Tallahassee Newborn Photography | Portfolio
CLASSIC & TIMELESS TALLAHASSEE NEWBORN PHOTOGRAPHER
Welcome, Mama. I'm so glad you're here. If you're like many of my clients, you've patiently worked hard to grow your family and now it's time to celebrate. I want to help you remember every little detail of your new baby. I want you to look at your photos years from now and still be able to smell your baby's newness and recall that deep feeling of excitement that you experienced together when your baby was so small and you were new parents. I want you to remember it well.
Lifestyle newborn photography sessions are the heartbeat of my business. I love seeing the connection between you, your spouse, and your littlest new family member.
I've said it often, but each time I step into the home of a new baby, it's as if I'm stepping onto holy ground. Being so close to a newly created life, so fresh to us from our maker, is like being among the first to see a masterpiece of art. I'm honored each time I'm privileged to photograph a Tallahassee newborn photography session.
Scroll down to read the newborn FAQ's
TALLAHASSEE NEWBORN PHOTOGRAPHER
TALLAHASSEE NEWBORN PHOTOGRAPHy
Newborn Session FAQ's:
Q: Will you bring baskets and blankets for the baby to wear/be propped in for photos?
A: NO. I don't use props or crazy poses for newborns. My Tallahassee newborn photography focuses on the connection between you, your spouse, and new baby and siblings. That said, I do have a few knotted gowns, classic knitted blankets, and a Moses basket that I'll bring if you express an interest in wanting those for an option. Read more about my approach to newborn session here.
Q: What if my house is too dark to get that soft, light style that you create?
A. Fear not! I've been in some VERY dark houses for newborn photography sessions and I promise, we'll find the light! I also always have my trusty flash with me if we need to add just a bit more light.
Q: My house is not nearly as clean/cute/clutter-free as the homes you have on your website. Can we still take photos here?
A: YES YES YES! I have 4 children of my own and can promise you that I've seen it ALL. I'm not afraid of clutter or untidiness. We can work with what you've got! I've written a blog post to answer this very question. Read it here and let your worries fade.
Q: How old should baby be when we do his/her Tallahassee newborn photography session?
A: Once baby and mom are safely home. Typically within the first two weeks of life, however, we can easily create newborn style photos up to 6-8 weeks of age.
Q: What if my baby cries for the entire session? What if we don't get any decent photos because he's so upset?
A: Please don't worry. Babies will cry and we account for that by blocking off enough time for extra cuddles and feeding during your newborn session. I'm 15 years in to this work and I've yet to have a baby cry for the entire session. However, should that unlikely scenario happen, and your little one is just not well the day of your session, we'll simply reschedule for another day to come back and try again.
Q: What if I, my spouse, or my baby wakes up sick the day of our session?
A: I would ask you to please let me know so that we can reschedule. In this post-Covid world and all we still don't know about the effects of it on growing children, I ask that we play it safe. I offer the same courtesy to you. If anyone in my house wakes up sick the day of your session, I'll notify you and we'll reschedule. Please don't think you'll be inconveniencing me. I want your baby safe, and my own 4 children safe as well.
Q: How are you handling precautionary measures Tallahassee newborn photographer?
A: As always (pre and post Covid world), I'll take off my shoes and wash my hands as soon as I arrive to your house. I'm fully vaccinated but don't ask you to be. Anything I may bring with me (those few items listed above) are freshly washed in fragrance free detergent and washed again after your session.
Q: I know you don't do props, but if we have a special outfit we want to photograph the baby in, may we do so?
A: YES! I love when a parent's heirloom gown makes its way into your newborn session, or the quilt grandma made for the baby is used in some way in your photos. Or, even an outfit that you purchased just for this baby and want to put on them. Those things are special and a part of your family story and should always be included.
Q: My parents/in-laws will be in town. Can they be in a few photos?
A: Absolutely and always, YES! Please take advantage of having a professional photographer there and have them take a few photos with their new grand baby. This is their legacy!
Q: When should I contact you to schedule a newborn session?
A: Now! If you have a due date, now is the time to schedule! I can't stress this enough. My calendar books several months in advance so as soon as you're ready, we can book you onto my calendar. Occasionally I'm able to work in a last minute newborn, but the sooner the better to guarantee availability.
Q: We live outside of Tallahassee (Thomasville, Crawfordville, Valdosta, South GA, elsewhere in North FL) can we still hire you for photos?
A: Yes, I'd be honored to work with you. If you live further than 30 minutes outside of Tallahassee (the coast, Valdosta, etc) there will be a custom travel fee depending on your distance from Tallahassee. This works out to approximately $125 per hour of travel.
Details and investment
Digital Files + Printed Artwork = A Match Made in Heaven
If you’ve ever shopped for art, you know that prices range greatly… and that’s certainly true with photography as well. As with other art, those prices aren’t easily compared - it’s not apples to apples.
With a session fee of $250 and collections starting at $700, you’ll find that my work is neither the least nor the most expensive in the area, but it does represent one of the best values. With over a decade and a half of experience, a perfect review record on Google, and a satisfaction guarantee that I take very seriously, you can invest confidently knowing you're in skilled and experienced hands.
How it Works
When you inquire about a session, here's what you can expect...
If you've taken a look around and love my photos then let's work together! Contact me and receive all the details about my collection options and let's get the ball rolling!
You can choose to book just one session or join my membership and have everything documented from pregnancy to baby's 1st birthday. Most of my clients join the membership to take advantage of the savings. Keep scrolling to learn more!
Once we've decided on a time and date and officially put your session on the calendar, I'll send you a getting ready guide that will walk you through everything from choosing outfits to strategies for getting kids to cooperate.
I'll also send you a little questionnaire to get to know you a bit better so I can best prepare for your session and make sure we create exactly what you want.
Sessions are typically 45 minutes (newborns are longer), but I don't charge by the hour, so if there's a wardrobe malfunction or child meltdown, we have flexibility.
I'm going to help you with posing and getting your little ones to smile. Your job is to relax and go with the flow! My sessions are about capturing your family interacting with each other naturally with my gentle coaching on setting the scene to make great images. All you have to do is follow my instruction, play with your baby or kids and spouse, focus on them so I can focus on you!
About 2-3 weeks after your session you'll receive your online slideshow where you can see all your photos from the comfort of your home and then pick your collection. Every collection includes a set amount of digital files and a print credit to get started displaying your favorite photos in your home.
Once you've chosen your collection, you'll have access to the gallery for a full month to download your favorite digitals and spend your print credit on gorgeous artwork. You can also share the gallery with friends and family!
Investment
Fine art portraits are shot in a way that's meant for living room walls and heirloom photo albums.
I specialize in working with mamas-to-be, little ones, and families to capture memories and milestones.
newborn, Maternity or Family
Creative fee $250
Does not include prints, digitals or products
WHAT'S INCLUDED:
- newborn sessions are up to 1.5 hours, which gives us plenty of time for diaper changes, feeding, & snuggles. These sessions are done in the comfort of your home.
- family and maternity sessions are typically 45 minutes; enough time to capture what we need, but not too much that mom gets sore, and kids (or dad) lose interest
- most family and maternity photos are on location at one of our beautiful local parks, but we can also do an at home session
- prep guide to help plan what you’ll wear, advice for selecting a location for your session, and start thinking about how you want to display your new favorite photos in your home
- a collection is purchased after your session. families expect to invest $700+ after each session
In order to create a more personalized experience for my clients, I only accept a limited number of portrait bookings per month. Contact me today to get all the pricing info before you book!
Collective Membership
Enrollment fee $500, 2-4 sessions included
What most families choose to document their biggest moments
Created to keep your baby's first year well photographed. Believe it or not, memories will fade, but photographs can help you recall those tired, foggy days snuggling your perfect little babe. The collective is for anyone who plans to book at least two sessions in an 18 month period. Read more about the membership here.
WHAT'S INCLUDED:
- 2 - 4 sessions of your choosing (maternity, newborn, milestones, birthday, family session, etc) over an 18 month period, for one creative fee, $500. if you book a maternity and newborn session, you are automatically enrolled into the membership
- priority booking
- early booking access to holiday session events
- $100 print credit for any future sessions after your membership concludes (2 year session, family sessions, etc)
- access to join my yearbook club after membership is completed
- a collection is purchased after each session. families expect to invest $700+ after each session
ARE THERE DISCOUNTS FOR MULTIPLE SESSIONS?
Absolutely. The Collective Membership is chosen by almost half of our clients, as it offers a discount on the creative fees. If you are planning on visiting us yearly, this is the way to go!
Are digital files and artwork included?
We firmly believe that you should see your final portraits before choosing or committing to any products, so digital files, albums, and framed artwork aren't included in your Creative Fee. After each session, you select one of three collections that each include a set number of digital files and a certain amount of print credit which you can use to print what you need for your home.
CAN MY WHOLE FAMILY BE INCLUDED?
Always. We are family-centered and encourage the whole family to be a part of every session, whether it's maternity, newborn, a milestone session, or baby cake smash. It's always sweeter when you are surrounded by those you love.
Recent Blog Posts
Here`s the thing most families don`t expect: how you feel in your outfit directly affects how you look in your photos.
For adults, that`s a confidence thing. When you feel comfortable and like yourself, your posture is easier, your smile comes naturally, and you stop thinking about what you`re wearing. That shift is visible in the images.
For kids, it`s simpler. Comfort is everything. A scratchy waistband or a tight collar becomes the entire focus of the session for that child - and honestly, for everyone else too. Pick your battles, and when it comes to kids, let comfort win.
A few practical things worth knowing before your session:
Plan outfits early. Not the night before. Try things on, swap pieces if something isn`t working, and let the kids wear their outfits around the house for a bit to confirm they can actually tolerate them.
Think about undergarments. For the women in the family, this matters more than most guides will tell you. How your clothing lays against your body affects both how it photographs and how you feel standing in front of a camera.
Skip the logos. Always. Branded clothing dates quickly and pulls focus away from exactly what we`re there to capture.
The prep pays off. Every time.
We finally hung curtains in our house.
I`d been putting it off for months. Every time I thought about it, I talked myself out of it - we`d just redone so many walls and the last thing I wanted was more holes. But once we actually did it, the blackout curtains went up, we started sleeping so much better, and I felt silly for waiting as long as I did.
And then I thought about all the people sitting on booking a photography session for basically the same reason.
The process feels like a lot until it isn`t. And then you wonder why you waited.
If you`ve been meaning to reach out and just keep not doing it - hi. The link is at sarahgray.com/contact. It takes two minutes and that`s the hardest part.
Can we talk about the matching family photo?
I`m not against it in principle. I`ve seen it work. But I`ll be honest with you: identical outfits can flatten the individuality of each person in the frame. Everyone ends up looking like a set instead of a family.
What I always encourage is coordinated, not matching.
Cohesion without uniformity. Everyone looks like they belong in the same photo - but each person still looks like themselves. Mom isn`t dressed like a grown up version of her daughter. Dad doesn`t look like he raided his son`s closet.
The goal is harmony, not a uniform.
A few ways to pull this off without overthinking it: start with one anchor piece - usually mom`s outfit - and build the palette outward from there. Repeat one or two colors across the group without repeating the exact same clothing. Let textures and silhouettes vary.
The result is a family photo that actually looks like your family.
It`s the night before your session.
You`ve had weeks to plan this. Weeks. And yet here you are, every piece of clothing you own spread across the bed, asking your partner if navy and olive `go together` and Googling `what to wear for family photos` at 10:47pm.
Completely normal. You are not alone. I have heard this story more times than I can count, and it almost always has a happy ending.
But if you`re in the planning phase right now and not yet in the panic phase - this is your sign to take thirty minutes this week and actually sort it out. Future you will be so relieved.
And if you`re my client, you have a lot of info at your fingertips in the Prep Guide sent to you when you booked with me.
Here`s the framework I share with every family I work with:
The location is the canvas. Your family is the subject. Your clothing is the paint.
Get the paint right, and everything comes together. Rush it, and even a beautiful Tallahassee evening can fall a little flat in the final images.
That doesn`t mean you need a stylist or a big budget. It means you need a plan and a few principles that actually hold up in real life - with real kids and real closets.
Start with a neutral base. Creams, tans, soft whites, warm grays. These anchor your palette and keep the focus on faces and connection, which is the whole point.
From there, bring in color intentionally. Neutrals with soft blues. Neutrals with blush or sage. Warmer tones in fall - mauve, khaki, olive - especially at a location like Alford Park, where the foliage does a lot of work for you.
Add texture wherever you can. A knit next to a satin blouse. A linen shirt next to a tweed jacket. Texture creates visual depth in a way that flat, solid fabrics just don`t. It`s one of those things that reads beautifully in prints and most families don`t hear about until someone tells them.
Keep patterns small if you use them at all. A delicate floral, a fine stripe, a subtle check - all great. Large, bold patterns pull focus away from faces, and that`s never what we`re going for.
Outfit planning is one of the highest-leverage things you can do before your session. I promise it`s worth the attention.
Memberships and Affiliations
Sarah Gray creates timeless and joyful images that are designed for living room walls and photo albums. A tallahassee photographer, Sarah Gray also serves Thomasville, Crawfordville, St. Marks, Gainesville and throughout the Forgotten Coast and panhandle of north Florida and south Georgia.
email us | sarah@sarahgray.com
telephone (850) 328-3258
located in tallahassee, florida
