Top tips for Newborn Baby Sessions.
Over the last number of weeks I have had some newborn sessions. They have been amazing, and I loved every minute of it (I am a total sucker for newborn babies). I would have loved if someone had come to my house and taken photos of my girls, when they were that young. It is a real privilege to be able to do it now for others.
It is such a busy time with a new baby, and although you want to record your baby at this moment it is hard to get the time to do it. So it is really worth organising a session at home where everybody is relaxed and it is easy to work around naps and feeds.
On the back of these sessions I have some top tips for a newborn session.
When is the best time to do a newborn shoot?
If you are looking for that newborn look I would advise to do it between 2-4 weeks, particularly if you want to get those sleepy shots. However, if you are not set on that type of image, it is fine to wait until they are a little older, up to 6-8 weeks. After 8 weeks they can be a little bit fussier. However, they will look more like themselves and you can get some beautiful images with smiles for their mum and dad.
What do I need?
You don’t need anything, I don’t use props but I will bring a couple of neutral backdrops and blankets, so that along with the candid shots with the parents, you will get some studio like ones too.
What do I need to do?
It is always best to have the baby fed and changed and a spare set of clothes at hand in case there are any accidents. If you are looking for some bare skin photos, it is worth having the heating on and the house warm, little babies can get very upset when they get cold (I don’t blame them!!). If your baby uses a soother, it is worth having that at hand too, to help settle them.
How long is a session?
These sessions tend to be longer than a normal family session, to allow for feeds etc. and to keep a relaxed mood for everyone involved. No pressure on anyone.
What should the baby wear?
Simple clothes work best, no fuss. These images look great when kept simple and some of the bare skin photos can be beautiful. It is best to dress the baby in something comfortable and fuss free.