How to Prepare for your Newborn Photography Session
Frequently Asked Questions

What are some things I should do before baby arrives?

My clients ask me this question all the time. I guess it’s because I have four kids of my own. Or maybe it’s because I am a newborn photographer here in Dallas. Either way, I’ve heard so many suggestions over the years and tried a few things out myself while waiting for baby. It is such a joyous time waiting for your little one to arrive. And everyone is full of advice for you, both positive and negative. Well since this question of what to do before baby comes up more often than not, I decided to make a little list to refer to.

1. Go on a date with your spouse / significant other

No matter what you think might happen, you are likely to not get a chance to go out alone together for quite a while. And you likely won’t want to! But it’s so important to spend time together. Don’t forget each other in the whirlwind of nesting and getting your house ready. I still remember that 12 years ago on the weekend before our son and first child was born my husband and I went to see a movie and had dinner together. Not that exciting, right? Wrong. We still remember the movie we saw and talk about it fondly from time to time. And we have always been grateful that we took the time to acknowledge our relationship before starting this exciting journey as parents together.

2. Get your hair done and a mani pedi

This is pretty self-explanatory and I don’t mean to go negative but… You won’t have as much time for self-care after the baby arrives. It will be some time before you have the opportunity to go out. That’s why taking care of yourself is one of the most important things to do before baby arrives. Getting a mani pedi hand in hand with getting your hair done. See what I did there? 😉 You will feel so good with your hands and feet taken care of. Special bonus? They say that foot massages can induce labor so if you’re really wanting that baby to arrive it could be a great 39 or 40 week treat.

3. Get an acupuncture treatment

Acupuncture can assist in digestion and easing discomfort during pregnancy. It also can reduce stress and anxiety. Sounds like a great thing to do when you’re expecting, right?

My friend Emily Guevara of The Acupuncture Juncture here in Dallas, is an amazing acupuncturist. She is well known around Dallas as providing excellent care. You can read more about her here: Fertility Acupuncture in Dallas.

4. Fill your freezer

I hated nothing more than cooking after my babies arrived. And life is a bit more hectic than you would suppose. Having access to good healthy food at all times is a big plus. Cooking in advance and stockpiling a freezer stash of foods was a big sanity saver for me.

5. Hang out with friends

Make sure you and your spouse both take time to spend with friends. This is important for both of you. It falls in the column of self-care to make sure you have time to connect with your friends without the worry of leaving baby at home.

6. Get Adjusted

You read that right. You might want to consider chiropractic care during your pregnancy. It can help address issues that cause discomfort and it could prove to assist you in having an easier labor. My friend Erin Calaway over at Apex Wellness is a Webster Certified chiropractor. She provides amazing care to all of her patients. Read more about her here – Chiropractic Care in Pregnancy.

7. Sleep

Pretty self-explanatory as well. It is difficult to sleep in the last trimester. I had horrible insomnia and reflux with all of my pregnancies. That made it really hard to sleep especially near the end. But I tried my best to get in extra sleep where I could because I knew how much I would miss it once the baby came. Like all seasons in life the sleep deprivation eventually passes. But it is one of the less fun things about having a sweet baby around. If you have troubles sleeping after baby arrives call my friend Mary Cantwell of Rest To Your Nest. She is featured on my blog here – her service is amazing and will help you get some z’s.

8. Babymoon

Having a babymoon goes right along with taking time for a date night. But it goes one step further. Why not take a short vacation with your spouse. Could be you won’t go away alone together for a long time. Even a romantic weekend at a bed and breakfast would be a nice idea.

9. Read a good book

I don’t know about you but I love to read! However, this passion has taken a significant back seat to my kids. I definitely remember the last few books I read before my kiddos arrived. It’s hard to feed baby and read a book in the other. Although, you might try Audible as a great alternative to reading an actual book after baby arrives.

10. Go out to the movies

I love going out to the movies. So I definitely recommend doing this ahead of baby’s arrival. You won’t have as many opportunities to go to a movie theater afterward.

11. Have a phenomenal maternity photography session

What kind of maternity and newborn photographer would I be if I didn’t recommend scheduling a custom maternity photography session? When you schedule a portrait session with a photographer like me it is an incredible experience. You get hair and makeup, you get to select gowns from my studio wardrobe to wear, and you also get to help design your custom portrait session. Afterward, you get to keep your portraits in the form of beautiful keepsake artwork. You get to feel like a queen for the day and you will never forget the experience because you get to enjoy your artwork forever.

12. Schedule newborn pictures

While scheduling maternity portraits it’s a great time to schedule newborn portraits as well. Newborn photography is best done when baby is 7-14 days old – for a variety of reasons. This is why it’s important to schedule it ahead of time. What’s more, if you’re working with me you get to choose from packages that take you from maternity through newborn and tell the whole story of baby’s arrival.

Thank you for reading!

Thank you for reading about what to do before baby arrives. I hope you’ll comment below and tell me what you did or suggest to do before baby arrives!

Learn more about booking a session

Dallas Newborn Photographer Laura Levitan of Mod L Photography loves to provide her clients with helpful information and resources about pregnancy, birth, and parenting. Her blog is a helpful resource to parents all over Dallas, Forth Worth and beyond. Check out other entries in the blog for great local businesses.

What made you interested in prenatal yoga?

What are your goals while teaching prenatal and postnatal yoga?

Where are your yoga and infant massage classes located?

Bami Yoga is located in Frisco. You can schedule a class by clicking here: Bami Yoga Schedule

What types of classes do you offer?

Bami Yoga offers multiple types of classes:

Prenatal Yoga

Partner Prenatal Yoga Date Night

Yoga to Support Childbirth

Mommy and Me Yoga

Infant Massage

MUTU System – a total body fitness system for women to heal the body from the inside out, flatten the belly, improve pelvic floor function, strengthen the core, and improve health through mindful changes to eating habits.

Visit Bami Yoga to learn more and to schedule a class!

Contact Mimi via email: mimi@bamiyoga.com

Dallas newborn photographer Laura Levitan of Mod L Photography interviews experts in the Dallas Fort Worth area who serve expectant mothers and families with young children. Laura loves to connect with the community and help her clients by providing excellent reviews of other businesses in the city.

Where can we find you on the web?

Facebook

Dallas newborn photographer Mod L Photography specializes in maternity and newborn photography. She designs custom newborn photography sessions in her Dallas studio for new parents. Her gorgeous archival artwork is something you bring home to share with your children as they grow together.

1. sports themed newborn photography

Do you love sports? Are you super excited about sharing your love of sports with your newborn baby? Let’s start during your newborn photography session in my Dallas studio. When we sit down at your design consultation we will talk about your favorite sport and your favorite team. We will come up with a plan to showcase your love of that sport. I love to focus on your sport and your team colors. Sometimes families come in full fan gear. Sometimes we lean to a more subtle sports theme. As a fan of sports myself I just love designing a sports-themed newborn photography session.

2. Animal-themed newborn photography session

Animals play a big part in our lives. Many people have a favorite animal and love to include them in the theme of their newborn photography session. I love adding to my collection of tiny, perfect, newborn-sized felted lovies. They are made by hand by a talented local artisan and are perfectly shaped for babies to hold in their hands. I have several different options and am always adding more. I would love to hear about what favorite animal you would like to feature in your newborn session.

3. Hobbies and Interests Themed newborn photography session

Do you have a love of travel? What are the things you’re excited to share with your new baby? Don’t forget ideas from your favorites shows and movies. These are some of the things we can highlight in your newborn photography session.

4. Your own culture or heritage themed newborn session

Is your family heritage very important to you? Why not honor that in your newborn photography session. There are many ways to pay tribute to your heritage, the city where you grew up, or your cultural background. Sometimes we incorporate things from your hometown or textiles and colors from your heritage.

5. Finally you can always use your nursery for inspiration for your newborn photography session

You’ve spent months anticipating the arrival of your precious baby. Part of that journey is likely decorating the nursery. Your theme could be anything and we can always incorporate the colors and ideas from your nursery into your photography session. In fact, when planning any Dallas newborn photography session we like to incorporate colors from your home. This way your artwork will display perfectly and blend with your current decor.

Well there you have it. Five great themes for your newborn photography session. Get in contact to plan yours today!

how did you get started in fertility acupuncture?

I began as an intern for an established fertility acupuncture practice in 2004. That experience really helped shape and support my idea of where I wanted to take my practice. Working with them I moved to Dallas to open and direct 2 acupuncture clinics. In 2012 I decided it was time to go out on my own. Having the foundation of working with this practice gave me the confidence and experience to continue in this field of fertility acupuncture and I love it. I continue to grow and educate myself so I can continue to provide top of the line care for my patients and be informed by the most recent research coming out of our medicine.

What is a Milk Bath and where do I get one in Dallas?

I get this question all the time. When I go to buy flowers and all that milk ahead of my photography session, I get a lot of questions. What is all that milk for? Why do you have so many flowers? Flowers and milk – that’s a strange combination. (I know that last one was a statement, not a question). Imagine standing in line at the supermarket with 4 gallons of milk and 6 bunches of flowers. That raises some eyebrows, believe me. But milk baths are worth it. Not only do they produce gorgeous pictures, but they also are known to soften the skin. Typically milk baths are done for maternity pictures, but they can also be done for newborns and babies.

Where do you do a milk bath?

Until recently I set up milk baths in my studio. They will always be available there but I am happy to say I have started a new relationship with Origins Birth Dallas. We will now be offering milk baths regularly in their birthing suites. And can I just say, “wow!” These tubs and suites are gorgeous. Not only will we be able to do the milk bath, but we will also be able to use the amazingly well decorated suite for lifestyle maternity posing and family sessions.

FAQs

what do I need to bring?

Nothing. I handle all the milk and flowers and I also provide multiple dress choices for you.

How should I do my hair and makeup?

Full sessions through Mod L Photography include hair and makeup. All you have to do is show up.

What do I do to prepare?

The most important thing to do is to schedule your complimentary consultation. This is where we sit down and discuss all your dreams for a perfect photography session. We lay out the game plan to make sure everything turns out exactly as you had envisioned.

How do I schedule my milk bath?

Please fill out my contact form here. Or give me a call at 214-460-6992.

Learn more about Origins Birth Dallas

Visit Origins Birth Dallas at their website:

Origins Birth Dallas

Meet the midwives

What is Take Charge. Period.?

Take Charge. Period. is an organization that exists to provide free menstrual products to underserved women and girls who menstruate. In our country, feminine hygiene products are considered a luxury item and they are taxed by our government. Additionally, menstrual products are not included in SNAP benefits or included in programming in schools and restrooms. Take Charge. Period. aims to provide free products, education to normalize menstruation, and end the taboo surrounding menstruation that exists worldwide.

Why is the period positive movement important?

Women and girls menstruate. That is a fact. Whether we are able to purchase feminine hygiene products or not, females still need them. Imagine if you didn’t have access to these products how that would impact your daily life. What types of activities you would have to avoid, school, work, job interviews, etc. Simply taking care of your family would be difficult.

What did we decide to do about it?

My two good friends Mary Cantwell of Rest to Your Nest and Krisha Sears of The Dallas Moms Club and I had a talk about how we could make an impact and help Take Charge. Period. We decided to host an event with members of the birth community here in Dallas. The concept was simple. Bring three packages of pads, get a free headshot. Any additional headshots you might want would require a donation to Take Charge. Period. (If you would like to donate to Take Charge. Period. please click here).

Mary is an amazing Dallas-based sleep consultant, read more about her here on my blog. She works with clients in Dallas and worldwide to help their kids (and the whole family) get the best night’s sleep possible. Krisha is a nurse and lactation consultant. She provides concierge postpartum care and peri-natal classes to moms in Dallas. Keep an eye out for a blog post featuring her and her business!

The event was a major success!

Several birth workers from around Dallas attended the event. It was an amazing show of support for women in our community and a great opportunity to bond over a shared mission. Thank you to all the ladies who came and supported this worthy cause. We collected over 1600 pads and raised over $500. If you are looking for a way to support Take Charge. Period. here are a few ways:

Like them on Facebook

Follow them on Instagram

Hold an event

Donate to Take Charge. Period.

Some of the lovely ladies who attended:

Last week in my post Dallas Maternity Chiropractor Dr. Erin Calaway of Apex Wellness I wrote about meeting with Dr. Erin Calaway of Apex Wellness she is a pregnancy chiropractor in Dallas, TX. She is also an amazing family,and pediatric chiropractor serving Addison, Plano, Richardson, Carrollton and surrounding areas.

What is the goal of chiropractic care during pregnancy?

The goal of chiropractic care during pregnancy is to provide safe and effective relief of a variety of symptoms and to improve overall function during the pre and postnatal period. Some symptoms that may be alleviated with the help of your chiropractor are; nerve pressure and muscular strain, reduced localized muscle pain and extremity pain. Chiropractic care can also help your body to function better in general to reduce swelling, morning sickness, and hormonal swings. It can possibly help to make labor more quick and easy.

What is one of the main ways chiropractic care can help during pregnancy?

During pregnancy the growing fetus puts a great deal of strain on the mother’s spine, buttocks and legs. A common complaint during pregnancy is sciatic nerve pain. Chiropractic care can help to alleviate sciatica.

Read Dr. Calaway’s recent blog article about Pregnancy Chiropractic Care in Dallas, Tx for more information.

When can you start chiropractic care during pregnancy?

The earlier the better. Chiropractic care can assist in helping the body to run more smoothly during all stages of your pregnancy.

What makes your chiropractic practice different?

I look at my patients as whole people. My goal is to develop a program in the office and at home. I call it a whole body approach. In the office we use chiropractic adjustments, acupuncture and massage therapy. But treatment doesn’t end there. We send our patients home with a comprehensive plan. Exercises designed to maintain health. And diet recommendations to improve overall wellness. I don’t simply adjust you and send you on your way. I make sure to work on underlying issues so that you maintain your health over time.

What about pediatric chiropractic care?

We treat all ages of children at my practice starting with infants. Some things it can help with are colic, allergies, ADD, sports injury and cold and flu symptoms.

Visit Dr. Calaway at Apex Wellness:

Apex Wellness

6009 Belt Line Rd #110 Dallas, TX 75254

972-392-9402