Helpful tips for Newborn Baby Sessions.
I have had some newborn sessions recently. They have been amazing. I have 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 when a new baby arrives, 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 worthwhile 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 a newborn look. When they are sleepy and curled up. I would advise to do it between 1-3 weeks. Particularly if you want to get those sleepy shots and if you want to use some of the props. 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 a smile or 2 for their mum and dad.
What do I need?
You don’t need anything. I have one or two props that I can use during your session if you want. I can wrap the baby for these poses, again if this is something you would like. 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. With that in mind, try and feed your baby 2-3 hours before the session, so that they are due a feed just before the session, for example if your session is at 12 o’clock, you should aim to feed at 11.30, you will therefore need to time the morning feed for 8.30 . Try to keep the baby awake after this feed for as long as possible.
It is worth having 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, have that at hand too, to help settle them.
How long is a session?
These sessions tend to be longer than a normal family session (approx 1.5-2 hours). This allows time for feeds etc. and to keep a relaxed mood for everyone involved. There is 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. If you want to have images of your baby wrapped and some skin shots, I can bring a selection of wraps that you can choose from. I keep all my tones very neutral and I find that they date well as a result.
If you are interested in seeing my ongoing work, please check out my instagram and facebook page and my gallery here on my website
https://www.avrilokennedyphotography.ie/my-portfolio/babies/
https://www.instagram.com/aokphotograph/
https://www.instagram.com/aokphotograph/
or contact me at https://www.avrilokennedyphotography.ie/contact/
