Hello!
Whether you’ve just brought new life into the world and are reading this through the bleary eyes of sleep-deprivation, or you’re excitedly anticipating the arrival of a new tiny family member, I just wanted to say congratulations!
I am beyond honored to be able to capture this incredible time in your lives.
Carving out the time to document and recognize this transition is one of the best things you can do. And, as your photographer, I am here to support you in any way I can. This guide is my way of saying, “I’ve got you.” I’ve crafted it to answer your questions, calm your fears, and address your uncertainty.
I can’t wait to meet your little one.
Timing
Week one and two of your baby’s life is magic. Of course all of the weeks are magic, but during these first two weeks, newborns are squishy, flexible, sleep more, and are still adjusting to the world outside of the womb. Often, their skin is still clear as well. In order for us to get organized for a shoot this soon after their birthday, I’ll need your due date. In a lot of cases, babies will arrive whenever they want to and I couldn’t possibly expect them to abide by our schedule. But, once your baby is born, shoot me a message as soon as you can and we can lock in a time and date.
If you, understandably, have been spinning too many plates on the roller coaster ride of pre- and post- birth to lock in a date before the second week of your baby’s life, don’t worry. That’s the best part about lifestyle shoots; we can still make it work. Older babies might be a little more resistant to the swaddle, or naps, but the success of older newborn shoots are completely dependent on the personality of your little individual.
How To Prepare
Expect to snuggle! And, be prepared to be in most of the shots. Now, I know that in your postpartum haze you’re probably not feeling like a supermodel, but I promise, you’ll look back on these photos of your new babe being small, and be so thankful you had these moments capture
When shooting outdoors, you relinquish some of your control. We might have a plan in our minds, but mother nature might have an entirely different one altogether. Bring bug spray, sunglasses, and lots of different options for clothing should the weather fluctuate.
I understand that your newborn is not potty trained, and the spit up always seems to happen at the most inconvenient times. If we’re shooting in the nude and your baby poops themselves… or they spit up on the outfit they’re wearing, please don’t stress. Here’s the protocol: we’ll get them quickly cleaned up, throw them in a new wrap/outfit, and just continue on capturing beautiful moments.
Your baby is still trying to figure out where they are and what they’re doing in this big bright world. Sometimes, they’ll get a little upset and need a bit of extra loving. We may have to stop for a little feed, to change a diaper, or to give them a little pep talk before continuing on. But this is all a part of it.
How To Dress
I’d recommend dressing your baby in a front-fastening, cosy sleep-suit just before the shoot so that when we’re ready to start, it’ll be easy to get them out of it without upsetting them too much.
Have an assortment of neutral, textured swaddles/outfits and wraps so that we can chop and change throughout the session. Or if you’d prefer to just have one or two outfits for your newborn, thats totally alright! This is YOUR vision!
If you, like me, are a sucker for those little belly rolls, chipmunk cheeks, and tiny toes, it might be fun to get a few shots of baby in the nude. Be mindful of bundling your little one up too tightly before the shoot as tight clothes can leave marks on the skin.
If you’d like to prevent any spills by keeping their diaper on, consider using a diaper cover or using a cute reusable diaper to keep the color and tone consistent.
Gravitate towards gentle colors: pastels, light colors, or neutrals. Bright colors often look garish and intense on the delicate complexion of newborns.
Parents: as I said, you will be in most of the shots. Try to complement, not match the colors baby is wearing. Wear neutrals with texture, like knits, linen, or cotton. If you’d like to learn more, check out my blog post on what to wear for your photo session!
Siblings
I like to try and get full family and all the shots with the sibling(s) and the baby at the beginning of the session. As a mom of two toddlers, I know how unpredictable they can be. If we can knock out all those awesome shots at the beginning, it’s a win in my book! It’s helpful to attempt to have your toddler ready to go when I arrive, before their attention span starts to shorten (usually more towards the middle of the session). Luckily, this being a lifestyle session, we’ll get lots of good candids of the older siblings interacting with your baby.
Location
The easiest location for a newborn photoshoot is in the comfort of your home. It doesn’t need to be Instagrammable, it doesn’t need to be perfect, it just needs to have a window and some natural light. Come as you are, I will make it work.
Outdoor newborn photography is an up-and-coming niche, and it yields some pretty amazing outcomes if you’re willing to brave the uncertainty. When considering this option, the variables that we’d need to consider are:
- Weather. Outdoor shots are only possible in warm weather. We don’t want your bundle of joy to be so bundled that we can’t see who they are.
- Noise. A park sounds lovely until you take into account all of the people making merry and shouting at their barking dogs. We want your babe to be relaxed and sleepy, and too many distractions would make this impossible.
- Bugs. Babies, unfortunately, are mosquito magnets. I would hate to be responsible for your little one getting all itchy and bothered, and for you to lose even more sleep the night of our shoot. When choosing a location, be sure to visit it first and make sure that it’s safe for the little one.
Thank you so much for taking the time to read this guide! I imagine you’ll have a few questions bouncing around your head, so shoot me a message and let’s talk through all the things.
These photographs are going to be incredibly sweet.
I can’t wait.
