How to Prepare for Your Newborn Photo Session

First off, congratulations! Welcoming a new baby into the world is such a special and life-changing moment. Choosing to document this transition is one of the best things you can do. This guide is a quick and helpful breakdown to help you prepare for your newborn session! A little planning can go a long way when it comes to keeping things calm, cozy, and stress-free for both you and your baby! Here’s everything you need to know to get ready for the sweetest session!

How to Prepare for your Newborn Session

Feed Just Before We Start

Have your baby start the session slightly tired having eaten about 15 minutes before, or even right at our start time - if this works with their schedule. The idea is, they’ll fall right asleep and we’ll have a nice chunk of time to get some photos of them all curled up in a post-milk stupor.

Warm Things Up

If we’re shooting at your house, turn up the thermostat so that the room we’ll be shooting in gets nice and cozy warm (as long as it’s comfy for you). This will help them sleep and to not be shocked with outfit/swaddle changes.

Keep the Essentials on Hand

Bring along extra blankets, swaddles, outfits, and any special items you’d love to include in the photos. Keep diapers, wipes, and pacifiers nearby just in case we need a quick pause.

Sometimes, your baby might need a bit of extra loving. If they do, we’ll stop to feed, to change a diaper, or to give them a little pep talk before continuing on. Don’t worry or stress. This is all a part of the process! Try to tidy the spaces you’d like to shoot in - rooms with lots of window light and larger open spaces are awesome, as well as cozy spots like the nursery, your bedroom or living room.

How to Dress

For Baby

Before the session - put your baby in a front-fastening, cosy sleep-suit so that when we’re ready to start, it’ll be easy to get them out of it without waking them up. Try to dress them in loose clothes before so as to not leave any lines on their skin from tight clothes. If you’d like to prevent any mess by keeping their diaper on, consider using a diaper cover or using a cute reusable diaper.

Think Gentle, Soft Tones

Gravitate towards gentle colours. Bright colours often look intense on the delicate complexion of newborns. Neutrals and earthy tones usually go well with most skin tones and your surroundings. This doesn‘t have to mean all beige (but you can if you’d like), but just softer tones - for example, instead of electric blue, go for something closer to sky blue. Textures like linen, knits, or cotton are great too!

For Parents

Parents - if you‘d like, you can put baby in a feature colour, and then consider wearing colours that compliment what baby is wearing. But most importantly, wear what makes you feel comfortable! If you’re not feeling like putting on a tight shirt, or your jeans - don’t do it. But if you have a dress or some pants that make you feel awesome - put them on! Being in your own home means that pretty much any style of outfit will fit in - from cozy joggers or leggings and oversize sweaters, to flowy dresses and button up shirts.

Your Newborn Session, Your Way

While many families choose to have their newborn session at home for that cozy, familiar feel, it doesn't have to be! Your session can take place anywhere that feels meaningful to you. Whether it’s a quiet park you love, a spot that holds meaning for your family, or even a place you’ve always dreamed of bringing your little one to, your newborn session can happen wherever feels right.

Preparing for your newborn photo session doesn’t have to be overwhelming. With a few thoughtful steps, we’ll create a calm space to capture the love, connection, and quiet magic of this new chapter. If you have any questions or just want to talk through ideas, don’t hesitate to reach out here. I can’t wait to meet your little one and help you create timeless memories of this special season.

Thanks for reading!

-Sarah Nichol Photography