Newborn Photo Sessions: How To Prepare Like a Pro
A rested, fed baby and a cozy bed are almost all you need at a newborn photo session.
So you’ve booked your lifestyle newborn photography session and you’re so excited to have beautiful imagery of your family and your brand new baby… but what are you supposed to do before the shoot?!
The good news is, you really don’t need to do much. A rested, fed baby and a clean, comfortable bed are almost all you need. That said, a few thoughtful steps can help the session go more smoothly and ensure the photos feel both meaningful and relaxed.
What to Expect During At-Home Newborn Photo Sessions
Every newborn photo session is a little different, but most follow a relaxed, baby-led flow. Your photographer should guide you with gentle suggestions about where and how to position your body and have natural interactions, but there’s no need to worry about “performing” or having everything go according to plan. Newborns are unpredictable – and that’s part of the magic.
Expect the session to last between 1-2 hours (my newborn sessions are nearly always 1.5 hours). This gives time for feeding breaks, outfit changes, and soothing if needed. There’s no rush, and your photographer should always work at your baby’s pace. My goal is always to capture families in a calm, authentic way that reflects their real lives – soft snuggles, joyful laughs, and all.
Newborn babies really are a marvel.
What Should Mom Wear?
Start by choosing what the birthing parent will wear. Prioritize comfort, but also choose something that feels a bit more put-together than pajamas or a T-shirt with milk spit-up. Soft, movable fabrics work beautifully and help keep the focus on your connection with your baby.
Once your outfit is chosen, coordinate the rest of the family’s clothing around that. Avoid super bright or highly saturated colors near baby’s face, as these can reflect onto baby’s skin and create distracting color casts. Subdued tones, earth tones, whites, and pastels tend to work best.
What Should Baby Wear?
Newborns photograph best in simple, neutral outfits. Light-colored onesies, swaddles in soft fabrics, and minimal patterns keep the focus on their sweet features. Avoid clothes with text, logos, or super-busy patterns. Baby skin is delicate and can lean a bit red or blotchy, and bold colors can exaggerate this in photos.
Have a few options ready—maybe a soft swaddle and a plain onesie—and don’t forget a backup in case of spit-up or blowouts. 👼
For inspiration and to see visuals of the kinds of clothing that photograph well for mom and baby, checkout my Pinterest Board.
Don’t Forget the Power of a Shower
It sounds basic, but in the whirlwind of newborn life, taking a hot shower can feel like a true luxury. On the morning of the shoot, if you have the bandwidth, carve out time for a shower and a few moments to get ready. It can help you feel refreshed and grounded before being in front of the camera.
If there’s time, a little hand care can go a long way—your hands often appear in close-up shots while holding your baby. Trimmed nails and moisturized skin look great in photos, but don’t stress if it doesn’t happen! 🫶
Preparing Your Home (Without Overdoing It)
There’s no need for deep cleaning, but consider tucking away obvious clutter in those spaces: used dishes, laundry piles, diaper boxes. Think of it as creating a clean frame around your family, not achieving perfection.
Some families like to style the nursery or add a fresh throw pillow to the bed. That’s great if it brings you joy—but not necessary for a beautiful session. 😉
Where We’ll Shoot: Natural Light and Cozy Corners
When shooting newborn photo sessions, I gravitate toward the rooms with the best natural light – usually the nursery, primary bedroom, and the living room. Large windows are our best friend, and I turn off overhead lights to make the most of that soft, natural glow. It’s not necessary for the entire room to be photo-ready - just a nice corner with good light and a pleasing backdrop can be a great setting for a good portion of the images captured.
I might move a few small things around to optimize the background – a water bottle here, a laundry basket there – but I always work respectfully within your space.
Rooms with big windows create a dreamy feeling.
What About Siblings and Pets?
Older siblings are encouraged to participate, but keep expectations flexible—especially for toddlers! A few sweet moments, even if fleeting, are often enough to document someting worthy of remembering. Having a treasured stuffie or favorite snack on hand can be a useful reward/distraction for hesitant toddlers. Keeping things playful and low-pressure is the best way to include older siblings and help them feel like this their photo session too. I made a blog post about this very topic here.
Pets can absolutely be included in your newborn photo session. They’re part of the family, too! Just be sure to let your photographer know ahead of time, and have a plan to keep them comfortable and calm during the shoot.
Feeding Baby Before the Session
A full tummy usually means a happy, content baby. Try to feed baby just before your session begins. If your baby cluster feeds or has unpredictable timing, that’s completely normal too. Sessions often include breaks for feeding, burping, and soothing, and most photographers expect that.
Bonus tip: Have a pacifier handy, even if baby doesn't use it regularly. Sometimes it helps settle them just long enough to get a sweet, swaddled photo. 🍼
What About Props or Posing?
In lifestyle newborn photography, props are typically not used (or kept to a minimum). The lifestyle approach focuses on your family, your interactions, and the way you occupy your home. Your photographer will likely direct you a bit to optimize for the best light and composition, but full-on posing, especially baby posing, is not to be expected at a lifestyle newborn photo session. One of the gifts of photographing with this lifestyle approach is the opportunity to capture candid moments that might otherwsie be missed.
That said, if you have a few special items—like a hand-knit blanket from grandma or a family heirloom—feel free to set those aside and your photographer can find ways to incorporate them.
Final Thoughts: Trust the Process
If there’s one thing I want every parent to know before their newborn photo session, it’s this: don’t worry about things being perfect. You don’t have to lose the baby weight, have a spotless home, or have a baby who gets through the entire shoot without a meltdown.
What matters most is showing up, being present, and loving on your new baby.
For folks who hire me to photograph their newborns, they can trust me to capture their family and new baby with realness and beauty and reverence. If you are expecting a new baby soon (or if you just had a baby), I’d love to hear from you!