FAQ Toggle

Have a question? Please see below for a list of Cloud9’s most frequently asked questions. Can’t find your the answer to your question below? Click here to send me a message. I’d love to hear from you!

How far in advance do I schedule my newborn session?

Newborn sessions should be booked while you’re still pregnant, at least 4 months prior to your due date. This way we can plan themes and props to your liking. My schedule becomes very limited as I only take a select amount of newborns per week. I book all newborn sessions 5-10 days after a given due date or scheduled C-section date. If the baby comes earlier or later than planned, just give me a heads up and we can schedule accordingly. However I must be kept in the loop at all times to ensure the baby gets photographed within a 10-day period.

How old should my newborn be during the session?

Newborns are photographed between 5-10 days after birth.  Newborns are most sleepy and cuddly during this time frame. It allows me to pose, curl, and prop them accordingly. I do not book newborn sessions past a 10-day range UNLESS it’s for multiples! For multiples we can photograph up to 14 days depending on the babies health and weight. Please remember it is not safe for certain positions or props unless the baby is in a deep sleep aka “milk coma” to ensure safety, I am very strict about newborns being posed and propped. I will NOT place any baby in a prop unless they’re in a deep sleep.

How long will a newborn session last?

A newborn session will last 3-4 hours in my in-home studio. I work around your new bundle of joys schedule, patiently waiting for feedings-comforting-and loving. A lot of soothing goes into a newborn session to get the baby in a deep sleep in between poses.  For the majority of the newborn session the baby MUST be asleep. Safety first always!

My newborn has baby acne, baby hair, blemishes, peeling skin, and jaundice can you get rid of impurities?

I will do my best to get rid of any scratches, dry skin, baby hair, baby acne and jaundice!! Perfection and airbrushing make the heart smile.

What should I dress my newborn in?

Think simple. Less is more. Cuddly cocoons, knitted hats, knitted diaper covers are great. Keep in mind your newborns skin will be extremely sensitive at such an early age anything that will scratch their skin or cause irritation will keep them awake during the session and become fussy. This is something we want to avoid at all costs. Tutus, headbands, and accessories are gorgeous but make sure they have comfy elastic or felt on them that wont scratch the skin. I do not provide outfits; this is something you would be bringing in. I recommend 2-3 outfits for a session. For themed outfits we can discuss via e-mail.

Do you provide props?

I have props galore! I provide most props however I do encourage clients to bring props of their own to match any themes they had in mind. I provide all props such as…baskets, backdrops and small knick-knacks. I have headbands and some knitted outfits however most of my pieces are random and do not have matching sets.

Where are you located? Do you come to the house?

All newborn sessions are done in my in home studio currently located in Farmington Hills.  I do not travel to homes at this time.

What’s the turnaround on prints and CDs?

It takes a full 10 business days to get prints sent to me. I do not print locally so they will be getting shipped to me from a photography lab out of state. For CD’s it takes a good 3 days to prepare and another 3 days for shipping.

Do you have a limit on poses per print package?

No limit on poses per package! If a package comes with 20 different sized prints that’s 20 different pictures to select and order!

How many images will I view from the session? Will they be edited?

You will view 30-40 edited images per session, however it is all dependent on the newborn and how they behave! Some babies are fussier than others making certain poses or setups difficult. Some may have 20 images others may have 40. However, I do not edit more than 40 images per newborn session. All images viewed will be edited. I do not offer RAW images on a CD.

When will I view my pictures from the session?

You will view your edited pictures 2-2.5 weeks after your session date through a password-protected viewer on my site. All images will bare the Cloud9 watermark and may not be taken, saved or screen-shotted through the website as they’re copy written by law.

Do I pay in full the day of the session? What is due?

The only thing due the day of the session is the $150 session fee. After a 2-2.5 week period you will view your images and pick your order out. The $150 does not include prints or CD. It is solely for the time spent during the session and time spent editing images.

What should I bring to the session? What should I be prepared for?

Avoid layering clothes the day of the session. The more clothing we have to remove the higher the chances we have of the baby waking up to tugging. Prepare for a VERY warm environment! You will sweat and I will not turn the heat down. The studio will be 75-80 degrees. Dress light and have breathable clothing on. Remember what seems comfy to us is not for a naked 7 pound newborn. The key to getting the baby to sleep is a warm womb like environment. I will have white noise playing for the majority of the session so your ears may be ringing for the remainder of the day! Don’t forget…if you’re breast-feeding watch what you eat 24 hours prior…gas is any photographer’s worst nightmare!!! You will need the following items the day of the session…

Pacifier: Please bring a pacifier even if you do not give our newborn one as a routine. It is vital for a session, after feedings the baby will need to soothe and the paci is the trick of the trade.

Extra blankets: Make sure to bring a few cozy warm blankets. These will be needed when transitioning the baby from each setup or when changing clothing.

Diapers/wipes: pack heavy!!! We will be going through diapers like crazy! Naked butts equal lots of accidents and lots of soiled diapers! Come prepared.

Formula/Breast milk: I know most moms have newborns on a schedule however…during session day we may need to feed the baby an extra feeding or two to ensure they’re full and fast asleep. Please bring extra formula lots of pumped breast milk and of course for the moms who are breastfeeding skin to skin bring your pump if you feel engorged.

Props: Don’t forget all your outfits and props from your home to match selected themes! Your outfits are what I base my setup on.

Snacks: Many breast-feeding moms need to constantly eat to increase their milk production. With lack of sleep after delivery it is important to stay hydrated and fed. Please bring snacks with you! You will be in studio for 3-4 hours.

Can I bring siblings? Or extra guests?

I allow siblings to join in the last 30-45 minutes of the session. It is very important to have a quiet calm environment that the baby can feel relaxed in. Given the length of a session, having siblings can be noisy and disturbing for the newborn. I allow two people to join a session, usually its mom and dad however if dad cannot come, feel free to bring another family member!

What if my newborn is fussy during the session?

If the newbie is fussy during the session, we will need to reschedule. The babies mood will show i your pictures. To re-schedule a newborn session a $50 fee will be added to the $150 session fee.

What does my session fee include?

Session fee includes time spent during the session, editing, as well as your choice of any theme/prop. Sessions that range from 3 months to 1 year usually will last about 1.5-2 hours. Family sessions with multiple children will last 2 hours. Remember…the longer the session the more fussy your children will be. Editing includes getting rid of any impurities, airbrushing and color enhancement! I take my time editing images to make them look perfect. Editing time usually take me 8-12 hours per session. Session fee does NOT include prints or a CD.

Where is your studio located?

For indoor sessions you will be coming to my in-home studio located in Farmington Hills. For outdoor sessions we will be meeting at a local park, barn or scenic areas. There is not additional fee for an outdoor session.  When traveling over 20 miles from my home address there will be a travel of $30. Outdoor locations can be discussed prior to the session.

How far in advanced should we book our session?

I recommend booking a session at least 3 months in advance. Due to newborn sessions I only take a certain amount of clients per week.  Please note I only take a select amount of clients during holidays, time slots are very limited. The earlier you book the better!

What type of clothing should I wear for my session?

It really depends on what type of session you have scheduled! For a spring session I recommend pastel colors such as lavenders, baby pinks blues and yellows. Patterns are always a plus ☺ especially for girls! For summer sessions I love bold colors and patterns. Floral, stripes, chevron…love them all! Colors will bring a picture to life. Sometimes when photographing white or cream clothing the sun may affect the true coloring. Fall sessions are fun for neutral colors and lots of cozy clothes. Jackets, fur vests, boot anything to keep warm! Just keep in mind the more creative your outfits the more fun my ideas will be!

What happens if the weather does not permit?

Weather in Michigan is well…unpredictable! I cannot guarantee what the weather will be like however we will keep in contact the week of the session and track the weekly weather report. IF it rains…or snows…we will reschedule for a different date. I keep a select amount of dates open a week for rainy days.

Do you have a limit on poses for packages/prints?

With so many beautiful pictures to pick, who wants limits?! There is no limit for print poses. If a package comes with 20 sizes you can select 20 different poses.

How many outfit changes do you allow?

I’m not fond on limiting! No limit on outfit changes, the more outfits the more variety you will have in the end. I recommend 3 outfits. The more a kid gets changed the fussier they become so be very careful with too many outfit changes.

Do you retouch/edit your images?

I spend anywhere from 8-12 hours editing each clients gallery. EVERY image you will view in your gallery will be edited. Additional edits or changes can be requested once images have been viewed.

When will I view my pictures from the session?

You will view your edited pictures 2-2.5 weeks after your session date through a password-protected viewer on my site.

What’s the turnaround on prints and CDs?

It takes a full 10 days to get prints sent to me. I do not print locally so they will be getting shipped to me from a photography lab out of state. For CD’s it takes a good 3 days to prepare and another 3 days for shipping.

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