Karissa Leigh Designs photographs newborns in a studio on West Wisconsin Avenue in Appleton, a short drive up Highway 41 from Neenah. Karissa has spent about ten years in the Fox Cities. When your baby is only days old, an easy trip matters. So does a warm room and a calm pace.
Why the First Two Weeks
Newborn sessions are scheduled between 5 and 14 days after birth. In those early days babies sleep deeply and curl into the soft, tucked poses that fade surprisingly fast. Most families reserve during the second trimester, and we settle the exact date once your baby arrives. The drive from Neenah is short, so nobody spends the morning in the car.
What the Session Feels Like
The studio is kept warm, with soft white noise playing throughout. Every wrap, bonnet, basket and prop is ready before you walk in, so all you need to bring is your baby and anything that means something to your family, like a quilt from a grandparent or an outfit that has been passed down. Feeding and settling breaks are built in. Your baby sets the pace.
Siblings are welcome. Plan for a second adult to bring older children partway through, so their photos happen first and they can head out for a snack while Karissa finishes with the baby.
Close to the Places You Know
New parent life in Neenah has its own rhythm. Stroller laps at Riverside Park. A slow walk out to the lighthouse at Kimberly Point. An evening on the Loop the Little Lake trail once everyone is ready for fresh air. Whether you live near Doty Park, on Doty Island, or out toward Fox Crossing, the studio is close enough to get home in time for the next nap.
Think About Where These Will Live
Two questions are worth asking before your session. Which photo would you be heartbroken not to have? And where will these photos live: a canvas above the crib, an album for the grandparents, or your birth announcements? Sharing the answers with Karissa ahead of time helps her plan poses and framing around the prints you actually want.
If you are expecting and live in or near Neenah, reach out while you are still pregnant. Newborn dates are planned around your due date, so the earlier we talk, the easier it is to hold time for you. When is your little one due?
