Everything You Need to Know for Your Newborn Photoshoot

What Is Newborn Photography? 

Newborn Photography is a photography style focusing on capturing photos of newborn babies. A newborn photoshoot will usually happen when the baby is less than two weeks old to help capture them at their cutest and sleepiest, making it easier to capture the photos. Newborn photography helps you to capture your baby’s most precious moments. 

Newborn photography is important so you can capture images of your baby the way that you first saw them and will always remember them. From their sweet chubby cheeks, lips, lashes, and to their small fingers and toes, you and your family will look back on these photos for years to come, before time flies. 

When to Book Your Newborn Photography Session 

You should book your newborn photography session soon after your 20-week scan. We can then set up a tentative session around 5-15 days based on your due date. This may sound early but at this scan, you will be given a more accurate idea of when your baby will arrive. It will also guarantee my availability when your baby does arrive. 

I don’t recommend booking a newborn photography session after your baby is 3 weeks or older as their most sleepy stage will have passed and they aren’t as flexible as they were in the first few weeks. 

The last thing you want to do when your baby is only a few days old is leave the house, so I like to give new parents at least a week to acclimate to life with their baby. Newborns' heaviest sleep weeks are before the two-week mark, so I've found the sweet spot for recovered mums and a sleepy baby is between 5 and 15 days. 

Sometimes schedules (both mine and yours!) make that window tough to catch, but don't worry we will capture beautiful photographs regardless! And if your baby is older than 3 weeks and you still want to experience a luxury photoshoot, we can arrange a photoshoot without posed shots, which will be more natural and organic, such as relaxing on bean bags and other props. 

What to Do if Your Baby Decides to Arrive Early or Late 

As your baby's due date draws near, I'll be in contact with you to put some time in our diaries for the photoshoot. I’ll make sure to leave space in my calendar and do everything necessary so it’s easy for us to change the session date, if necessary, to accommodate your little one's arrival! 

How to Prepare for the Day of the Shoot 

All you need to bring to your session is yourselves and milk! If your baby is bottle feeding, please make sure to bring a bottle with plenty of milk. This way, we can keep baby’s tummy nice and full. Keeping a baby’s tummy full makes them more happy, and more sleepy, allowing a deeper sleep state so I can get more posing out of them without them waking up. 

If you use a pacifier, please bring one with you as it will help me keep baby relaxed and settled. However, if you do forget one, I do sell newborn-size FRIGG dummies in the studio, a high-quality silicone pacifier for your little one. 

Please ensure that you have plenty of time to get to the studio to keep your journey hassle-free. My bespoke newborn photography studio is located in West Malling High Street with both street parking and car parks available.

Why ten o'clock is the best time for newborn photoshoots

I recommend that all newborn photoshoots take place at 10 am. This is because when in the womb, most pregnant women are active during the morning/afternoon and move less in the evening before falling asleep at night. The rocking motion during her active times is what lulls the baby to sleep, and usually when she lays down is when the baby is awake, most active, and kicking.  

During the first few weeks, your baby will have a backward sleep schedule, which will make for sleepless nights for parents, but usually helps for a nice sleepy newborn session for me! 

Therefore, starting our newborn photoshoot at 10 am is a good time to catch your newborn's deepest sleep period and allow plenty of time for travel, along with time to do any hair/outfit/makeup prep for you! 

What if Baby Doesn’t Sleep  

If you get to the session, and your baby is not sleepy, please don't stress! Newborns can have awake periods of up to two hours, so we'll spend this time capturing some awake shots. 

A good method for a sleepy baby session is having a baby who is ready to sleep. If you want to start the process before you leave, you can do your best to create an environment where your baby is not sleeping. This could include letting your baby kick, unswaddled in a warm room – it's a great way for them to wear themselves out! 

This is also a great time to bath your baby. Not only will it keep baby awake, but it will fluff up greasy hair and help to clean in between any baby folds! 

What You, and Baby, Should Wear on the Day 

If you're a mum who has just given birth in the last few weeks, finding something that fits can be a challenge. My goal is to show you how beautiful you truly are - even if you don't feel it. Whether it's a maternity gown you love, your favourite jumper, or a pair of jeans, bring it with you! I highly suggest neutral colours (beige, browns, whites) to keep the focus predominantly on your baby. I recommend the same colour tones for any other family members that you would like to be involved in the shoot too. 

Please be mindful of your nails, as your hands will be photographed with your baby. Often, chipped nail polish, dirty, or ragged nails cause a delay in receiving your final images due to extensive editing. 

For baby, we can choose an outfit when you get here. I have a wardrobe dedicated to babies that is full of fabrics, swaddles and other outfits in pastels and neutral colours that allow us to capture beautiful photographs of them. 

What Is Going to Happen During the Shoot 

When you first arrive at my studio there will be plenty of time for you to get comfortable in the family room. This space stays slightly cooler to keep your baby awake while feeding. I do this because a warm room, while cuddling and getting a belly filled, is a good way to have a baby fall asleep before they've eaten enough to stay sleeping.  

Before feeding baby, we will get them changed into one of my outfits. This way, after being fed we do not need to disturb them by getting them changed. 

Once we're done setting up and baby has a full belly, it's time to step into the warm and cosy newborn studio! The newborn studio will be very warm to help your baby stay asleep while being photographed! 

Please wear layers to the session. This will make sure that you can adjust your clothing to maintain a comfortable temperature between the newborn photography studio and the family room. 

If baby is awake and happy when we start the photographs, I'll be sure to document the many expressions that newborns make. If, after these photographs, baby is still super awake, I may have you feed them one last time until they get very sleepy. This will ensure a full tummy while I photograph them for the remainder of the session. 

While I'm used to the room's heat, and newborns prefer warmer temperatures, I understand that not all adults enjoy spending up to two hours in a hot room! Please feel free to watch through the viewing window, or take regular tea breaks and relax in our family room. 

Family Portraits 

If you would like them, I leave family portraits until the end of the shoot for a few very important reasons: 

• First and most importantly, babies tend to sleep easier when wrapped or being held - both of which happen during family photos. If we "waste" this sleepy time at the beginning, your baby is saving up energy for a potential long awake time.
• I like older siblings to have a chance to get comfortable with me and in my studio. Hopefully, by the end of the session, they will feel comfortable around me for their photos!
• This gives time for parents to change and get ready to have their photos taken!

Thank You 

I have the very best job in the world. 

What I've found while photographing newborns is that it's not just about taking pretty photos of pretty little babies. It's about being there for new parents and making this memorable day a relaxing one - not adding to your stress but giving you a break to sit back and really marvel at this little life you've been chosen to be the parent of. 

I hope the memories during the shoot are as beautiful as the photos you'll have as heirloom images for decades to come. 

After the shoot, I will be in contact with you to organise a gallery viewing back in the studio. The viewing is where you can choose which collection and/or any extras you would like to purchase. 

If you have any questions before, during, or after your session with me, please don't hesitate to ask! You can get in touch through this Contact Form.