Through our partners Chicago Custom Cakes and Tori's Bitty Bows we can have you completely covered. 

Your only responsibility?  Book a slot while they are still open! We offer 2 dates a month for these Cake Smash mini's.  Choose your time slot, and we'll reach out to you for the rest! We've got you covered.  We understand the amount of work and time that goes into the babies party planning itself, so let us tackle the adorable photo that will go on the invitation and/or your thank you card. 

Sounds so great, what do I do first? 

You can use our Events Page to book ahead.  Reserve your time and we will follow-up with you within 24-hours to provide more detail.  Do you still have questions before you book?  No problem, schedule a consult here, Regina will call you at the time you choose to answer your questions, then you can come back and book the session that fits you best. 

Agh! I cut it close and I need pictures quickly!

No problem.  Call or email us asap.  We are happy to work with you to make sure we capture your little one in time.  

How soon will I get my images? 

Your preview gallery is guaranteed to arrive within 5 business days after your session.  You will choose your images and products from that preview gallery.  If it's needed sooner to make it in-time for a fast approaching birthday, it can be expedited.  

You mentioned having everything prepped and ready to go.  What exactly does this include? 

We are excited to partner with local, momma-run businesses that help pull this together and make this day special for you. If you book a standard session, then we will order your cake, order your onesie with your child's name on it, and we will have banners and decor ready to go when you arrive.  All you do is show up (and have an outfit ready to go home in! They get quite messy). 

What if I want to have more of a say in the decor, outfits, or cake? 

We get it! It's the FIRST birthday after all & it's fun to plan this stuff.  So here's what you need to do to pull off a custom session. Go ahead and book the $199 package you see, and when we chat you can specify what you would like us to handle, and what you would like to have fun doing on your own.  Keep in mind our custom clothing partner has everything from onesie's to tutu's, to headbands, to bowtie's for the boys.  She may be able to do what you would like. 
*Our Cake Maker asks for 5-days ordering notice to have the item time for your session. $25 Rush fee optional. 
**Our Outfit designer asks for 7-days ordering notice to have the item in time for your session.  $25 Rush fee optional. 

This is a debate.  Right?  A topic of interest when anyone searches for a photographer.  You ponder things like; What if I just want digital?  I think I just want digital? Gosh I don't really know what I want to do once I get these images back, but I know my family is soooo overdue for decent photos? 

Let's start with dissecting 'Digital'.

Digital is fluid. Yup. You can store a file, move a file, share a file, and use this 'said' file HOWEVER you wish.  Such convenience!

Digital is searchable.  You can find just about anything using cntrl+F on your computer, right?  Search it by name, store it by name, store it by year.  Gosh that makes tracking my kid’s images year by year so easy & streamlined.

Lastly, Digital is PERMANENT.  Phew! I mean that’s what we are told.  Right?

Well, kind of.   So let’s touch on that last thought for a moment.  I’m a photographer right? I have back-ups for my back-ups right?  Yes, actually I do (clients can now breathe).... at least NOW I do.  But I will be the first to admit back in 2010, I did not have back-ups for my back-ups for my personal stuff.  Years ago, I became a full-time photographer partly because I discovered that digital is not the end all be all.  Here's why.  I had one place in “the cloud” where I had the impression all would be safe.  And for the most part it probably is.  It's in 'the cloud' so we are good to go, right?  Well unless your like me and decide to re-organize ALL of my 2012 and 2013 images and video's.  I start dragging folders back and forth from one drive to dropbox and I walked away to wait for all my re-organizing to sync up.  Guess what, the sync got interrupted.  Poof, 2012 was gone in a blink. It’s still gone in fact.  That’s the year my second child was born.  I can manually and painstakingly grab images and save from Facebook from that year (which is still on my to do list), but that’s not going to save it all.  That’s just a glimpse.  A glimpse of the videos and 1000’s of images I captured that year. So.... 

Lesson learned!

Here’s the thing. Digital is OUTSTANDING. If I don’t admit that then I’m behind the times.  And while most of us are not going to print 1,000 images; if we commit to at least printing or creating something, even one thing, each year, we are at least memorializing SOMETHING from a specific time period.  For instance, gathering 50 of our favorite images into an album, or choosing one to three of our best images from a vacation and blowing them up, ... or choosing a favorite location and making it a tradition to hire someone to make sure ALL of the family members are in the shot instead of the whole family minus mom (who let’s face it, is usually the one behind the camera). The, at least, we have a start to creating a legacy of your family year to year.  We then have something to physically touch,  feel,  look back-on, DISPLAY, and share.  We then have art more priceless than any magazine you could lay out on that coffee table.   The laughs, and the thrill of watching your wee-one sit and flip through an album of their own newborn photos, or their 1st year joining your family, does not have the same effect as asking mom to open her computer and dig through to find "files".  At least personally, this is simply not the same.   Maybe you've already realized this.  Great! So then let's tackle the "Now what?" question. 

Going Beyond Digital 

Step two in fixing this process is HOW to display, and this my friends is where most of the gridlock occurred for me.  Do you feel the same?  We are all good at capturing moments (fancy phones sure make that easy), but how good are we at DOING something with them?  Back in 2008 after my own picturesque Montana wedding, I received GORGEOUS images from a Montana photographer on a breathtaking Ranch.  2500 images, all amazing, yet those images sat on a CD for two years!  I got caught up in the search of the 'perfect' album, then the right approach, and then the daunting task of sorting and choosing my favorites from the 2500 images.   Then life took over.  Things jumped ahead of the album on my to do list.  I kept saying I would get back to it.  And in hindsight I WISH I just purchased my photographers album + Image combo.  It would have been done while i was off honeymooning and probably arrived home the same time I did! Done! But I didn't.   Point being I get it!  We all want to do something, but maybe it's not something that needs to be done by YOU.  Sometimes it's a blessing to decide what you can and want to do, and then let others tackle the rest. In short, don't be that 2008 version of me!  All of what you just read is the reason Burnett Studio was established to create, memorialize, and also FINALIZE your images with so much more than a simple USB of files (fyi you get that too with this photographer).  When it comes to creating memories, the physical end product is so important to us for all of the reason's above.  It's my end goal for all clients.  To make sure they walk away with either prints, an album, or a thoughtfully designed wall from their session.   

I like to show my clients this....   

Floppy Disk PhotographyDon't let your family photos, wedding photos, or years of memories present themselves like this.

Yup, those are floppy disks on the wall (hey, I was an 80's child).  This is kind of what we all do right?  CD's in a drawer is kind of the same as hanging them on the wall?  As a modern day society we don’t personally create art from our images any longer.   And we should.

The launch of Burnett Studio stemmed from a personal desire to grab onto this trend of 'all-things-digital' but combine it with the need for priceless works of art created with your own family memories. So when I am asked why not just do a digital package, you now see why our products go far beyond simple digital files.  The next time you look for or consider a photographer….. think of the image above and below….and decide if a final products in the form of digital, or in the form of art, fit your style, your desires, and your end goal.  After all choosing a photographer is an investment no matter which price point you are looking at.  So make sure the style of photographer you choose, matches your family.  Cheers!

Family Photo Session at North Avenue Beach. Because hanging your memories is priceless works of art all in itself.

Feel free to schedule a 15-minute complimentary consultation to hear if Burnett Studio may be a good fit for capturing your family images.  

Having a baby? These Unique & Local Companies Will Help You Prepare for Baby's Arrival

Have you created your “baby is coming” checklist? I would love to share a handful of local mom-owned businesses who can help ease your process. Living in the Wicker Park neighborhood for 12+ years, and raising two small boys here for the last 6 years, I've been exposed to just about every pregnancy related vendor the city of Chicago has to offer (well, pretty darn close). My two sons and I have tried every cupcake (I use locally baked smash cakes for all of my 1-year old sessions!) and we've stopped into just about every toy store (Building Blocks Toy Store on Division, by far my favorite), and we can narrow down some other favorites for you as well. From invitations, to venues, to clothing, to prenatal massages, here are a few recommendations along with their contact information. Luckily you are located in a surplus of amazing momma-owned businesses. These twelve companies below will take you one (baby) step closer to understanding what is available to you during this next new venture - motherhood. Congratulations!

Full-service

Momeeze Momeeze is your one-stop family focused concierge resource connecting Chicagoland families to local family-run businesses. Their main focus is providing families with trust-worthy vendors while maintaining a stress-free, easy and memorable experience. They love that they are able to provide families access to their extensive network of partners who care just as much about Chicagoland babies, families, and expecting mom's as Momeeze does.
http://www.momeeze.com/

Invitations

Uh Oh Pasghettio is inspired by the every day moments of life with Kids. Their prints will make you smile and make you "awww." Hopefully they won't make you cry, because let's face it: toddlers have already cornered that market. Check out their assortment of fun baby shower invitations, baby announcements, and more.  The best place to keep up with her is https://www.facebook.com/uhohpasghettio

5x7 clothespin mock ups

Baby Shower Desserts

Flirty Cupcakes Dessert Garage & Flirty Cupcakes On Wheels

They will feed your cupcake & sweet addiction one craving at a time. Flirty Cupcakes can make the “ooohhh & aaahhh” moments of life, including baby showers and parties, a little sweeter! Their Industrial Chic bakery is the perfect quaint backdrop for a baby shower. Whether it's a location for gathering with sweet treats and a coffee bar you are looking for, or an added activity of decorating a baby themed cupcake during the shower, Flirty Cupcakes can meet your expectations and take it one step further.  Contact them to talk sweets and showers! 312-852-4441

Madame Gateau Cake Boutique - Madame Gateau is a cake boutique which creates unique custom designed special occasion and wedding cakes. Everything is made fresh to order from her own recipes using only the highest quality ingredients.
http://www.madamegateaucakes.com/

Baby Shower Gifts & Decor

Biba Cosmetics Give your baby shower attendees the gift of 100% natural luxurious lip cremes. Safe and non-toxic for expecting mom's and for your shower guests. Exceptionally rich in naturally derived lip care ingredients, Biba is devised to nourish your lips and make them feel like silk!
www.bibalips.com

Made by Ilyssa specializes in custom hand-made baby shower decorations. She offers 3 packages depending on the size of your guest list as well as a la Carte options. Check out some samples of her work here www.madebyilyssa.com

Building Blocks Toy Store Building Blocks has two amazing Chicagoland locations; Lincoln Park & Bucktown. Anything from custom name trains (if you are on top of choosing your name), add this to your nursery early, to stocking that playroom with toys. This is a great stop for well thought out toys and gifts for any age. http://www.buildingblockstoys.com/

Pampering Yourself & Your Bump

Breathe with Amy Amy provides a variety of massage styles including traditional Swedish, deep tissue, myofascial trigger point, and hydrotherapy to ease pain and promote relaxation. She can come to your home (a perk with little ones!) or offers in-office message therapy.
[email protected] or www.facebook.com/breathewithamy

Megan Rasby Why not decorate that perfect bump with a bit of Henna from Megan Rasby. She offers beautiful artwork as well as balloons and balloon arches for your upcoming baby shower. Facebook.com/meganraysbyfacepainting

Noktivo is a natural nail salon and green beauty boutique in Lincoln Square. Noktivo truly prides themselves on offering their clients a clean beauty experience, all the glamour minus the guilt! Their mani/ pedi services feature an Organic sugar scrub bar, handcrafted herbal bath salts, and raw, unrefined butter massage. The entire salon is acetone-free, to keep harmful fumes out of our work environment. If you choose polish, you can trust that we have sourced the healthiest options available without compromising performance. Their local Chicago nail polish lines are 7-toxin free, TPHP-free, cruelty-free and Vegan to keep you and your baby's health in mind. To learn more or book an appointment, please visit www.noktivo.com.

Kickin'Chicago Clothing Timeless maternity wear for mom & mom-to-be. They specialize in maternity apparel that will work before, during and long after your bump. A great stop for very versatile clothing purchases that will carry you through pregnancy and beyond. https://www.facebook.com/KickinChicago

Rover-Time Dog Walking & Pet Sitting  Let them help you create a plan for your furbaby as you begin your plans for your new baby! Their Maternity Service will set you up with a walker or sitter on standby for assistance when your special time comes. They also offer professional support and guidance to help ease your transition from pet-parent to baby-parent with pet with Dogs & Storks consults (so nice!). For more information, contact them directly at [email protected].

MojoOwl Looking for a little bit of custom-made positive energy...in the jewelry form? Of course! Whether you'd like to treat yourself or drop a few hints to your other half, check out the beautiful work at www.mojoowl.com

Unique Baby Shower Venue

Grow Artists Visit this unique baby shower venue to wrap a bit of artsy crafts in with your celebration. Your baby shower guests will partake in handmade gifts for you to take home to your baby once your celebration is complete. Fun, collaborative, and unique! http://growartists.com/baby-showers/

Chicago baby and family photographer – www.burnettstudio.com

I LOVE photographing newborns!

Newborn & family photography is my passion. I feel so fortunate when I get to capture a four day *new* baby's first few days of life. Newborn photography is complex, and I've completed hours of training to provide you with the safest and most memorable experience. I focus greatly on the prep and planning that needs to go into your session to ensure success.  Using my experience I have gathered and provided tips below to help make YOUR upcoming newborn session a success as well.

LET'S TALK DATES

I recommend that you schedule your newborn session PRIOR to your baby’s birth to ensure a spot on our calendar. If you want to do a combination of maternity & newborn you want the maternity session to happen around 35 weeks, and the newborn session to happen between 4 days and 7 days *new*. Contact Burnett Studio during your second trimester to inquire about availability for either one. All I need is an email or a text from the mom or dad when the baby arrives, and we'll pencil in the exact newborn session date.

BIRTH DAY!

Newborn sessions MUST be scheduled within the first 10 days of life. However, my PREFERRED time is between 3-7 days new. I'll be swaddling them, curling them up, and making them cozy in all those sweet little newborn poses you see in my gallery. I'll want them sleepy enough to be happy during this session. After day 7, they get little personalities, they want to stretch... and the want mom! Another useful tip is if baby acne is going to occur, it's usually somewhere around day 14. We want to steer clear of that time frame.

YOUR IN-HOME STUDIO

My newborn sessions take place in the comfort of your own home. I bring my studio to you. You do not need to pre-clean! I have two kids. I know how the first few months are and I would be shocked (and impressed) to come to a clean home with a 4 day old baby. I really do not need a lot of space and can shoot in and around anything you have. If I have to do a slight amount of shifting furniture or moving items, I always put it back where it was before I head out.

NATURAL LIGHT

I will look for the rooms with the best natural light. When I come for your pre-session consultation we will open all of your blinds and curtains in your home, and I'll evaluate the best place to set-up for your newborn session. With the best natural light in mind, I typically schedule my sessions in mid-morning when I hope to catch the best window light. You never know where this will be. It could end up being in an office, in a kitchen near a sliding door.... we'll have to wait and see! I look for large windows if available. I will have my studio light with me if needed.

COMFORTABLE BABIES PHOTOGRAPH BEST

Newborns have a difficult time regulating their own body temperature in the beginning. To keep them comfortable with no clothing on it is important that you keep your home warm. 80 degrees is ideal for baby. I will have also have a small space heater with me to help keep them cozy+warm during their solo photos. This will ensure a sound sleep for baby & allow the session to run smoothly. We may be sweating, but baby will be nice and warm…and that’s really all that matters! Crank the heat 30 minutes before our session for best results!

PREPPING BABY FOR MY ARRIVAL

Before you give that last nurse prior to photos, strip them down to their diaper and put it on loosely. Feel free to wrap them lightly in a blanket until I am ready for them. Loose clothing before I start avoids marks on the skin that could show up in the photos and would need editing. Even while naked I'll use crafty camera angles and blankets to ensure a certain amount if discreteness in all my baby images.

ENSURING A SLEEPY BABY

Newborn Images are best captured when the baby is in a deep sleep. Although your newborn will run the show once he/she arrives, we'll mess with their desires just this once and I recommend that you keep your little one awake for at least an hour before I arrive (if you can). Probably the worst news a newborn photographer can hear when they walk in the door is “My baby has been sleeping so great all morning. He'll be so chipper for his shoot!” :) We will most likely have awake photos for a good portion of the session if that is the case.

KEEPING BABY FED AND HAPPY

A well fed baby is a happy baby! Please feed and burp baby right before our session to ensure a happy, sleepy (“milk drunk”) baby. I am more than happy to take breaks whenever needed during the session. Breaks are expected and encouraged, and I'll use the time to set-up for the next pose. We are 100% on babies schedule.

BACKGROUND NOISES

We will want to keep background noises to a minimum as much as possible. A constant noise, like white noise is extremely helpful, and I will bring a white noise app of my own. Voices (especially mom's voice) will grab the baby's attention. In fact during my time with the baby I encourage you to watch but also to sit back and enjoy this little time you have to yourself while I pamper your little one. If there are other siblings joining our shoot I will have them join in the shoot either right in the beginning or towards the end so I recommend to have an extra caregiver on hand, or if that's not possible, then the other parent, can take them into another area of the house while we focus on the newborn.

PATIENCE

Most newborn sessions can last anywhere from 2-4 hours. We base the session 100% on the baby’s mood and willingness to sleep. Since this is not something anyone can predict this early on, I prepare you for the fact that everything goes! We break whenever we need to. My top priority is that baby is comfortable and happy so we break if they are not (and this happens!). Babies pick up on any frustration in the room. If you see your baby getting fussy, it's ok. It's normal and expected. And if sleep doesn’t happen, that’s okay too! I love when I can capture wide eyes too!

I'm very comfortable holding and posing newborns. I've flown out to train with the best of the best for two years in a row. So yes! You get to RELAX!

POOP HAPPENS (A LOT)!

I come prepared for this. I have multiple blankets, and they get laundered after every session with dreft all natural. This is one reason I only book one newborn session per day. I get peed on, especially with the boys. I do have knit diaper covers if you would rather have the baby covered during the photos where you will be holding them. These slip on over the diaper.

WHAT WILL I BRING?

I have a collection of baskets, blankets, wraps, knit hats for both genders, and headbands for girls, that I bring to every newborn session. If you have any props of your own, especially something meaningful or handmade gifts from a family member, just let me know what you hope to incorporate and we will work some of this into your session. I STRONGLY encourage you to discuss any ideas, props or poses you have in mind at least a week prior to your session (we will cover this in your pre-consultation as well). I start planning out your session weeks in advance, so dropping a huge idea the day of may make it hard to incorporate it. Overall I like being fully prepared long before I meet your little one!

THE SCENT OF MOM

Your smell is recognizable to your baby from day one, if a little extra fussiness arises as you hand the baby over, I may ask mom to step back or to the other side of the room (or go make yourself some tea & put your feet up)!

SMOOTH RUNNING

Again... Your baby’s safety is my top priority! I haven't had a mom do it yet, but feel free to speak up if you see something you'd like me to change. I take every measure (including hours of hands-on classes) to ensure that your baby is never in any danger. For this reason I always prefer one parent present throughout the shoot.

HOW TO DRESS

You just had a baby and may not be feeling your best, but that new Momma glow is the best part of capturing you in those first few days. It's a trait I love most about my sessions. You are a beautiful new mom, and you just had a baby so if you'd like, use this shoot as an opportunity to pamper yourself. Go get your nails done, have someone come give you a blow out, or simply take some extra time that morning to do it yourself! Do whatever you need to do to be super relaxed. This is your day too.

Keep your clothing simple. Throw in a little color if you’d like, but skip the busy patterns. I love classy skin-on-skin portraits if this is something you are interested in. I have a beautiful lace bando I provide to my newborn mom's if this is something you'd like to incorporate, or consider a strapless tank top. They make amazing color and amazing black and white photos.

FOR THE DADS

Your hands, and possibly even your feet (if you wish), could play a major role in this session, so it’s important that you tend to them too. We will discuss your desired role in the photos during your pre-session consultation. Even if you aren’t planning on participating much in the session, you’ll still be handling your baby a bit, so it’s a good idea to lotion up the hands and cuticles (or if it's up your alley, pamper yourself and consider a manicure). Do also consider dabbing a little lotion on your face the morning of the shoot to help refresh your face and give a little glow.

A little clothing advice? Long or short sleeved knits are best. Something somewhat fitted works well. Try to avoid baggy clothing. A crisp clean undershirts also works! Wrinkles do show up in photos, so please make the clothing you choose is ironed or hanging before used in the shoot. The retouching involved is extensive and may incur an extra fee if you decide you want the wrinkles removed from your final images.

USING THE BED

One suggestion that allows versatility in comfortable posing for the newborn is to use the bed, so we may suggest this as one shooting spot. Please don't feel like you need to clean up before I arrive! Simply making the bed is enough (even if it's the only time you do it). If that’s something that appeals to you, a few tips:

1. Tidy up the nightstands.

2. A solid blanket/comforter.

3. I highly recommend white to light cream or even a very light grey solid bedding to keep things light and airy & I'm happy to use my large cream newborn blanket to accomplish this look if you do not have one. Just let me know.

That's it!  If I missed anything you'd like to cover I'm happy to help. I can be reached at [email protected] or 630-336-5894.

www.burnettstudio.com

Natural Light Newborn Photographer  |  Chicago family Photographer | Baby Photographer | Maternity Photographer

If you have kids old enough to work a camera, let them be in charge of capturing YOU throughout your dedicated day.  They'll always remember being part of the process.  And solo photos of mom are hard to come by (at least in my household). 

If you partake visit and let us know how it goes!