What to Expect at Your Newborn Photo Session
Whether you’re expecting and preparing, or your babe 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:
Time: Most newborn sessions run between 1-2 hours. This range varies based on how often baby eats and poops, how cooperative older siblings are, and how many combinations of photos you want. I try to keep things moving, but there’s no time limit as I don’t want you to feel rushed.
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.
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: I bring neutral colored swaddles (or we can use one you own and love) because swaddling the baby for a portion of the photos can help keep them calm, especially for sibling photos. I often also use a pre-swaddle wrap that keeps them contained in a womb-like position. If you or your baby don’t want them to be swaddled, we won’t do it!
Sleep: If you want your baby sleeping in the photos, you can try bathing them beforehand as it tends to make them sleepy. Swaddling has that effect too. But 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: Sensitive skin (e.g., 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. Dry flaky skin can be retouched, but shiny skin is much more challenging.
No socks: I will ask all family members to ditch their shoes and socks as it creates a more cohesive (and cozy) look, which his perfect for at-home photos. However, if being barefoot is an issue, we can make it work.
No props: I don't bring baskets, stuffed animals, outfits, etc., and I don’t stage the background or pose babies. 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 in natural positions.
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: For general tips, check out my blog post: How to Prepare for Family Photos | What to Wear and/or ask for a Style Guide.
I would follow the general tips in these resources, but a few things to note 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. As someone who literally never changed her babies out of zippered onesies for the first few months of their lives, I know it’s a pain to put real clothes on them. But just for this one day, it’s worth it!
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.
Above all, try to find a sense of calm and let go of any expectations of perfection. I wish I could tell you that family photos aren’t stressful, but I know from being on the other side that they are — at least to a degree. Newborn sessions are no different, and if anything, the nature of your situation (i.e., being sleep deprived, adjusting to new routines, fluctuating hormones, etc.) can add more stress. Your baby will likely need to eat during the session, they’ll poop at least once, and may or may not be fussy. Embrace it. Just know that if you’re sweating during the session, you’re not alone. I will do everything I can to temper your stress leading up to and at the session, and will be happy to jump in and help however I can. Just tell me where the diapers are — I’ve got you.
If you have any questions about newborn sessions, please contact me!
