Newborn Session Prep: What You Really Need to Know

If you are reading this with a newborn in your arms, there is a pretty good chance you are tired. Maybe you're still figuring out feeding, maybe you haven't slept much, and maybe you're wondering what day it is. Trust me, I've been there.

I'm a mom too, and I've been photographing newborns for 12 years. I've seen just about everything that can happen during a newborn session, and I know the last thing a brand-new mom needs is another giant list of things she has to do perfectly before she gets out the door.

So let's keep this simple.

Your Session Starts at 9:30 AM

All of my newborn sessions start at 9:30 AM. After 12 years of doing this, I've found that mornings tend to be a really good time for newborns. It also gives us plenty of time to take things at your baby's pace without keeping you at the studio all day. Most sessions are finished around lunchtime, which means you can get home, get comfortable and hopefully get some rest.

You also don't need to spend the entire morning trying to keep your baby awake before you come. Feed them, change them, love on them and bring them in. That's it. If they're hungry when you arrive, we'll feed them. If they need to eat again 30 minutes later, we'll feed them again. If they need to be changed, soothed or held, we do that too.

Babies did not get the memo that they have a photography appointment, so we work around them.

What Should Baby Wear?

This part is easy. Put baby in a loose sleeper or something that's easy to take off. I have wraps, outfits, blankets, props and accessories here at the studio, so you do not need to bring your entire collection of newborn clothes with you.

If you have a special blanket, heirloom or something meaningful that you'd like included, definitely bring it. Those little personal details can make your images even more special.

What Should Mom Wear?

Whatever makes you comfortable. Seriously.

You just had a baby. You do not need to squeeze yourself into something that doesn't fit or spend an hour trying to find an outfit that makes you feel like yourself again. For family and parent photos, I usually recommend simple, neutral colors like cream, beige, white, tan, gray, black, soft blue or muted green. You don't have to perfectly match everyone.

And here's something I want my moms to know: you can take care of yourself while I'm taking care of baby.

If you're being photographed and you need a few minutes to get yourself ready when you arrive, that's completely fine. You don't have to walk through the door with your hair and makeup already done while also trying to keep a newborn happy. We'll use that beginning part of the session to get baby settled, and you can take a few minutes to finish getting yourself ready.

One less thing to worry about.

What Do You Actually Need to Bring?

Not much. For baby, bring whatever you need to feed them, a pacifier if you use one, extra diapers and any special or sentimental items you'd like photographed. For yourself, bring a drink and a snack, plus anything else that will make you more comfortable.

That's really it. I have the baby stuff covered.

The one thing I don't have is milk, so whether you're breastfeeding, pumping or formula feeding, just bring whatever your baby normally needs. And don't worry if your baby suddenly seems extra hungry. Feeding breaks are a completely normal part of a newborn session.

How Long Will We Be There?

Plan on about 2–3 hours. I know that sounds like a long time for pictures, but newborn photography is a little different. We're not rushing through a list of poses just to get you out the door.

Baby might sleep the whole time. Baby might need three feeding breaks. Baby might need a diaper change every 20 minutes. Baby might decide they have very strong opinions about one particular pose. I've seen it all.

The session takes as long as your baby needs. My job is to know when to keep going, when to take a break and when to completely change the plan. That's one of the biggest advantages of hiring someone who has been doing this for a long time. You don't have to know what to do. That's my job.

What About Toddlers?

If you have older children, I usually recommend that they don't stay for the entire newborn session if you have someone available to help. Two or three hours is a long time for a toddler to hang out in a warm studio while we work with baby.

If you have a partner, grandparent or another support person who can bring them toward the end, that's ideal. We'll get your sibling and family photos done, and then they can head home while we finish up with baby.

But if you don't have anyone to help? Bring them. Please don't stress yourself out trying to find childcare just for your newborn session. We'll make it work.

What If Baby Cries?

Baby might cry. They might poop on my stuff. They might pee on my stuff. They might eat three times. They might refuse to sleep. They might sleep so hard that we wonder if they even know we're there.

All of that is normal.

I have been doing this for 12 years. I am not going to panic because your baby is acting like a baby.

Sometimes we get through the entire plan we had in mind. Sometimes we throw the plan out the window and do something completely different. That's part of newborn photography, and it's why experience matters. You don't have to know what to do or how to fix it. That's my job.

You Really Don't Have to Have It All Together

This is probably the biggest thing I want you to know. You don't have to have a perfect morning. You don't have to have a perfectly sleepy baby. You don't have to have your hair and makeup done before you leave the house, and you don't have to bring a million things.

You definitely don't have to apologize because your baby is hungry, fussy, gassy, awake or just having a day.

I've been a mom. I've been around newborns for 12 years. I've seen just about everything.

So come in, take a breath and let me take it from here. You take care of your baby. I'll take care of the pictures.