1. WHO ARE YOU AS A NEWBORN PHOTOGRAPHER & HOW ARE YOUR SESSIONS SET UP?

My focus during a session is to highlight all the angles & little details that make your baby uniquely special. I love to use poses & beautiful props that compliment the natural beauty of your baby, allowing your baby, not the prop, to be the main focus that is captured in a timeless photograph.

All newborn sessions are shot in my home studio. Upon your arrival, I will have your session setup using colors & props that you will love. I am open to any ideas & colors that you would like to incorporate into the session but if you prefer to leave it up to me, that’s fine too!

It is important to wear something cool because the studio will be warm. This is because newborns have just come from the womb where it is cozy all the time, so I do my best to recreate that same feeling for them. I will also have white noise playing throughout the session, which is something to newborn babies find quite soothing.

2. HOW MANY YEARS HAVE YOU BEEN WORKING AS A NEWBORN PHOTOGRAPHER, HOW MANY BABIES HAVE YOU HANDLED UP TO THIS POINT & WHAT SPECIAL TRAINING DO YOU HAVE?

I have been working as a newborn photographer since 2013, having photographed 550 + babies to date as well as lots of older siblings, babies & children too. All my immunizations, including the flu shot are up to date. I am also fully vaccinated from COVID-19. I have taken numerous photography courses at the U of S as well as online newborn safety, posing & wrapping classes that were taught by some of the premiere newborn photographers from around the world. I have also taken courses on lighting & Photoshop which help me to create all the beautiful images you see on my website & social media.

3. WHERE IS YOUR STUDIO LOCATED?

I have a beautiful, spacious studio located in Saskatoon, in the Northeast city neighborhood of Evergreen. If you'd like a peek inside, please click here > About - Megan Antoniuk Photography.

4. DO YOU WORK WITH AN ASSISTANT OR DO YOU HAVE MOM & DAD HELP OUT DURING A SESSION?

A second set of hands is critical when creating some of the images that you see in my portfolio. Since I do not work with an assistant, I will ask mom or dad to lend a hand during a session so that the shot can be achieved safely. I will talk you through what to do and where to put your hands so that baby is safe at all times.

I must emphasize that at any point if baby seems uncomfortable or unsettled, we will move on from the pose. Your baby’s safety is my number one concern and I know that not all babies will be comfortable doing all poses and I will never force a baby into a pose for the sake of a photo.

5. WHAT IF MY NEWBORN IS UNCOOPERATIVE DURING THE SESSION?

Although it’s possible that baby might cry, fuss or be uncooperative, please know that there is no rush at a newborn session. I allot plenty of extra time when scheduling newborn sessions for feeding, cuddling or to change a diaper so that baby is comfortable at all times. Once your newborn session is booked, I will send you a link to my newborn prep guide which will help you to best prepare for a successful session and covers things like what to bring with you and what you can expect.

6. ARE SIBLINGS AND PARENTS ALLOWED TO TAKE PART IN A NEWBORN SESSION?

Yes, absolutely! I welcome any parents & older siblings to participate in a heirloom newborn session and as an add-on, keepsake sessions. Due to time constraints, parents & sibling images are not included in petite sessions. If older siblings will be attending an heirloom or keepsake session, I always start with those images first because the session can get quite long for young children. I would suggest, if possible, to bring separate vehicles so that one parent can take the older children home after their images are shot and then we can continue on with the remainder of the session. Of course if you don’t want to partake in the session, that’s okay too.

7. HOW DO I BOOK MY SESSION & HOW DOES IT WORK IF I DON’T KNOW EXACTLY WHEN MY BABY WILL BE BORN?

All clients for all sessions are required to complete a booking contract in order to secure a session with me. The form consists of a quick questionnaire & includes a link to pay the session retainer or the session in full, whichever you prefer. If you opt to pay the retainer only at time of booking, the remainder of the session fee is due at the time of session. Payment can be made using PayPal, bank transfer or cash.

I tentatively schedule you for your due date and then when baby arrives, just let me know and we can coordinate our schedules to firm up a day & time for your session. Best time for a newborn session is within the first few week after baby arrives.

8. HOW FAR IN ADVANCE SHOULD I BOOK MY NEWBORN SESSION?

Once you’ve passed the first trimester, it’s a perfect time to start looking for a newborn photographer. Since I only have time in my schedule for a certain number of newborns per month, if you would like me to capture your beautiful baby, contact me as soon as possible so that I can check my schedule for availability!

9. WHAT IF BABY IS BORN PREMATURELY & WHEN SHOULD I CONTACT YOU FOR OUR SESSION?

If you’re baby is born prematurely, let me know that baby has been born. Once they have been released from the hospital we can go ahead and schedule your session as normal.

10. DO YOU SUPPLY THE PROPS FOR MY NEWBORN SESSION OR DO I HAVE TO BRING MY OWN?

Yes, I supply all the props for the session. I have beautiful hats, headbands, wraps & tiny outfits all made with high quality fibers & materials. I have nearly every color in the rainbow, including lots of neutrals, so if there is a specific color that you love or a family heirloom that you want to use, let me know and I will incorporate it into our session.

11. WHAT HEALTH & SAFETY PRECAUTIONS DO YOU TAKE IN STUDIO? WHAT WILL HAPPEN IN THE CASE OF ILLNESS, YOUR OWN OR OTHERWISE?

As I work closely with vulnerable people - newborns, young children & pregnant mamas, I always practice good hygiene to minimize any risks including frequent hand washing, mask wearing & sanitization of all surfaces. Upon arrival to the studio, all visitors (including children over 2) will be required to wear a mask and sanitize their hands and all surfaces are disinfected before & after every session.

In the event that myself or someone in my family is ill prior to your session, I will get in touch with you to reschedule. If you or anyone in your family become ill with symptoms of any kind prior to our scheduled session, please call or email to reschedule your session. Anyone who comes to the studio with signs of illness will be sent home immediately. Since I often shoot multiple sessions a week, I don’t want to run the risk of exposing other babies & families to potential illness.

12. WHAT HAPPENS AFTER THE SESSION?

After your session has taken place, I will go through your gallery of images and delete anything not worthy of editing straightaway. I will then create an online gallery of unedited images for you to make your selections from. If there are additional images that you love, above & beyond what is included in your chosen session, you may choose to purchase additional images. Unedited proofing galleries are typically available within 1-2 days from session date. Once you've selected your images, you can expect your edited versions in a few weeks. I will advise you on my current turnaround time for edited galleries once you've made your selections.

If you have questions about the types of sessions that I offer, please click here > Details - Megan Antoniuk Photography. If you have additional questions or would like to discuss in more detail, please send me a message through the contact form!