Tips for Planning a Baby Shower from a Roseburg, Oregon Maternity, Newborn, Baby and Family Photographer
Maternity photo by Alysha Sanford Photography, based in Roseburg, Oregon.
As a mama myself, and a photographer of all things babies and growing families, I am no stranger to the exciting moments when preparing to welcome a new baby. I’m also very aware of how long and also short a pregnancy can feel, AND how overwhelming all of the decision making can be. Decision fatigue is a real thing, especially when you’re growing a tiny human!
When I was pregnant with my daughter, I did a lot of research and brainstorming in preparation for my own baby shower. I’m excited to share some of my findings with you, as I know it could save you (or an expecting loved one) some time and stress!
Studio maternity photo in Oakland, Oregon by Alysha Sanford Photography.
“Where should we host a baby shower?”
I love this question! There are so many options, especially if you can think a bit outside of the box. Quick tip- if possible, tie your theme into your venue to make it even more special!
Indoor party venue suggestions:
At home
Zoos with party rooms (great if expecting a lot of littles to attend!)
Aquariums (great if expecting a lot of littles to attend!)
Children’s museum (great if expecting a lot of littles to attend!)
Soft play facilities/indoor play gyms (YMCA- great if expecting a lot of littles to attend!)
Community center/grange
Churches
Golf club event rooms
Local event centers (if you’re local to Douglas County, OR, check out my rental space here!)
Fairground event rooms
Restaurant party rooms
Coffee shops (if they allow it)
Wineries
Breweries
Libraries (many have very affordable conference rooms)
Hotel community rooms (bonus if they allow pool access)
Outdoor party venue suggestions:
At home
Wineries
Zoos (great if expecting a lot of littles to attend!)
Splash pad (great if expecting a lot of littles to attend!)
Parks, pavilions and day use areas
(BONUS TIP FOR OUTDOOR LOCATIONS: bring wasp and yellow jacket traps… ask me how I know this!)
Themes, decor and details…
If you don’t already have a theme in mind for your baby shower, browsing Pinterest for inspiration can be a great start. Décor can be found across so many stores and websites. Etsy and Amazon make it easy to select from many options and order it quickly.
An extra meaningful way to decorate for a baby shower is to print your favorite photos of your pregnancy so far and display them in a timeline form, create your own décor, or decorate in a theme that fits one of your favorite family activities. For example, my favorite season is fall, and I was due with a fall baby in Sept. 2021. My baby shower had the theme of “Little Pumpkin” with a neutral, boho twist and was hosted at a local park pavilion here in southern Oregon. I included a photo above. My sisters did a beautiful job with every detail and I am still so grateful!
Speaking of southern Oregon- I want to include a few favorite local decor and event planning businesses that would help you to style an adorable party: Better Together Events and Rentals (also an event space!), Ascend Events and Planning, Celebration Event Planning and Exotic Events for the most incredible balloon displays!
If you’re involved in the planning and prep process, the tips below are for you!
When making your to-do list for the weeks leading up to party time, work backwards to create the timeline. Include when certain tasks need to be completed by. Enlist help and outsource what you can.
On the day of the party, mentally adjust the start time to give yourself a buffer. Delegate and divide the tasks among anyone helping. Plan on your shower lasting at least 2 hours. Guests often have to leave around the 2 hour mark, so having someone keep the party activities flowing can help you to ensure that guests leaving early don’t miss out on the fun. You can also save games for last and open gifts beforehand, since that’s likely everyone’s favorite part anyway.
Above all, make sure to ENJOY your special day. Delegate a family member or friend to be on “camera duty" for the special moments. Make sure to jump into photos with your guests!
Maternity photo by Alysha Sanford Photography, based in Roseburg, Oregon.
Let’s talk about your maternity photo session!
Maternity sessions can include so many different styles and looks! Studio, outdoors, in home… family poses, mama and belly alone… formal, boho, or boudoir-esque styling. The options are limitless and I love each of them!
These sessions are often scheduled in advance, and on a separate day from your baby shower. If you only want to get ready one time, try to schedule them for the same day! Make sure to plan some rest, hydration and snack breaks throughout the busy, especially if you’re closing in on your due date.
As a photographer, I personally love to schedule maternity sessions for when mamas are between 32-36 weeks, as we all know that babies can surprise us with an early arrival. If you’re local to southern Oregon and considering booking your maternity and/or newborn photos with me, I want you to know about my baby registry! Families booking in advance (before baby shower invites go out) can take advantage of this offer. Learn more about it HERE!
Something else to consider when scheduling- do you need prints framed for the baby shower party table or invitations? Or is it more important to you to schedule the photo session when you are showing more and closer to your due date? If you want prints prior to your session, schedule your session for a month or more before you desired “deadline”, in order to accommodate for the process and potential illness rescheduling.
If you’d like to see more of my recent maternity and newborn photography, check out some of my favorites HERE! Follow me on Pinterest and Instagram if you want to see more as I add to my portfolio.
If you’re interested in scheduling a session with me, I would love to chat! Fill out the contact form HERE and I’ll send you all of the details!
Maternity photo by Alysha Sanford Photography, based in Roseburg, Oregon.
Custom cake by Jill's Sugar Buzz Bakery in Roseburg, Oregon. Photo by Alysha Sanford Photography.
“Okay, but what about the custom sweets?!”
For those of you who are local to Roseburg, Oregon, I want to share a few of the locally loved dessert shops! First, my sister at Coco & Livi makes the most delicious custom cookies (among other gorgeous wellness products) when booked in advance. For cake and cupcakes, I have many clients pleased with their orders from Homestead Bakery Co., Jill’s Sugar Buzz Bakery and Kim’s Cupcakery. You’ll see some of their cakes featured in my baby photography work (and tagged on Instagram!).
Maternity photo by Alysha Sanford Photography, based in Roseburg, Oregon.
Are you ready to talk about your outfit?
Again, there are SO many options for both your baby shower and maternity session styling. You could go as fancy or as cozy as you’d like. Consider the season you’re in, the colors in your surroundings, any themes involved and bring a couple of options as a back up. I’m sharing a link to some of my favorite maternity outfit ideas and looks HERE.
For my photography clients, I assist in outfit styling and also offer access to my collection of studio outfits that photograph timelessly! The dress in the image above is one of my studio closet faves! I’m also happy to photograph a more boudoir-esque, bare belly look as shown below. It is completely up to you!
Studio maternity photo in Oakland, Oregon by Alysha Sanford Photography.
Lastly, I wanted to share some great gift ideas to add to your baby registry!
I remember feeling really overwhelmed when navigating the sea of baby products out there for all of the different stages we’d be experiencing in baby’s first year. It’s a lot! I found that so many of the products I thought I needed, just sat in packaging and took up space. So along with my photography baby registry shared above for locals, I’m sharing my personal baby product must-haves with you, in case a quick list is helpful! I may add to the list as I remember more favorites!
Baby toys:
Silicone teethers
Blocks/ Stacking cups (Mushie brand is great!)
Indestructible books or board books
Play mat with or without music
Baby equipment & supplies:
Baby bassinet
Convertible crib
Snuggle Me Organic Infant Lounger
Sleep sacks
Owlet Dream Sock (so much peace of mind as they sleep!)
Hatch nightlight/noise machine
Small swing
Carseat/jogger stroller system
Baby wrap
Baby carrier
Highchair
Haakaa manual breast pump
Honest wipes
Pampers Swaddlers or Kirkland diapers (budget friendly and often on sale!)
Camilia teething drops
Promptly journals for documenting the milestones