Questions we get a lot
What should we wear for our family session?
Of course you can wear whatever you want for your Family Session, but if you would like to hear our recommendation, here we go! Please avoid being too matchy, like blue jeans and white t-shirt for everyone. Instead, consider the season and put together colors that go well together. Also please keep in mind that we don’t want kids freezing or daddies sweating. :-)
For family photos in your home we want to make sure that the focus is on the baby, so neutral colors are always a good choice. Avoid dark and heavy colors because those swallow light in sometimes already dark apartments. :-)
What is your shooting style?
You don’t love posing? Then we might just be the right fit. We love to capture your daily routine, from family lunch, to bath time, cuddle time, play in the park – without any posing at all. We aim to tell a story and provide a glimpse into the unique dynamics in your family’s daily life. We love to feature candid shots of family members engaged in routine activities, as well as important milestones and events. Our goal is to capture the authenticity and essence of your family, kind of like creating a visual record of your lives for future generations.
Honor the meaningful loved ones in your life by photographing those who matter most. Deer Baby believes in authentic and natural newborn, baby, and family photography. We put our hearts into capturing the little details that make you a unique family. We love documenting the REAL which is why we try to keep posing to a minimum. We prefer exploring who you are with true interactions. Most importantly: Let your children be their beautiful selves. 🙂
Does my apartment have to be beautiful and super clean?
Absolutely not. We know that NYC apartments can be tiny. We can make the best out of every interior situation. Trust us, we’ve seen it all. If you clear one area near a window that we can shoot in, that’s plenty.
Do you have studio for our newborn session?
Nope. We will come to your home! :-) That’s easier for you and way better for authentic and natural photos. Our sessions are crafted to be as relaxed and stress-free as possible for parents, so you can simply enjoy the moment and let us take care of the rest.
In case your child is older than the newborn phase, New York City is our backdrop! Let’s go outside and capture what Brooklyn, Manhattan, and the other borrows have to offer!
What do you bring to a shoot?
Our photographers will bring everything they need to a shoot. Besides their professional photography equipment, they will only bring what they can carry and fits our style. This entails:
- A couple of blankets and swaddles (for newborns only)
- Some headbands (also just for newborns)
- For older kids, we recommend that you talk about including bubbles or balloons
- Photographers do NOT bring: a cake for cake smash shoots, apple crates, or baskets.
If you have personal items you would like to use, we are happy to incorporate them. Feel free to schedule a phone call with your photographer prior to the session, to make sure you two are on the same page with props. In general, Deer Baby Photography doesn’t have a prop-heavy shooting style. We focus on what we have to work with – which is your beautiful family in your authentic home. No worries, we’ll make it work.
5 things you need to know before your shoot with us!
With a smooth booking process and a relaxed session style, we make sure you feel completely at ease while capturing beautiful, natural moments. All you need to do is show up and enjoy—we’ll handle the rest!
Who runs Deer Baby?
Hi, I’m Julia Cawley, founder of Deer Baby Photography. I was born and raised in Germany and founded this company in 2013 after moving to NYC. I’ve always loved capturing families and babies, so becoming a family photographer was a natural choice. It was clear to me that this was a path that would bring me joy for years to come, so I went for it.
The demand for family photography, especially in the candid, authentic style I specialise in, grew quickly. It became clear that I couldn’t do it all alone. Over time, I brought other photographers into the Dear Baby family, training them in our approach: natural, unstaged, and effortless for the families we work with.
New York gave me the opportunity to build a business that truly fulfills me, and I’m proud to provide female photographers with a space where they can focus on being creative without worrying about finding consistent work—that’s something Dear Baby handles for them.
I truly admire my team. They’re incredibly talented and passionate about what they do. Many of them have been family and baby photographers for years, yet they never lose the drive to innovate and grow. Every shoot is a new opportunity for them to learn and improve, and the results are always breathtaking. I love seeing the beautiful, heartfelt images they create every single time.
I now live in Hamburg, Germany with my husband and two daughters. I run Deer Baby from over there – with the help of our customer service superstar Jana.
Hello, I’m Jana
Jana Himmelreich is our customer service superstar. If you have any issues, questions, inquiries – she is the one to reach out to via: jana@deerbabyphoto.com. Jana is located in Louisiana with her doggy and hubby, yes in that order.
All videos shot & edited by @markuskoepke