Tips and Tricks Guide to Help You Prepare for Your Newborn Photo Session!
Being a parent to a newborn is such an exciting time. Your world has become filled with love, excitement, and those wonderful sleepless nights. lol. Every day you see those chunky cheeks and tiny hands and try to soak in every second you can as time moves on quickly. You want to cherish these moments and remember them forever. One day they are a newborn, the next they’re a toddler, then a pre-teen, teenager and before you know it they are fully grown up.
There will be a time when you wish to revisit those sweet moments as you’re starting to forget what the newborn stage looked like because you’re watching your little one grow right in front of your eyes. Newborn photos are a way for you to travel back in time and remember those precious moments for a lifetime.
Newborn photo sessions are exciting, but can make parents overwhelmed and worried with thinking that everything needs to be perfect and needs to go seamlessly in order to get the perfect photos. With a little planning, you can help lower your stress levels, but also remember that I am a newborn expert and we will work with your little one to make sure they have the best experience too.
Below, you will find a few tips and tricks that I have learned over the years that I wanted to share with you to help you prepare for your newborn photos! These ideas have been super helpful for many parents before, but aren’t the only ways to prepare. You know your baby best, but hopefully these ideas can help you too!
Feeding the baby:
Depending on how far your drive is and where you live, it is best to feed and burp your baby right before the session begins so that way they’re full, sleepy, and content once your session starts. However, if you live farther away, don’t worry! You’re more than welcome to feed your baby in our studio and I can use that time to get additional items ready for your photos. It also helps to hold off on caffeine until after the feed prior to coming to the studio. This experience is meant to be stress free and provide positive experience for everyone involved
Keeping the baby awake:
If at all possible, it is best to try and have a little awake time in the morning before coming to the session. That way they will be ready for a nap after eating and during their photos. Some things that may help achieving this is by giving your baby a bath or interacting with them up until your session. Now, if your baby is anything like my kids were, and LOVE car naps, it’s okay! We will make sure these photos are perfect! And if baby resists awake time, it’s ok! The biggest thing is to not stress as I work with your baby and whatever they need during the sessions.
Baby’s attire:
The best type of outfits to dress your baby in for the day of their photo session is in a simple button up/ zipper onesie or sleeper that can easily be removed and is loose fitting to prevent extra movement when needing to transfer them to a wrap. I do have a large selection of wraps/props etc. to use so you don’t have to bring anything at all except for your family and baby! If there is a special outfit that you would like me to use for the session just bring that along but it’s not necessary to bring anything extra for baby to wear :)
Parent/Family attire:
If you would like to take photos with your baby or have family or sibling photos done, I will have a neutral backdrop ready to go and I would suggest everyone wear neutral colors in order to not distract from the baby. Clients receive a questionnaire to help select which color backdrop they would like me to use for the session.
Packing the essentials:
When you’re packing the diaper bag for the day, bring extra diapers, wipes, food/bottles, and pacifiers (if your baby uses one) for the session. You never know how your baby will react the day of and having extra essential items will help calm the situation. I would also recommend bringing an extra outfit/onesie for your baby since they sometimes get themselves a little wet on the way, their favorite blanket, and anything else that you think could help calm them if they get upset at all during the session.
Bring things for yourself:
During the photo session, I will try to make sure I care for your baby as much as possible so that way you can enjoy a few hours of baby free time for yourself. So, please feel free to bring things to entertain yourself for these few hours as well as for any other children or family members you bring with you who will also be a part of the photo session at some point. I want to make sure you all feel as comfortable as possible! I have snacks and drinks available for all clients, but feel free to bring any additional food items you would like as you know your family best!
Stay safe:
If you’re running behind driving to the studio, get stuck in traffic, or become ill the day of or before the photo session, it’s okay! Life happens and I want you to prioritize your family's safety and wellbeing over everything! If you’re late to the session, the camera and studio will still be there when you arrive. If you’re sick, I am more than happy to reschedule your photo session so that you can make sure you and your family can rest and recover.
Here’s to capturing these special moments in the present time so that they can be remembered for a lifetime.
Can’t wait to see you soon!
