Newborn Photography in Abilene, TX
Lifestyle Newborn Photography in Abilene, TX
At Sage & Bloom, we specialize in lifestyle newborn photography in your own home. My style is true-to-life and timeless.
Newborn sessions are always baby-led and relaxed, and they take place in your home. We follow your baby's lead and capture your life and all the details. Then we turn your favorites into something you can hold, a beautiful heirloom album that rivals your wedding album.
If you want photos that look and feel like your family, I would love to meet you. I love getting to know my families and capturing what makes you and your family unique.
What a newborn session with me looks like
When I arrive, you take me on a quick tour through your home and pick the spot with the best light. This is a great time to chat about you and what is special to you such as a handmade blanket or special piece of furniture. Most of the time we stay in one room, whether that is your bedroom, the nursery, or the living room. One window is plenty.
From there, your baby sets the pace. Most sessions take 1 to 2 hours. If your baby needs to eat or be held, we take a break. It is just part of the newborn experience, and I tend to document those moments too. I've done entire sessions with babies in arms. We do whatever is most comfortable and least stressful.
Your whole family is part of it. Siblings, dad, and pets all belong in these photos. Big kids can wander in and out, and everyone is in their own safe space, so nothing in your home is at risk of being broken.
What baby-led means
Baby-led means I use your baby's natural positions and work gently within them. If your baby curls up asleep on your chest, we photograph that. If your baby stretches out on the bed or settles into your arms, we photograph that.
I prefer this over heavily posed newborn photos for one reason, and that reason is safety. Safety is my priority. Some newborn poses ask a baby to hold positions their body would never choose on its own, and I am not willing to do that for a photo. My thought is, if you have to blend two images together to achieve the final pose because it is not safe to have the baby in that position, then it is not safe. Period.
It makes the session easier on you too. When your baby is stressed, you are even more stressed, and those first few weeks are critical for bonding. You are never removed from your baby, and you are not watching your brand new baby get moved around and stressed out. And the photos show your baby the way you know them. It also means older babies are welcome, because we are not trying to fit them into a pose.
What is included and what to expect to invest
Newborn collections with me range from $400 to $1,500, depending on what you want to walk away with and if you would like to bundle maternity or milestones.
Every collection includes zoom call before booking so we can talk through your family and what matters most to you, a short questionnaire about your home and your plans, your in-home newborn session with your whole family welcome, and a private online gallery delivered within 4 weeks of your session. I also stay in touch with you from the first hello to the final delivery.
*A zoom call is required for all in-home sessions.
From there, you choose how you want to keep your photos: a set of digital images, your full gallery, or a luxury newborn album designed and printed through my professional lab. The album has thick, beautiful pages and is made to be handled and passed down. I think a newborn album deserves the same weight as a wedding album, and I would love to make one with you. If you would rather order prints yourself, that is an option too.
A $200 retainer holds your date, and payment plans are available. After we talk, I send you the full collection guide so you can see everything laid out.
When to book your newborn session
The best time to reach out is a couple of months before your due date. I take on a limited number of families, by design, so each one gets my full attention, and early is how I make sure your birth window is open for you.
A couple of months before your due date: reach out and we set up a call.
When your baby arrives: send me a message and I will check in on you.
Around two weeks old: the most common time for a session.
Weeks three through ten and beyond: also a lovely time. Because I use baby-led, natural positions, your baby does not need to be a brand new newborn. We work around your recovery and your family's rhythm.
Already welcomed your baby? Reach out anyway. Sessions after the early weeks are absolutely welcome.
How it works
Send me a message through the contact form with your due date. A couple of months before is ideal. Every in-home session starts with a Zoom call, so I can get to know your family, hear what you want from your photos, and answer your questions. After that, you sign your agreement and pay the $200 retainer, and I pencil you in for around two weeks after your due date.
Reach Out and Schedule a Call
I send a short questionnaire about your home and tips on what to wear. For your baby, pick a couple of fitted outfits and a solid, swaddle or two. For you, wear something comfortable.
Planning and Prep
Let me know when your baby is here and we find a day that fits your recovery and your schedule. On session day, I walk through your home with you, we choose the best spot, and we follow your baby's lead
Baby arrives, and I come to you.
Your photos.
Your gallery arrives within 4 weeks. If you choose an album or prints, I handle the design and order through my professional lab, and they usually arrive in about two weeks.
Frequently Asked Questions
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It does not have to be. We usually stay in one room, and if something would distract in the photo, I will help tidy that area. Otherwise, I leave it. The point of photographing at home is to document your life as it is right now, not a magazine version of it.
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Not at all. One window is enough, and I will find the best spot when we walk through together.
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Usually 90 minutes but up to 2 hours. Your baby leads, so feeding, snuggling, and breaks are just part of the session, never interruptions.
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Yes! Your whole family belongs in the story. Siblings can come and go while we work, and they are in their own safe, familiar space.
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Your gallery arrives via online gallery within 4 weeks of your session. Prints and albums take about two additional weeks.
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You are getting a mom of three who has photographed families for years, who knows how to work with the light in your home, and who prepares you, guides you, and stays in touch through every step. You are also getting a finished heirloom, if you choose it, rather than a folder of files to figure out on your own.
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Yes! A travel fee applies for sessions outside 30 miles of Abilene, TX.
Contact us
You deserve the very best, and we want to make sure we’re the right photographer to capture your story in a way that feels true to you.
We carefully select the families we work with to ensure that our values and vision align. It’s important to that we can truly connect with and serve each family we photograph.
We would love to learn more about you and your family’s story. Please fill out the contact form, and we’ll get back to you as soon as we can!
