Preparing for your newborn session is such an important part of the newborn photography process! This will help things go a little more smoothly during your session. My clients always receive a newborn session guide upon booking, as well as a last minute tip guide the day before their newborn session. I know that some photographers don’t provide their clients with similar guides so I thought it would be awesome to put up a post in case you are wondering how to prepare for your own session, or even if you are a photographer wondering what to put in your own session guide! So let’s get into it!
Timing
I love photographing newborns between 14 and 21 days old. They seem to be learning how to nurse/drink better and are slowly getting more used to being outside of the womb which helps the session flow a little better in my opinion. Since most photographer schedules tend to fill up fairly quick. I always recommend starting the process of looking for your newborn photographer around the second trimester of pregnancy. This will allow you plenty of time to ensure that you can get a spot on their schedule, be able to meet your photographer prior to your session, and be able to plan together what type of colors/themes/setups you’d like to incorporate.
Of course, no one knows when their little one will make their grand entrance, so your due date is used to hold your spot until they are born. Its always a great idea to let your photographer know ASAP once they do arrive so that a date can be selected within the next 2-3 weeks!
How to Prepare
+ Sleepy babies will help the session go smoothly. Try to keep your little one awake an hour prior to their session so they can arrive extra sleepy. Keeping your little one in their diaper to kick around for a little, giving them a bath, or talking and interacting with them are some ways to help keep them alert for a little extra longer!
+ Feed your newborn right before their session. A full, warm belly makes for a happy, sleepy baby. I always let parents feed their little ones before the session starts, especially if they have a longer car ride.
+ Avoid use of diaper rash ointments, creams, and oils the day of the session. They can make editing very difficult, make baby look shiny in certain spots, and can cause stains on props and blankets which results in them being ruined.
+ Remove bandaids prior to the day of the session so any red marks can go away before their modeling debut!
+ Dress your little one in a loose outfit that zips or snaps up the front and does not need pulled over their head. This makes it easier to undress them if they arrive to the session already sleeping. A loose diaper and no tight socks will also be helpful so that there are no weird indents on your newborn for their photos!
What to Bring
+ Bring at least one (two is better) bottles of pumped breastmilk or formula to the session. The goal is to get those sleepy, sweet newborn poses so extra milk is sometimes needed to get them extra sleepy. Parent’s are always surprised how much more their newborn eats during their session, but it makes sense since you’re usually letting the baby decide when they want to sleep. For your session, we are trying to do as many things as we can to convince your little one into sleeping soundly exactly when we want them to. It’s definitely not an easy task!
If you are used to breastfeeding, it still is a great idea to bring already expressed milk in bottles to try to use for the session. This will allow me to feed them as needed without them getting too used to snuggling against mom and then getting upset when I start to try to pose them again. They are professional mom sniffers and can always tell when mom is close by so the bottle really does help in this occasion!
+ Bring a pacifier (even if they don’t normally use one at home!) Sucking is a soothing mechanism and can really help with settling baby once I have them posed into place for their photos. I do have extras in the studio that are pre-sterilized and individually packaged, but sometimes they prefer what they are already used to so it helps to bring one from home!
+ Bring an extra change of clothes – for both you and baby! (Ever had your little one shoot out a volcano of poo right on your white shirt at a big event? I sure have and I now carry extra clothes in the car everywhere we go!)
+ Diapers & wipes – I have size newborn and size one diapers available in the studio but sometimes certain brands can cause irritation to little ones so its always best to bring along whatever they use at home.
+ Any medications you or baby may need. Sometimes parents aren’t aware of how long newborn sessions can take. Its always a good idea to bring any medications you may need to take over the course of a few hours in case you are at the studio a little longer than expected!
What to Wear
Parents – We want all of the focus of your photos to be on the connection you share with your newborn, rather than the clothing. I suggest simple neutral clothes to fit in with the boho/earthy vibes of my studio. Even black shirts/dresses/tank tops can be beautiful against my white wood backdrop. I do have a client closet for moms to choose from if interested. It consists of various dresses that fit perfectly with the design of my studio so be sure to ask if you are interested in trying anything on prior to your session!
Keep makeup and hair as natural looking as possible. Use neutral colored nail polish or no nail polish at all. Avoid long earrings or flashy necklaces. Dads: If your shirt is brand new, iron out the sleeve crease! We want all the focus to be on you and your little one!
Siblings – A simple neutral outfit or dress, plain shirt with jeans, or anything earthy colored works best for sibling photos. Avoid exactly matching all siblings – I love picking out one child’s outfit first and then basing the other outfits around that one. A helpful tip is to pick out a shirt or dress with a pattern, and then pick out the next child’s shirt or dress based off a color in that pattern, but avoid a pattern in that outfit so things don’t clash. Avoid flashy hair accessories unless they are small and neutral colored.
I love giving styling guidance so feel free to send photos of what you may be thinking of wearing and I can help with suggestions!
Siblings
I love having older siblings at newborn sessions! They sometimes don’t love it as much though. I like to try to keep a calm, quieter environment during the session to help your little one stay fast asleep & we all know toddlers can be anything but quiet! If possible, it’s always best to arrive to your session in 2 separate vehicles. If that’s not possible, it works really well to do the family photos first, then for dad to take big brother or sis to the park or for an adventure somewhere until we are done with the session.
If you’d rather them stay at the studio for the entire session, I do have some toys and books for older siblings to try and keep occupied while they wait. It’s always a good idea to bring some toys and snacks they are familiar with and love! In warmer months, siblings are more than welcome to play outside of my studio as well. We have a beautiful small creek that runs right through the property so bring some water shoes and a towel, and they’re set for hours of fun!
Safety
Safety truly is my number one priority. I have studied under some of the best newborn photographers in the industry to learn how to safely pose newborns. Some images will be done as composites, which means 2-3 images may be merged together while editing to remove hands holding the baby. I may even ask you as the parent to assist me with a certain pose to keep your little one as safe as possible. Please know that I have studied proper posing endlessly and am constantly partaking in continuing education to ensure I am providing the safest care possible.
I am also CPR and BLS certified in case an emergency would ever happen while you are at the studio.
During Our Session
The big day! I like to make your session as relaxing as possible because I know how exhausting those first few weeks with a newborn are. I have a parent waiting area with a large couch for you to kick back & relax on. Snacks are a must so I have a little snack bar in the waiting area as well with various drinks like water and body armor. I also have multiple types of phone chargers available so feel free to watch some netflix, tiktoks, or whatever you’d like without worrying about your phone battery getting low.
Throughout the session, I will take great care of your little one as we change poses, outfits, and sets. Patience really is key so sometimes we’ll just be hanging out for a little waiting for them to get extra sleepy again!
After Our Session
After your session, I will begin to go through the images to narrow down the selections and then start to hand edit each one to perfection. I then send the images off to my professional printing lab and have them printed and matted. We will schedule an ordering appointment approximately 7-14 days after your session date so you can come back to the studio and see your images for the first time in person, right in the palms of your hands. I love having my reveal wall because it truly is a special experience to see your photos in person, already printed. Tears may be shed and that’s perfectly okay!
From there, we will carefully look at each image and decide which you’d love to have displayed in your home. Digital images can also be purchased at this appointment so you are able to share your photos online to your friends and family.
Want to learn more about my newborn sessions? Click here to view my experience page.
York, PA Newborn Photographer | Dover, PA Newborn Photography Studio | Newborn Guide
