Its been a long couple of days. Labor, delivery, paperwork, diapers and now its time to tackle newborn photos. A lot happens when you first give birth. Its a hard job bringing baby earth-side. Now that the clock is ticking, you may be wondering how, when and what to do regarding Newborn Portraits. Never fear Momma, we are about to cover everything you need to know on How to Prepare for Your Newborn Session.
WHEN TO BOOK YOUR NEWBORN SESSION
The best time to photograph a newborn baby is when they are under two weeks of age. After two weeks babies are a little harder to settle and factors such as colic and baby acne can occur. The best approach is to contact your photographer during your pregnancy and inform them of your expected due date. Most likely they will schedule a tentative booking prior to baby’s birth date. Then as soon as you arrive home and settled, call your photographer to set a date and time for your session.
WHAT TYPE OF SESSIONS ARE THERE
There are several session types regarding newborn photos. Many mothers enjoy posed portraits with cute themed sets and props. Others prefer a more natural lifestyle session around the house with plenty of interaction with baby. Then there are parents who do both.
In addition to session types, there is also location to consider. Many newborn photographers offer in-home sessions. As newborn sessions can be lengthy, its easier for parents to soothe, feed and tend to baby in the comforts of home. This is especially so for those with older siblings. Most siblings are younger and lose interest quickly. Having the options to give them a break and play in their room or grab a snack makes newborn session less stressful for parents and little’s alike.
Be sure to convey to you photographer the vision you had in mind so that they may prepare accordingly.
NEWBORN SESSION DAY PREPARATION
Session day may feel like a whirlwind. However, below are 5 super simple tips on how to prepare for your Newborn Session. Follow these easy steps to ensure a smooth, sleepy and successful newborn session.
- Interact with your baby as much as possible to keep baby awake for at least one hour prior to your newborn session to ensure baby is nice and sleepy. Without this, you may spend more time getting the baby to fall asleep and less time photographing baby. Try giving your newborn a bath or play with him to keep them awake
- Plan to give the baby a full feeding right before the session begins.
- Dress the baby in just a diaper and zipper/button sleeper if naked poses are desired. The less we can upset the baby getting them out of clothing the better.
- If you are nursing, please avoid eating anything spicy that might upset baby’s stomach for 24 hours prior to our session. Keep a pacifier on hand if your baby takes one.
FINAL DETAILS
Truly, that is all you need to do to Prepare for your Newborn Session. Your photographer will cover the rest. The only other item to address is specific props and color palette.
Be sure to let your photographer know what colors you prefer and share your ideas regarding sets. Most are more than happy to create a custom set just for you and your family!
FREE IN-STUDIO NEWBORN SESSION CHECKLIST BELOW!
CHECK OUT THE HIGHLIGHTS FROM THESE NEWBORN SESSIONS!
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7 Comments
I wish I had known a few preparation tips when my daughter was a newborn. That session was a bit of struggle. Mostly because we were dealing with tummy issues and she wasn’t happy or sleeping well. I’ll have to keep these in mind if we have a 2nd child.
Loving that first shot with the baby in the basket…and the greens/berries! Beautiful!!
We never did newborn shots for our 3…it’s something I sort of regret!
Great advice and tips here, thanks for sharing!!
This is a great list! Things like the zippered sleeper might not be something a new mom thinks about but having to pull a onesie off would definitely wake up a baby!
Absolutely! Great tip for parents
Ohhhh this brings back memories. I loved our newborn sessions. Great tips!
These photos are incredible! One of my biggest regrets is not having professional newborn pictures taken! I thought I could take them myself on my phone – big mistake!
You’re so sweet. Yes, they grow so fast. Those moments are so special.