What to Expect at Your Newborn Photo Session
Whether you’re expecting and preparing, or your baby is already born, congratulations! This is the most precious and fleeting time in life and such a joy for me to capture. I catch “Baby Fever” at nearly every newborn session (but with all the gratitude in the world, my family is complete with two little ones).
This guide is for newborn photo sessions that are done indoors at your home — typically within a few weeks of your baby being born. My clients always mention feeling more at ease after they’ve learned more about what to expect at our session — and when they realize that there’s very little they (you) need to do to prepare in advance. I hope you feel the same way.
WHAT TO EXPECT:
Greetings: If you have older kids, I'll probably ignore the baby initially and focus on the big kids… I might also ask them to show me around before we get started. Every sibling loses some attention when a baby is born, so I try to make the big kids feel special.
Time: Most newborn sessions run between 1.5-2 hours (see below for context). I try to keep things moving, but there’s no time limit as I don’t want you to feel rushed.
Breaks: Your baby (and toddlers, if applicable) will likely need to eat during the session, they might need a diaper change or few, and may or may not be fussy. It’s all good! Also, most Moms tend to feel hot during newborn sessions; if that’s the case for you, we can always open a window or you can pop out for some fresh air. Let’s do whatever we can to make things comfortable for you all.
Germs: If I forget to wash my hands when I walk in, please remind me! If there's anything else I can do to make you feel most comfortable from a germ standpoint or in general, just ask. I’m happy to wear a covid era mask or do anything that makes you more comfortable.
Flow: We typically start with sibling (if applicable) or full family photos and try to knock those out first, since our window with kids — depending on their age — is often limited. But we’ll play it by ear when I arrive and go with the flow throughout.
Lights: I'll turn off all of the ambient lights. I use natural light only so we’ll spend a lot of time in rooms/areas with your best window light.
Vibe: I love to stream music so please let me know your favorites! For newborn sessions, we ideally want to keep the vibe calmer than normal, but if you’ve got big kids requesting Sunroof or some big Baby Shark energy, we’ll roll with it!
Swaddling/Clothing: I recommend choosing an outfit with out any stark/bold colors, as newborn skin is somewhat translucent so harsh colors can cast discoloration. I bring neutral colored swaddles (or we can use one you own and love, if you prefer) because swaddling the baby for a portion of the photos can help keep them calm if they’re fussy and/or squirmy, especially for sibling photos. I often also use a pre-swaddle wrap underneath the swaddle, depending on their size, which helps keep them contained in a womb-like position.
That said, every baby is different. Some love being swaddled and it will be helpful. Others don’t or are super chill and it won’t be necessary. We’ll follow their lead!
Sleep: If you want your baby sleeping in the photos, you can try feeding them beforehand. However, regardless of what you do, babies will sleep when they’re tired and wake up when they want — there’s not much we can do!
Skin: Red patches, acne, and dry flaky skin are all common at the newborn stage. I would avoid testing new soaps and moisturizers before the session in case your baby has a reaction. Please also avoid oily lotions.
No socks: I suggest ditching your shoes and socks as it creates a more cohesive look. However, if you prefer not to be barefoot, I recommend wearing the same color socks.
No props: I don't bring baskets, stuffed animals, outfits (unless you count swaddles as such), etc., and I don’t pose babies in unnatural positions. I want the photos to look and feel like you and your home, so we’ll incorporate your blankets, rugs, bedding, etc. when we take solo photos of the baby.
No problem: Your newborn can/should eat whenever they’re hungry and should take all the time they need. No rush!
I had an impossible time nursing one of my kids in the beginning and I formula-fed the other. I know this can be stressful, especially for new parents, so just know that I’ve been in your shoes and I’m not in a hurry.
HOW TO PREPARE:
What to Wear: Check out my blog post: How to Prepare for Family Photos | What to Wear and/or my Style Guide.
A few things to highlight for newborn sessions specifically:
Appropriately-sized/form fitting clothes are best. Sleeper onesies have a tendency to be roomier and form camel-like humps along the zipper.
Newborn skin is somewhat translucent, so it’s best if everyone wears more muted colors; bold colors can discolor their skin and this can’t always be fixed with editing.
Reconfigurations: There’s nothing you need to do in advance, but just a heads up that we may need to rearrange furniture for optimal lighting and/or declutter some areas so that the focus is on your family.
Sleep: hahah.. good joke. I know this is my most ridiculous tip — as if it’s even possible — BUT do whatever you can to get maximum sleep so that YOU feel well. If your newborn is on formula, have someone else feed them in the middle of the night if possible.
If you have any questions about newborn sessions, please contact me!
