5 Parent Tips for a Successful Newborn Photo Shoot

Congratulations! You are about to welcome a new member to the family! That means it is time for some adorable newborn photos. Well guess what?! We LOVE photographing newborns! Newborn photography can be incredibly challenging but also rewarding with the right amount of patience and preparation. To help make this day successful, we’ve made a list of 5 things to consider to get the very best out of your upcoming newborn session.

LET’S GET STARTED!

1.       TIME

Until newborns reach the age of about 14 days, they sleep soundly allowing for their poses to be easily adjusted. The absolute BEST time is between 3-7 days after their arrival. Somewhere around the 8th day they discover the joy of stretching! Once that happens…those curly poses turn into Michael Jackson dance moves. Unless baby has a white glove, that may not be what you are looking to capture. After day 14, it becomes very difficult to get the baby into that deep sleep that comes so easily earlier on. Additionally, some newborns can develop newborn acne around this time. This however can be easily edited out if needed.

2.       LOCATION

Most of our newborn photography sessions are done in your home. We want everyone, especially baby, to be as comfortable as possible. The biggest thing we are looking for is a room with a lot of natural light. The more natural light, the better! We try to avoid using flash and lights on the little ones as they can be particularly sensitive to light in these early days. Ideally, the room should be spacious with no distracting elements in the background.

3.       TEMPERATURE

One of the more important tips for a successful newborn photo session is keeping the baby warm. We suggest adjusting the temperature inside your house to be a little warmer than usual. The warmer, the better! Give the baby a long and warm bath about an hour before your session. Swaddle the baby in soft fabrics. It also helps to have a space heater nearby during the photo shoot. The warmer temperature relaxes and soothes the baby and will hopefully help your newborn stay asleep and happy throughout the entire process.

 4.       FEEDING & BABY PREP

Along with a warm bath, it helps to keep the baby awake by interacting with him/her for about 2 hours prior to the session.

Newborns sometimes will need feeding breaks during the photo session. In these moments, we want mom to take her time to so that the newborn is completely calm and happy. This can be a great moment to capture between mommy and baby. You can also feed him/her before the start of the session so they will be ready to sleep. Warm milk equals a happy, soon to be sleepy baby!

Loosen the diaper a little before we arrive if you would like cute naked baby photos. This will eliminate any annoying diaper lines and the need for retouching later.

Keep extra wipes and diapers nearby for quick clean-ups. Naked babies with full bellies tend to be like ticking time bombs ready to explode. Be prepared for when they go off. Dad, keep it together during this time. 

5.       WARDROBE & PROPS

Try to keep your clothing simple, without busy patterns and logos. Soft, neutral fabrics are flattering and don’t distract from what the baby is or isn’t wearing.

Dress the baby in comfortable clothes or swaddle in soft warm fabric. Try to use fabrics that are easy to unwrap and avoid pulling layers over the head if possible.

Feel free to bring any props like hats, toys, blankets etc…  they can be a great addition to the story 😊

FINAL NOTE:

Yes, your new baby is the star of the photo session, but that doesn’t mean mom, dad and the rest of the family can’t jump in too. We love capturing candid moments between everyone and we encourage you to enjoy and embrace this moment. If you have any questions about our sessions, just ask! We are always here to help. ~ Chad & Brie

***Mention this blog post and receive 15% OFF our newborn sessions***