Tips for Having a Wonderful Newborn Photography Session

Newborn photos are some of the most precious keepsakes that you can have of your new little bundle of joy. Having worked as a newborn photographer in Montgomery for many years, I know that preparation is key to having a great experience. Many clients have questions and concerns relating to how to get the best newborn photo session possible. Here are some tips to help get the best newborn photos during your session!

How to get those sleepy photos?

Photos of your baby asleep are great for placing them in very cute poses and are something that many parents love. These are easiest to do during the one to two-week mark when they are super snuggly, have no baby acne, and are still flexible.

Feed Your Baby Before Hand

Experienced Montgomery photographers like myself are able to work with newborns to get the best shots no matter what. However, it can be a lot easier to capture the perfect photos if your little one has a full belly prior to the session. It is typically recommended to feed your child about half an hour before the photo shoot.

This is particularly effective if you want to encourage your child to sleep during the session. Of course, it is no problem if you need to take a break and feed your child during the photoshoot as well. An additional tip for those wanting slumbering photos is to keep your baby awake a little while prior to the session, increasing the odds that they'll be very sleepy.

Get Some Ideas Online

The internet is a wonderful source for finding ideas for the different poses that you want for your newborn photos. Sites like Pinterest and even Google Images can provide many ideas that can get your creativity flowing. Some parents approach a newborn shoot with many ideas while others only have a few.

Of course, this is not a requisite. After all, your photographer will be happy to provide some ideas for great photos. However, taking a look to come up with some ideas can often help you get a good sense of things you want as well as things that you don’t want during your session.

Dress Your Baby in Loose Fitting Clothing

A common question that many people have is how they should dress their baby for a newborn photoshoot.

This is because tight-fitting clothing can leave creases in their skin. You'll also want to keep their diaper a little looser than usual to avoid crease marks around the waist. This simple step can help ensure you are completely happy with your photos. Also, we try to not disturb the baby too much so arriving in a zip-up sleeper is best.

Bring Props or Items of Significance

Your photographer will generally have plenty of props that can be used to help with photos. However, many parents have their own special things that they want to bring with them. This is perfectly fine!

There are many types of props that are fairly common for parents to bring. Some favorites tend to be stuffed animals that have significance such as a hand-me-down, baby blankets, matching hats, socks, or cute outfits made by a family member. These types of props can help add to the character of the photos and make for a fun story when showing them to others.

Be Sure to Bring Some Snacks

Obviously, your little one won’t be eating solid food yet, but you'll want to ensure that you have food for them if they are bottle-fed in case they get hungry during the shoot. However, you also should bring a snack for yourself.

A lot of times, parents may be so focused on ensuring they have everything necessary for their baby that they forget about their own needs. Newborn shoots can take a bit of time, so having something to munch on is always a good idea.

Keep Siblings Occupied

While newborn photoshoots are exciting for parents, they may not be the most rousing occasion for siblings, particularly if they are still fairly young. A great way to help keep siblings occupied is to plan to bring distractions for them, allowing you to be more focused on the photoshoot.

Some parents might bring a favorite TV show or movie on a tablet for siblings to watch. Others may opt for a favorite game or toy to help keep them entertained. After all, we want to ensure that everyone has a fun time whether they are the subject of photos or not.

Above All Else, Have fun!

Sometimes, parents may feel a bit stressed out when it comes to a photoshoot. However, this doesn't have to be the case. The goal is to create a fun experience for all while the photographer worries about all the details involved in capturing your little one!