NEWBORNSB Y K A R I LY N S A N D E R S P H O T O G R A P H Y 2015-2016

THE PORTRAIT PROCESSWhat to expect for your newborn session

HOW TO HIRE A DOULA

IS ORGANIC BABY CLOTHING REALLY THAT IMPORTANT?

SPECIAL OFFER ON BACK COVER!

K A R I LY N S A N D E R S , photographer

About six years ago, I started a company designing and sewing custom baby onesies. Through the process of having these onesies modeled by adorable babies and photographed for my website, I decided baby photography was what I really loved.

Now I specialize in maternity portraits, newborn portraits, and babies up to one year. I’m based in Astoria, Queens, and I offer sessions in my studio space or in your home. I’m available to travel to wherever you are.

PICTURE THIS

YO U R B A B Y I S F I N E A RT

I’m here to produce art of your newborn for your home, not for your Facebook wall. In the pages of this magazine, you’ll see the process from booking your session to the installation of your artwork, and how I will help you preserve your baby’s first days of life.

Five, fifteen, even fifty years from now, your child will be able to pull out these photographs and marvel at how tiny they once were. What an amazing gift you are giving to your baby!

This will be an amazing gift to give yourself as well. Parenthood is quite a jour-ney. On the good days and the bad, you’ll be able to look at these photographs and smile at how much they’ve grown, and maybe shed a few joyful tears at how far you’ve come together.

LETTERS FROM YOU

“Karilyn was fantastic with my daughter, even better at calming the crying than

mommy! She was so warm, relaxed and patient with her. It was an unforgettable

experience.”

“I was so pleased with how gentle Karilyn was with my son and he responded so

well. The experience was wonderful, and I ADORE my image box! It is so unique and

my whole family loves it.”

“I thought Karilyn handled Ben in a soft and gentle way. I liked how she played the white noise and was able to get beautiful shots of him and us! Our family and friends raved

about our birth announcements”

R E N E E P TA KL E I G H -TAY L O R S I G F U S S O N

K R I S T I N H U G H E S B E C K Y K U P E R M A N

“I cannot recommend Karilyn enough. While the images will be treasured

forever, we also look back on the experi-ence of taking those photos with fondness. Karilyn’s warm and calm demeanor make her the ultimate newborn photographer.”

THE PORTRAIT PROCESS

F R O M S H O O T T O P R I N T

3-6 MONTHSB E F O R E YO U R D U E DAT E

Call or email to inquire about availability for your due date. I can answer any questions you have about the session and book your session over the phone.

1 MONTHB E F O R E YO U R S E S S I O N

I will come to your home for a consultation about your session. We’ll discuss ideas for the photo session, products you’re interested in, and decide if you’d like a studio session or an in-home session.

DAY OFYO U R P H O T O S E S S I O N

I will photograph your newborn separately and with you. The session will take between 3-4 hours, with plenty of time for feeding breaks. It will be a very relaxed pace, guided by your newborn.

1 WEEKA F T E R YO U R S E S S I O N

I will come to your home to present you with your final 25-30 images. This is when you’ll choose your favorites and order your products.

4-5 WEEKSA F T E R YO U R S E S S I O N

Your products are ready for delivery! If you ordered wall portraits, we will schedule a date and time for professional installa-tion.

6 MONTHSA F T E R YO U R S E S S I O N

7 months of age is the next best time for professional portraits. This is the sweet spot where your baby is sitting up on their own, but not yet crawling. Call to schedule your baby’s 7 month portraits!

Is your due date available? Email karilyn@karilynsanders.com to inquire today!

“A mother’s body remembers her babies - the folds of soft flesh, the softly furred scalp against her nose. Each child has it’s own entreaties to body and soul.”

― Barbara Kingsolver

IT’S A DATE! W H AT T O E X P E C T T H E DAY O F YO U R S E S S I O N

If you’ve chosen an in-home session, I will arrive the morning of your session. I may have an assistant with me, depending on the setup we’ve planned. I will begin to set up the photo area as you finish feeding your newborn. Once you are finished, a hair + makeup artist will begin working with you as I start photographing your baby. If you’ve chosen a studio session, I will have a comfortable spot for you to feed your baby upon arrival. Hair and makeup is also included in your studio session.

You are welcome to interrupt the photo session at any time to hold or feed your baby. We will take several breaks for this purpose. Once I’ve finished photograph-ing the baby alone, we’ll start parent + baby photos. If you have other children and/or pets, we’ll photograph them with the baby as well. The entire session will last between 3-4 hours.

FULL BELLY = S LE E PY BA BY

In order to acheive the adorable poses that you see in my portfolio, we need baby to be in a deep sleep. Feeding baby about 30 minutes before the session begins will ensure they have a full belly when we start photographing.

AS WARM AS T HE WOMB

In addition to being full, your baby needs to be nice and warm to stay asleep. Since they will be undressed for most of the session, it’s imperative to turn the heat up to at least 85 degrees in the room we’ll be working in. I have found this to be the most important factor for a successful newborn session.

RELAX. . .

Newborns can feel our energy. It is my goal to keep a calm, relaxed environment during the newborn session. It is normal for babies to fuss and cry during their session. Don’t let this stress you out: this is when I whip out my amazing baby-whisperer skills and gently coax them back to sleep.

P OOP HAPPEN S

It is VERY likely that your baby will poop and pee on a blanket, on you, or on my other props during the session. Have a change of clothes ready to go, and don’t worry about my stuff: it’s all washable and gets thoroughly cleaned after each session.

FULL HOUSE

You may have family in town during this special time. As part of the goal to keep a calm environ-ment, it may be helpful to send grandma out to do errands during the session, and have childcare arranged for your other children until it is their turn to be photographed.

S NACK AT TACK

Whether you choose a studio session or in-home session, it’s important to have snacks on hand for yourself and your other children. Newborn sessions can last up to 4 hours, and you will definitely want to have some food to munch on!

Manon Chevallerau, postpartum doula

I ’VE ASKED MY FRIEND MANON TO SHARE A LITTLE BIT ABOUT DOU -LAS. WHAT ARE THEY, WHY DO YOU NEED ONE, AND HOW DO YOU FIND THE RIGHT MATCH FOR YOU?

When you are pregnant you will end up in the maze of labor and maternity resources and ser-vices. Overwhelmed and confused, you will learn of new terms and services you’ve never heard of before. One service that has been developing rapidly by demand is a Doula. The word Doula comes from the Greek language and the nicest translation means “Mothering the New Mother.”

Within Doula services there are two options: 1) Birth or Labor Support Doula who is experienced and certified to provide physical, emotional and practical support to the birthing family before and during labor and delivery. Studies have shown that when doulas attend birth, labors are shorter with fewer complica-tions, babies are healthier and they breastfeed more easily. 2) Postpartum Doula provides emotional and practical support during the period after birth. Research evidence shows that the professional services of a postpartum doula can ease the transition into parenthood, can avoid breast-feeding complications and help both mother and baby to recover and develop properly.

Reasons For Wanting A Birth Doula vs. Post-partum Doula, or Both

Parenthood is a major life transition and the adjustment period feels less overwhelming when a professional is available to address your questions and concerns. A Labor or Birth Doula can support you and your partner during labor and delivery to stay focused and eliminate dis-tractions, stay in tune with your birth plan, work as mediator between you, your partner and the midwife or OBGYN. She can ease the labor discomforts and pain by addressing massage, acupuncture or pressure, use of aromatherapy and more.

When you come home from the hospital, you may have family support, but with the profes-sional support of a Postpartum Doula your adjustment into parenthood will be a smoother transition.

DO YOU NEED A DOULA?

She will guide you with breastfeeding and make sure that you are on the right track with latch-ing, milk production, etc. She will help to avoid any major issues that could arise during the breastfeeding process without guidance. She as-sists and guides with basic baby care, monitors your recovery, helps you understand the baby’s queues, sets routines and is an extra set of hands and companion during these first weeks of adjustment. Having this soothing and maternal reassurance can build your confidence and help you tune in to your own parenting instincts.

How to Find a Doula

Both Labor or Birth Doulas and Postpartum Doulas work either independantly, in a collective or with an agency.

The best way to find your match is to first ask your friends and relatives and receive a direct referral. Most OBGYN’s and midwives have worked with doulas so ask them if they have any suggestions. Most doulas, collectives and agencies are listed online. See who is in your area and if there are any open houses and then set up a private consultation to understand more about the services and details. Before you meet a doula for a private consultation you should make sure that you know that she is available around your due date, able to commute to your hospital and home, and have an understanding about her fees.

• Do you provide additional services like acupuncture, acupressure, aromatherapy, nutrition, etc?

• What is the pre-labor consulation schedule like?

• Ask for at least 3 references to contact.

For Postpartum Doulas:

• How long have you been serving new par-ents, and approximately how many families have you worked with?

• Have you worked with special needs babies and/or multiples? (if relevant)

• How do you assist with basic baby care, and more detailed care like umbilical cord care and circumcision?

• Are you trained to assist with breastfeed-ing, including latching positioning, pump-ing and trouble shooting?

• Have you worked with laction specialists?• How do you support mothers’ recovery?• Do you help with setting routines with

baby and sleep training?• Do you provide additional services like

massage, acupuncture/acupressure, aro-matherapy, placenta encapsulation, etc?

• Are you trained in infant CPR?• Are you comfortable with additional tasks

like running errands, babysitting, preparing healthy meals, and help with siblings?

• Are you allergic to cats or dogs? (if rel-evant)

• Discuss your daily hours as needed, and how long you would like to hire her for.

• Ask for at least 3 references to contact.

In general, you should get a good sense of her background and personality to see if you are a good match for each other. Ask her about her own children and their births, and ask about her other interests besides being a doula!

Manon is a native of Amsterdam and lives in New York. She has been providing support ser-vices to new parents in Manhattan, Brooklyn and New Jersey for over 15 years. The Tribeca Trib says of Manon: “For New Moms, She Is the Answer Lady”.

Reach her at mchevall@earthlink.net

Setting Up a Consultation, and What Ques-tions to Ask

During your private consultation, you should again confirm her availability around the due date for either during or post delivery.

For Birth or Labor Doulas:

• How many births have you attended?• How many were home births vs. birth

center/hospital?• How many were vaginal vs. cesarean?• How many were VBAC? (if relevant)• Have you worked with my doctor/midwife?• Have you worked with high risk pregnan-

cies and/or multiples? (if relevant)• Can you tell me about different birth

methods, and help me find one that is best for me?

• What sort of birth complications have your clients experienced, and how did you help them through it?

• If things don’t go according to plan during my birth, how will you help me through the situation?

• Do you provide placenta encapsulation?• What newborn care/breastfeeding training

do you have?

There are several reasons why moms should choose to shop organic for their little ones. Clothing made from organic fabric is toxin-free, eco-friendly, and durable.

Organic childrenswear helps to prevent the absorption of dangerous chemicals into your child’s body. Organic fabric, such as the fabric we use at Lucy & Leo, is grown and processed without using toxic pesticides and chemical treatments. Younger children, especially new-borns and infants, have delicate skin and organs that are not yet fully developed. Their skin and lungs are more prone to absorbing the chemi-cals that comes in to contact with their bodies, and therefore it is best if their clothing is free of harmful toxins.

Instead of using harsh chemicals such as form-aldehyde and alkylphenoloxylate (a hormone disrupter), organic cotton is typically hand-picked and processed with vegetable dyes, so the environment is not polluted. Moreover, organic children’s clothing is more durable than traditional non-organic clothing. The natural treatments and use of vegetable dyes on organic cotton preserves the integrity of the fabric, which results in a very durable garment for your child.

I recently heard the comparison of organic cot-ton to eating organic food, I think this is a great way to communicate how important wearing organic clothing is. If you are not willing to put pesticides into your body, why would you put them on your body’s biggest organ, your skin?

Many people often wonder about the importance of buying organic clothing. All of the information out there can be overwhelming and sometimes confusing. We have broken it down into our top 5 reasons to buy organic clothing, especially for newborns:

1. Traditional cotton contains dangerous chemi-cals. Organic cotton does not, therefore these chemicals such as pesticides, formaldehyde, and fertilizers will not be absorbed into your skin or your baby’s skin. Babies have extra absorbent skin, and is 20-30% more sensitive than adult skin, organic cotton ensures that these chemicals do not come in contact with the skin.

2. Organic cotton lasts longer. Organic cotton is not put through the same rigorous chemicals and washing processes as traditional cotton, so the fibers will last longer. This means longer lasting garments of high quality that can be passed down from child to child and not end up in a landfill.

3. Environmentally Friendly. The harvesting process is much better for the environment and the land, than traditional cotton harvesting. This helps to keep a better balanced ecosystem as it does not pollute our land and water supply like the process of harvesting traditional cotton does.

4. Low impact dyes. These dyes are less harmful to the ecosystem as well as our skin. Unfortu-nately the fashion industry as contributes to a lot of waste in the world, buy buying organic you do your art to help limit the waste produced.

5. Better working conditions. Organic farming keeps workers healthy by not exposing them to harsh chemicals while they work, as well as the people who live in the areas surrounded by cotton farms.

EACH NEWBORN I PHOTOGRAPH RECEIVES A CUSTOM BODYSUIT AT THE END OF THEIR PHOTO SESSION. I USE LUCY & LEO BODYSUITS BECAUSE THEY ARE ORGANIC AND MADE IN NEW YORK. I ’VE ASKED LUCY & LEO FOUND -ER, RACHEL MEDNICK TO SHARE WHY ORGANIC CLOTHING IS SO IMPORTANT.

Rachel Mednick studied fashion design & merchandising at Drexel University. She lives in New York and is proud to manufacture Lucy & Leo products in New York.

See the full line of clothing and baby care products at www.lucyandleo.com.

ALBUMS

You love your images. You want to be able to look back on all of them, years down the road, and remember exactly how your baby was at this moment in time. That’s why our albums are designed to preserve your most cherished memories for a lifetime.Our album pages are luxuriously thick, and each album holds 10-25 spreads (20-50 single-sided pages). Your im-ages are printed on professional-grade, high-quality silver halide Fuji lustre paper.

IMAGE BOX

Holds up to twenty-five mounted 5x7 photos. Cover op-tions include 6 linen colors or custom photo cover.

CANVAS GALLERY WRAP

Hand-crafted canvas wrap with a 1 1/2” depth. Sizes range from 11x14 to 30x40.

PRESS PRINTED CARDS

Custom designed birth announcements, holiday cards, thank you notes and birthday invitations. Available in several luxurious paper options and sizes.

FRAMES

Gorgeous, modern photography deserves equally gorgeous, modern frames. We believe that there is great value in completing your images through a polished final product. Presenting your photographs in archival matted frames elevates your portrait investment to the status of art, transforming your walls into a gallery to be experienced and enjoyed daily.

CUSTOM FRAME

WALL GALLERIES

SPECIAL OFFER FOR ‘NEWBORNS’ READERS:Mention ‘Newborns’ magazine when you book your photo session and receive a FREE 5x7 print with your product order ($45 value)!

www.karilynsanders.com | karilyn@karilynsanders.com | 620-200-7521 | @karilynphoto