Clothing..chargers..etc.,

During this time as you prepare yourself. Think comfort. You want comfortable clothes to move around in, especially if you know you are having a caesarean birth. Think loungewear that is loose, easy to remove, easy to put on, and easy to open. If you are planning on breastfeeding think about shirts that will be either easy to remove or open. During my time, I loved breastfeeding camisoles. They were easy to put on, comfy, and I can easily open them up when it came time to breast feed. You will be spending a good amount of time in the hospital, so think about your entertainment needs. Tablets, books, phone, and your chargers. Get chargers that are long, just in the event that the plug is far from your bed. Think about your usual stuff that you would pack for a vacation just make it more comfortable. Shower shoes for the shower, comfy sandals or slippers to walk around in. Comfy shoes for when you get to leave the hospital. Some other important things to outline are your wallet, ID, insurance card, and birth plan. If you are thinking about pumping and not sure how to use it, bring your pump with you. A lactation consultant normally walks around the hospital providing assistance. They can certainly help you in getting to know your pump.

Comfort, as you see fit..

You know yourself best, so analyze your comfort level and go from there. Yes, the hospital will provide, towels, pillows, and basic toiletry items. If you feel like what they’ll provide will be fine, then don’t bring in additional items. If you want to feel a little bit more at home, bring your favorite pillow, towels, shampoo, conditioner, and body wash. This is all up to your discretion and how you want to feel after giving birth. Once I was able to walk, hours after birth, I just wanted to take a hot shower. Being able to take a shower with your own stuff after all that work, made things feel a lot better. You can always call your hospital and ask them what items they provide.

Baby items

The hospital will provide diapers, wipes, pacifier, and knitted hats. Which in case you don’t know yet… you can take these items home at the end of your stay! You’ll need baby’s car seat, which your spouse can get from the car once it’s time to leave. All those cute items you spent money buying for them, you can bring with you to take photos. Name plates, personalized swaddles, hats, and even a personalized coming home outfit. I loved finding personalized coming home outfits off Etsy.

You got this mama!

I know it all seems so scary to think about but, you’ll get through this! You’ll be hugging your sweet baby in no time, and all of this worriedness will seem like nothing. I hope you find this blog post, informative, and please feel free to download and use the checklist I’ve left for you!

If you are a Jacksonville, Florida mom and still looking for a maternity and/or newborn photographer- I’d love to help you document this beautiful moment. If you are a current client of mine that has a newborn session reserved, then don’t forget to let me know once you have delivered so we can set your newborn session date!

Best,

Rina

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How can I best serve YOU?

you don’t need to be stressed planning your maternity session

My maternity experience is stress-free and high touch. What does this mean? I only take a limited number of sessions per month to ensure that I provide the ultimate experience for all my mothers. It’s a stress-free experience in the sense that you won’t be going to the Facebook mom page asking “what’s the best places to take maternity photos” because in all reality- that should be your photographer’s job to assist you with this.

The Stress-free experience

the details..

So, if you are considering me for your maternity session then please go to my website (here!) and get in touch with me. Once you get in touch with me, I’ll reach back out with my pricing details, and we’ll discuss a date and what type of scenery you are looking for your photos. I’ll give you my recommendations when it comes to locations based of what looks good for photos. Assist you with styling your family, whether it’s you and your husband or your family of 4. I’ll provide style boards and links so you can purchase the outfits straight from the style board I send you. You also get exclusive access to my client closet which has a select number of dresses that my mom’s can wear during their session. We’ll have a slow flow session that will be filled with joy, love, laughter. I’ll document you and your loved ones organically and in a way that is authentic to you. Three weeks after your session you’ll receive access to your gallery where you can view your images and decide how you want to cherish them. I truly believe in the power of tangible art, whether it’s printed photos, framed art, or a photo album. I won’t leave you hanging and I’ll assist you with picking out the best heirloom artwork for your family.

Baby Membership

you can’t forget about the newborn session!

I also have a baby plan membership where you can reserve both your maternity and newborn session at a discounted session fee rate. I’ll assist you with planning both sessions and provide you with an in-home newborn session once that sweet baby comes earth side.

Memphis Maternity Photographer

I hope I was able to provide you with a quick recap on my stress-free experience for my maternity sessions. So, if you are looking for a Maternity Photographer in Memphis, TN. I hope you truly consider me and allow me to make this experience for you a great one, because you truly don’t need to stress over your maternity and/or newborn session. Serving Lakeland, Germantown, Arlington, Collierville and surrounding areas. I can’t wait to talk with you! My website!

Best,

Rina Xx

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Lou Lou and Company

When it comes to knotted gowns, these are my absolute favorite! Knotted gowns are onsies that have extra fabric in the bottom to where you can tie them in a knot. I adored them when it came to midnight diaper changes. Just undo the knot, change diaper, tie the knot, and hopefully some more sleep. Their fabric is also extremely soft. Everything from Lou Lou is absolutely beautiful and worth spending your money on. You won’t be disappointed!

Zara

If you love a neutral palette than you are going to absolutely love the baby clothes that Zara has. From cable knit outfits, cardigans, and hats. When it comes to clothes that have texture and cuteness then Zara is your go-to. It’s one of my biggest go-to when it comes to styling clients for their newborn sessions.

Kate Quinn

Kate Quinn is one of my favorite stores when it comes to affordable organic clothes. One of my favorite collections is when they come out with their bamboo lines. One neat thing about Kate Quinn is that they launch collections with a certain theme. These collections for the most part are limited editions, so if you see something you like, buy it! If you love clothes with cute patterns then Kate Quinn is your go-to! They also have a limited selection on women clothing that is extremely comfortable and soft.

I hope you found this article helpful! I understand the excitement that comes from expecting a baby and wanting to buy all the things! These are stores that I absolutely love and recommend my clients to dress their kids in when it comes to their portrait session! Which by the way, if you are looking for a Memphis, TN Family Photographer , please reach out! I adore meeting new families and getting a chance to document their story authentically! Click here for my website! Looking forward to talking with you soon!

XX,

Rina

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CRM

CRM a.k.a. client relationship management

There are so many CRM softwares to choose from, my personal favorite- Dubsado. A CRM allows you to:

• keep track of all client communication
• contract and forms
• track your leads
• prepare/send invoice
• collect payments
• create proposals
• track financial goals
• schedule Sessions/Consultations
• track year to date financial information

It is filled with so many tools beneficial for an entrepreneur. I personally like to use it to keep track of all my client communication. I have set up my lead forms and financial goals. I am able to create invoice and have all them in one spot. You can create questionnaires so you can to know your clients better. It’s full of a lot of potential! There are other CRM’s similar to Dubsado such as honeybook, 17hats, Sprout Studio.

QuickBooks

Ain’t nobody got time for that!

QuickBooks helps you keep all your financial stuff in check. Think of accounting and taxes when you see QuickBooks. You connect it to your bank and it keeps track of all your transactions. Within there you can attach receipts for all your transactions, categorize each transaction, and track mileage to and from session. It also gives you an estimated outlook to how much you might owe for taxes. This is a very tedious aspect of owning your own business and quite frankly it’s a task I’d rather not mess around with. You can always go the route of having a personal bookkeeper or accountant to handle all of this, but QuickBooks has been extremely helpful and an investment that has been highly worth it!

Showit

Website designing made easy

Showit allows you to design the website of your dreams! I will admit that it takes a bit to get used to. But, once you become familiar with all the aspects, it’s a piece of cake! I highly recommend you either start with a free template or buy a template from the wonderful designers that Showit has. Starting off fresh can be extremely time consuming. Showit allows you to have total control of your website and your creativity can really shine through! It gives you the flexibility to change layouts, add fonts, create brand colors, and provide a great user experience. It also displays both the desktop and mobile version of your website so it allows you to scroll through and experience your website firsthand.

The Motherhood Anthology

Education!!!

Although this isn’t a tool and more like an education platform. There is nothing better than being part of a group with likeminded motherhood photographers whose main goal is giving you the tools to become a sustainable and profitable photographer! The Motherhood Anthology Membership is by far one of the best investment I have done for my business when it comes to education. There are so many educators out there to choose from in the photography world. My tip for selecting one is choosing someone you admire and look up to, choosing an educator that’s in a position where you see yourself being in, years from now. Put yourself in a group with likeminded entrepreneurs and watch yourself grow!

I certainly hope that my favorite tools as a family photographer blog post was helpful for you! My goal is to create blog pieces here and there that can help any photographer grow into their business. As well as get answers to questions I had years ago when I decided to make my own business! If you’d like to connect please reach out to me through my contact form, looking forward to talking with you!

All my best!

xx

Rina

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