The arrival of a new baby is always a special event, and a newborn photoshoot is a wonderful way to capture how tiny and precious your newborn is. When photographing newborns I aim for a simple approach, keeping the focus on the baby. I love to use natural textures like felts and curly wools to complement baby-soft skin and I like to work with the light to create images with a beautiful depth which will look stunning printed and framed, or hung as wall art. As well as solo baby portraits a newborn session can also include parent shots and sibling shots if desired.
Newborn sessions are baby-led and last approximately three hours. They are best carried out when baby is between five to fourteen days old, as your newborn will be very sleepy and easier to settle and pose at this age. But newborn shoots can take place up to six weeks of age - older babies are often more alert and can provide some gorgeous awake shots!
Before your newborn session:
During your pre-session consultation we will discuss the type of images you are hoping to capture, as all sessions are bespoke. Are you just looking for portraits of the baby, or did you want some shots of the baby with parents and/or siblings too? Do you have a particular colour scheme in mind? (Think about where you might like to display images from your session and how chosen colours will fit in with your decor). Are there any props special to you that you wish to include in your session? For example, a stuffed animal, or an item of sentimental value. One previous client wanted to include a lovely crocheted rainbow rattle in their baby’s shoot and I was delighted to oblige! If you are looking to take some shots that include parents and/or siblings then I will be happy to advise you on outfit choices.
Just before the session I would always recommend dressing the baby in something relatively easy to remove. It helps the baby to settle if they are fed just before their session, or just after arrival at the studio.
Why do newborn sessions take so long?
I allow around three hours for a newborn session so there is no rush - babies often need frequent breaks for feeding (usually a couple of times), changing and cuddles, and so the session pace is dictated entirely by the baby’s needs. I only book one newborn session per day so there is no hurry, the session feels relaxed and parents are invited to make themselves comfortable during their session; the studio is well equipped with a comfy sofa, snacks and bottled water. Parents are very welcome to bring a book, or take a nap on the sofa during their session. The studio also has wi-fi if you have emails or social media posts to catch up on while I work my magic!
Newborn sessions are planned to minimise how often the baby is disturbed, as a settled baby is a happy baby (and if a baby is not perfectly happy it always shows in their photos!). Each transition into a new outfit, pose or prop risks disturbing the baby, so these changes are performed as gently and smoothly as possible to minimise the stress on the baby. For some poses it is necessary for me to gently hold their little feet and fingers in place until they fully settle and relax into the pose and hold it, which takes a lot of patience!
What can I expect on the day of the shoot?
When you arrive you will notice that the studio feels warm - I always heat the studio up ahead of a newborn session as the baby will likely be spending some time nude or semi-nude for their photoshoot, and as newborns cannot regulate their body temperatures as adults can I ensure the room temperature will be comfortable for them. This may mean adults feel quite warm, so wearing layers is a good idea. Having a toasty environment also helps keep babies settled and sleepy.
Usually I prefer to start with shots of the baby and parents, aiming for images of the baby with each parent separately and then take images of baby with both parents together. The start of the session or the end of the session are also when sibling shots are taken, if requested. Please note that due to the small size of the studio and safety concerns, it is not advisable for siblings to stay for the full newborn session (three hours is a very long time to ask a child to sit and wait!). Siblings should either be collected after their shots if done at the start of a session, or brought to join in at the end of the session.
Sometimes parents are reluctant to be in photos themselves and I can completely understand why - having a new baby join your household (especially if this is your first) can completely upend your normal order and routine, and wreak havoc on your sleep schedule. You will be putting your baby’s needs first and may not be taking very good care of yourself in the first few weeks. But please don’t worry about not looking your best or looking tired; it’s amazing the wonders that good lighting can do, and if you wish, a little subtle editing in Photoshop can ease the signs of lack of sleep. I really would advocate that parents have some shots taken of themselves with their baby, as this moment in time where your new baby is this small is incredibly fleeting, and having that memory of their tininess in your arms captured is often treasured. If parents do not end up loving the images with themselves and the baby then there is never any obligation to buy them, but I don’t want any of my clients to ever regret not having these photos taken in the first place.
For baby solo portraits I love to capture a range of images including full-length (to record how small your baby was in their first couple of weeks!) and close-up shots focusing on their faces, tiny feet and hands. I also love taking photos of baby nestled in their parents’ hands, as this really emphasises how small your little one really is! Some babies are happy being unclothed for their shoot whilst others prefer to stay dressed or wrapped - I always let the baby lead the direction of the session and work within what they are comfortable with. I have a range of outfits and wraps in different colours to use in your session.
Safety forms such a large and integral aspect of newborn photography sessions that I have written a separate post on this topic, which you can find by clicking here. In essence I work with safety at the forefront of my newborn sessions and have been trained by a specialist and am fully insured. I only use props that are safe and well padded, and only put babies into poses that your they will naturally hold and remain comfortable in.
What should you bring?
If the baby is bottle-fed then please bring along some formula. The studio is equipped with a changing mat, wipes and nappy bags but you should bring some extra nappies with you. I provide bottled water and a few snacks for the adults attending the session but you are welcome to bring your own refreshments too. If you have opted to take some parent and/or sibling shots then please arrive in your chosen outfits. It may also be a good idea to bring a change of clothes, just in case, as when carrying out shots where the baby is nude there are occasionally accidents! (Bringing a change of clothes is especially recommended if you are headed out anywhere after your session.) For this reason I usually leave nude shots until the end of the session. If you have a stuffed animal or other prop which you have requested to be included in your images then please bring this along.
After your shoot:
You will be invited back to the studio approximately two weeks after your session to view your gallery of beautifully edited images, and to choose a package. If you would like to order any additional prints or frames, canvases or other wall art then I will be happy to advise you. The viewing session is a great opportunity for me to find out which images are your favourites, as this helps me to develop my work and the service I offer.
If you have any queries relating to newborn photography sessions then please send me an email or use the contact form to send me a message, and I will get back to you with answers to any questions you may have. You can see more examples of photographs from newborn sessions on the gallery page here.