Menasha has a way of slowing you down. A stroller loop over the Trestle Trail, a bench at Jefferson Park looking out across Lake Winnebago, a coffee downtown near the lock. When a new baby arrives, that slower pace is exactly the feeling a newborn session should keep.
Karissa Leigh Designs photographs Fox Cities newborns at the studio at 728 W Wisconsin Ave in Appleton, an easy drive north from Menasha.
Why Timing Matters
The sweetest newborn photos happen in the first two weeks, while babies sleep deeply and still curl into those tucked, sleepy poses. Appleton studio dates are scheduled ahead of time, so the earlier Karissa knows your due date, the better she can line your session up with that window. Reach out during pregnancy, then send a quick note once your baby arrives.
Inside the Studio
The room is warm and quiet, with white noise running the whole time. Wraps, headbands, baskets and props are chosen and ready before you walk in. Bring your baby, what you need for a feed, and anything that carries a story, like a quilt made by a grandparent. There is no rush. Karissa pauses for feeding and cuddles whenever your baby asks for them.
Older siblings are welcome. Their photos come first, while they are still fresh, and then a second adult can take them out for a treat while the baby sleeps on.
Pair It With Maternity
Some parents like to bookend the story. The Maternity Mini is 30 minutes, one outfit and five finished images, a simple way to remember the bump before you meet the baby. Plan it for the third trimester, and the two galleries sit beautifully side by side in one album.
Where Will These Live?
Before your session, ask yourself two things. Which photo would you be heartbroken not to have? And where will it live: a canvas in the nursery, an album for the grandparents, or your birth announcements? Tell Karissa, and she will plan poses and framing around the prints you actually want. A gallery planned that way ends up on your walls instead of sitting forgotten on a phone.
If you are expecting and live in Menasha, Fox Crossing or on Doty Island, get in touch while you are still pregnant. When is your little one due?
