Congratulations on your new family member! Before you dive into scheduling your newborn photography session, here are some helpful tips to ensure everything goes smoothly and stress-free.
Newborn Photography Session
Tip 1. How to Prepare for the Baby Photoshoot
Newborn photography is a beautiful way to capture the early days of your baby’s life, but it can also feel overwhelming. To make the process seamless:
- Clothing Choices for Baby: Have a few simple white bodysuits ready. Babies can get messy, and starting with a clean, neutral outfit ensures your baby is always photo-ready. Some babies don’t enjoy being changed, so consider minimizing outfit changes during the session.
- Family Outfits: Dress your family in your favorite colors, but avoid neon tones as they can distort skin tones in photos. Earthy tones like white, beige, and light blue work well. For a relaxed, natural look, consider going barefoot.
Tip 2. Timing and Lighting for Newborn Session
- Feeding Schedule: To keep your baby calm and content during the newborn photography session, ensure they’re fed before the session starts. If your feeding schedule doesn’t align with the photographer’s arrival, communicate in advance to adjust the timing.
- Lighting Considerations: Before the session, observe the natural light in your home. Identify areas with the best lighting and share photos of these spaces with your photographer. During the session, we’ll prioritize rooms with ample natural light and take portraits near windows. Ensuring the chosen room is warm and comfortable will make for the best newborn photography results.
Tip 3. Create a Calm Environment During Your Photoshoot
- Relax and Enjoy: Remember, this session is meant to be a joyful experience. If your baby needs a break to eat or you need to change outfits, there’s no rush. We’ll take our time to ensure everyone is comfortable, which is key for successful newborn photography.
- Sibling Involvement: If you have other children, we’ll start the session with them interacting with the newborn. This helps them warm up to the camera and allows us to capture their genuine reactions. After the first 20 minutes, older siblings can take a break while we focus on the newborn. We won’t force them to participate but instead, engage them with fun conversations to keep the atmosphere light.
4. Know the Difference Between Awake vs. Sleeping Photos in Newborn Photography
Decide whether you’d prefer photos of your baby awake or sleeping. Discuss this with your photographer in advance so you can plan your day accordingly. This decision can greatly influence the flow and timing of your newborn photography session.
By following these tips, you’ll be well-prepared for a relaxed and enjoyable newborn photography session. The goal is to capture this special time in your family’s life without unnecessary stress while ensuring the best possible results from your newborn photography experience.
5. What to Expect During the Newborn Photography Session
- Session Length: Newborn sessions can last 2-3 hours due to feeding, soothing, and breaks so plan your day accordingly! You don’t want to be rushed for time during your session.
- Posing and Props: There might be a variety of props and poses throughout the session, depending on what you’re comfortable with and what your photographer’s vision is. Rest assured that your photographer will prioritize the baby’s safety and comfort, and will gently guide you through different poses.
- Involvement of Parents: There are many different ways that parents can be involved in the session, whether it’s holding the baby, being part of the photos, or simply being there to soothe and comfort. And if you’re less comfortable in front of the camera, your help will be appreciated behind the scenes!
6. Pre-Session Preparation
- Home Preparation: I always recommend decluttering the areas where photos will be taken. This can help create clean, distraction-free images. Also, it’s nice to have extra blankets or any sentimental items that could be incorporated into the session.
- Feeding and Sleep Tips: I recommend feeding your baby and getting them to nap before the session. This helps keep them calm and possibly asleep during the shoot!
7. After the Session: What Happens Next?
- Photo Selection and Editing: Once the session is done, your photographer will start the process of selecting the best photos, editing them, and then sending them over to you. Depending on your photographer, the timing of this can vary!
- Print and Album Options: Most photographers have different print options, albums, or digital packages available. Most parents like to have some prints to show off around their home but many like to have the digital files as well so they can always have them handy.
8. FAQs
- What should we do if the baby is fussy during the session? If the baby is fussing, typically you’ll take a break from pictures to assess the baby’s needs. Very rarely would you have to end a shoot noticeably early.
- Can we include pets in the newborn photography session? This is certainly an option! However, you’ll want to make sure your photographer allows it since it can make the photoshoot more difficult. If you have a pet that isn’t well-behaved, it can be best to leave the pet out of the session.
- How should we handle unexpected situations, like a diaper blowout or spit-up during the session? Since your session is at home, you can change baby’s clothes and clean them up so the photoshoot can continue. Typically a photographer will bring extra supplies in case of emergencies.
- Do we need to reschedule if the baby is sick? It’s recommended that you reschedule because you don’t want to put any unnecessary stress on the baby.
Now you’re ready for your newborn photography session! Just remember to smile and have a great time, these moments go by fast!
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