How to Rock your Newborn Session

Whether you’re a first time mom or a seasoned mom, here are my tips on how to rock your newborn session.

When should I schedule my newborn session for?

I recommend newborn sessions be schedule within the first two weeks of life. After that, you run the risk of baby acne and having a less sleepy baby. Baby acne generally shows up around 3 weeks of age. By one month of age, newborns are sleeping a few hours less during the day. I have photographed multiple newborns (including the cute one in this post) up to one month of age so if you need more time to heal, I totally understand!

Studio or in home?

There are many benefits to either location for your newborn session. Here is a post about all the benefits of a studio session. The biggest perk of a studio session is not having to tidy up the house when you’re already exhausted and running on empty. With an in-home session, you get the comfort of being in your own home, we get to photograph in the nursery you’ve worked so hard on, and it allows us to tie your more of your personalities into your images. A studio session does require an additional fee for the rental but this might be the right option for you if your home doesn’t get much natural light, your nursery isn’t finished yet, or you simply don’t want to worry about tidying up!

What if my baby won’t sleep?

As much as we like to think we can control a situation, we can’t. Especially with babies and toddlers. We can take all the right preparation steps, but sometimes baby just doesn’t want to sleep during their session. If baby is just awake and content, we can likely proceed with the shoot as we normally would. If baby is fussy, we may try a few tricks to get them to calm down. I recommend having a neutral or clear pacy on hand, a bottle ready to go, and patience. Babies feed off of our energy so the best thing you can do is remain calm and trust that we will get beautiful photos!

I have a wild toddler (or two) – I’m nervous!

I understand that some days toddlers are angels and some days you’re wondering where this kid came from! When going into a photo session with toddlers, the best thing you can do is manage your expectations. Hope for the best, expect the worst! And don’t stress about it. If you have a professional family photographer, they should have plenty of tricks up their sleeve on how to deal with toddlers who want nothing to do with them.

Make sure everyone eats before the session (including Mom and Dad) and I would stay away from promising rewards. Children don’t understand why they’re not getting their reward after taking one picture because, technically, they did what you asked. I would play up how much fun were going to have and that they’re going to play games with mommy and daddy. During a newborn session, I usually follow the lead of the kids. If they want to be involved GREAT, if not, we’ll let them step away. Often enough, when they see the attention isn’t on them, they come back for the attention.

How to prepare?

Feed baby 20-30 minutes before our agreed upon start time and try to keep them awake. Hopefully this will ensure a sleepy newborn. I build in plenty of time if we need to take breaks to feed or change baby. Make sure you have a pacy, a bottle, and a burp cloth nearby. Initially, dress baby in something that’s easy to remove like a onsie or a swaddle because their level of sleepiness dictates how we start.

What to expect during the session.

If baby is still awake when I arrive, we will likely start with family photos. Then when baby falls asleep, we will do the solo baby shots and get those adorable details. Most newborn sessions are at least an hour and a half long. This allows for lots of variablility in shots and breaks when necessary. We will shoot in the rooms with the best light and this may not be the nursery! I’ll ask you questions about your home so we can figure out the best time to shoot. Generally, we will shoot in the nursery, the master, and maybe the living room depending on light.

What to wear?

I’m more than happy to help with outfit planning if you’re not sure what will look good. I recommend wearing colors you find in your home so that when you print and hang photos, they look cohesive with your decor. Many mommas choose to wear a maxi dress because they’re flattering and comfortable. Some mommas choose to wear jeans which is totally up to you. I want you to be comfortable! Keep in mind we may be sitting on the floor and lying on the bed so comfort is key. Here is a link to my client closet which is available to all mommas for any session. These are dry cleaned, steamed, and ready to go!

For baby, I recommend a simple outfit that allows me to see their feet or a swaddle. Think timeless and neutral.

For Dad, a button up or henley shirt usually looks great! Avoid screen printing and large logos. And as far as shoes goes, leave them at the door. I recommend everyone be barefoot (as you usually are in your home). Socks can become a distraction.