Our Top 10 Tips For Newborn Sessions
After two decades as a Denver newborn photographer, I’ve learned a few important tricks to ensure a happy, sleepy baby. Follow these simple steps to a more beautiful newborn portrait experience.
NEWBORN PHOTOGRAPHY TIPS: WAKE THE SLEEPING BABY
Babies need food! If your newborn sleeps longer through the night, the next morning is spent making up for lost calories.
We get it. You would trade your left arm for a good night’s rest that first week. However, the night before your first newborn photography session is not the night.
So forgo the zzz’s, set an alarm, and keep your sweet babe fed through the night.
NEWBORN PHOTOGRAPHY TIPS: MILK DRUNK PRIORITY
Provide a full feeding before the session that sends your baby straight into dreamland.
Make sure baby arrives to your session with a full belly! We always mention to mom not to rush through this feeding. Some babies need a full 45 minutes, and that’s OK. The main sign of a full feed are limp and relaxed hands and fingers.
If you are pumping or bottle feeding at all, supplement the day of your session. Some of our moms visit us so soon after their baby is born, they are still waiting for their milk to fully come in. The average time is 7 days for a full milk supply. But I’ve known many to take as long as 12. We encourage all sources of food right before the session.
NEWBORN PHOTOGRAPHY TIPS: NO IMMUNIZATIONS WITHIN 48 HOURS
Be sure to schedule your session at least two days AFTER immunizations.
Many babies have a reaction to shots that can cause grumpy behavior for up to 48 hours afterwards.
NEWBORN PHOTOGRAPHY TIPS: GET READY AT THE STUDIO
Pack yourself a bag the night before of everything you will need for yourself to get picture-ready.
In our newborn photography studio, we always start the session with baby, which gives mom plenty of time to rest and then prep to be camera ready.
Because we like to be ready for emergencies, our studio has hair products and a steamer for wrinkled clothes.
NEWBORN PHOTOGRAPHY TIPS: PACK A BABY BAG
Make sure you have all the essentials in your baby bag packed up the night before and ready to grab-and-go.
We can’t speak for all newborn photographers, but in our studio, you’ll just need the basics. We have all the swaddles, blankets, headbands, hats and more, that you’ll ever need. We also keep our studio stocked with newborn diapers, wipes, a changing table, and hot & warm water (for bottles). Regardless of who photograph’s your baby, you’ll want all of the above, plus:
Extra food (formula or pumped milk)
Two bottles
Pacifier
A cozy change of clothes for the ride home
NEWBORN PHOTOGRAPHY TIPS: HAVE A MOTHER’S HELPER
When possible, have a grandparent, nanny or even your spouse bring siblings later during the session.
We always start with our star subject and finish the session with siblings and family portraits. While our studio is very child friendly, there is about a 2-hour gap. That’s a lot of entertaining!
Many of our moms take advantage of this much-needed quiet time while we photograph her baby and someone else has the older kids.
NEWBORN PHOTOGRAPHY TIPS: YOUR MORNING OF ROUTINE
The morning of your session sets the stage for a smooth newborn portrait experience. There are really just a few important pieces:
Be sure baby is well fed before arriving to your session.
Mom, we’re sorry, but skip the caffeine. In fact, forgoing most caffeine a day or two before the session is ideal. We get it. Just do your best. If you just can’t, try adding extra hot water to your morning cup to dilute it.
Pack everything and shower the night before. It goes without saying that having less to do just helps.
NEWBORN PHOTOGRAPHY TIPS: MORNING SESSIONS ONLY
Always photograph newborns in the morning.
In our experience, afternoon sessions are always more stressful. A newborn in the afternoon is less likely to fall into a deep slumber, they tend to be more hungry, often fall into an inconsolable witching hour, and want to be held for longer stretches.
But oh the morning. Such delightful little people in the early hour.
NEWBORN PHOTOGRAPHY TIPS: TWO WEEKS AND UNDER
Newborns don’t keep! So be sure to photograph your new baby between 7-10 days old (up to two weeks).
A true newborn still behaves as though they are in the womb. They sleep, wish to be bundled up nice and tight, and prefer to be warm. Most importantly, they still have womb-like flexibility, which only lasts the first couple of weeks after birth.
After this point, they lose flexibility and digestion begins to mature causing a slightly more alert and wakeful baby, not to mention stomach discomfort. You might not notice this at home. But photographers must position and reposition the baby many times during a session. And older babies don’t take to this as kindly.
NEWBORN PHOTOGRAPHY TIPS: ARRIVE READY TO SNUGGLE
Photographing the intimacy of the family is my number one priority.
Arrive ready to enjoy a quiet moment with your family, despite a fussy baby. I know this can be a challenge. But not to worry, you can lean on my years of experience photographing new babies. I understand when it’s time to just comfort a baby and when it’s time to photograph your family. When it’s time, I will guide you through poses. But it’s my hope that you are able to melt into each other so I can capture this moment in the most beautiful way possible.