we'll look through the available setups together and choose the colors, textures, and styles that feel most like you — whether that's soft and ethereal, warm and earthy, or clean and timeless.
Setups typically include a variety of beautiful posed arrangements — wrapped poses, bowl and basket poses, family setups with parents and siblings, and detail shots of those tiny hands, feet, and eyelashes that you will want to remember forever.
11. How Will I Receive My Images?
A few days after your session, we'll meet for your ordering appointment — in person or virtually. This is where you'll see your beautifully retouched images for the first time, choose your collection, and select the fine art pieces for your home. Most parents tell me this is an emotional, joy-filled experience — seeing their newborn's first portraits for the first time is something truly special.
After your order is placed, please allow up to 6 weeks for your artwork to be completed. Every piece is carefully inspected before pickup at our Dix Hills studio. Collections include a USB with your edited digital images, fine art portraits in a handcrafted keepsake box, and optional heirloom acrylic albums — made to be displayed and passed down through generations.
12. Why Do Newborn Photos Matter?
The newborn stage lasts approximately two weeks. That's it. Two weeks of that particular curl, that specific weight in your arms, those fingers that barely wrap around your thumb. And then it's gone — not slowly, but overnight, in the way that only new parents truly understand.
Every week I hear from parents who say the same thing: "I can't believe how fast it went." And every week I'm grateful that I got to slow it down for them — even just for a few hours — and give them something to hold onto.
Newborn photographs are not decoration. They are documentation of a moment in your family's story that will never come again. They are what you show your child when they're grown, what you display on the walls of the home they grew up in, what gets passed down when words aren't enough.
They are worth it. You will never regret them.
Ready to Book Your Newborn Session on Long Island?
If your baby is on the way and you're thinking about a newborn session, now is the perfect time to reach out — even if your due date is still months away. Whether you're in Dix Hills, Huntington, Melville, Syosset, Plainview, or anywhere across Long Island, I would be honored to be part of your baby's very first chapter.
Book Your Session → imaginethatpic.com/long-island-portrait-studio
I can't wait to meet your little one.
Imagine That Photography by Tatiana Bogdan is a luxury maternity, newborn, baby, and family portrait studio located at 5 Etna Ln, Dix Hills, NY 11746.
Proudly serving families across Long Island including Huntington, Melville, Syosset, Plainview, Roslyn, Old Westbury, Cold Spring Harbor, Greenlawn, and surrounding communities.
Call us at (516) 510-9250.
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