1. Schedule Early (Before Your Little One Arrives)

  • Book your session during your pregnancy, ideally in the second or early third trimester, to guarantee a space with your chosen photographer.
  • Most photographers will pencil in a date based on your due date, then a finalised session time & date will be arranged once your little one has arrived.
  • Always check at what age your photographer stops taking ‘newborn’ photos. Some photographers will not photograph a baby older than 14 days, some have a 21 day limit and some, like me, will do newborn sessions up to around 8 weeks of age. Just keep in mind that as your baby grows, they may be more alert, less curled up, and may not fit into certain props or clothing. But that doesn’t mean the magic is lost - some of the most cherished images come from little ones who are wide awake, staring into the camera. Every stage truly has its own kind of beauty, and a professional photographer will always adapt the session to suit your little one.



2. Always Have a Pre-Session Chat with Your Photographer

  • Schedule a consultation or have a chat to discuss what you hope to achieve from your session. Whether you’ve fallen in love with a specific pose from Pinterest you’ve seen or want your baby swaddled in a certain colour or fabric, letting your photographer know is key.
  • Sharing your vision ahead of time gives your photographer the opportunity to confirm or explain why any requests cannot be met. It also gives your photographer time to prepare props, backdrops, or plan poses safely and ensures your expectations are met.


3. Feed Right Before the Session

I personally do not require you to do this as my Newborn sessions are 3 hours long and your little one will always need feeding during the session. Also as the studio is heated for your little one, sometimes a feed it’s not hunger, it can be thirst and their only source of hydration is milk.



4. Keep Baby Awake Before the Session

Again not something I require you to do ahead of your session but always check with the photographer you have booked



5. Dress Baby in Easy-to-Remove Oversized Clothing

  • Dress your baby in something simple like an oversized zip-up sleep suit (no vest underneath) this is to avoid waking them when undressing if they arrive at the studio sleeping.
  • The oversized sleep suit will prevent any marks on their skin.
  • If you are worried about your little one being cold in the cooler weather, wrap them in extra blankets or layer an extra of couple of blankets over them.



6. Don’t Stress About Baby Skin Flaws

  • Baby acne, dry skin, or flakes are totally normal. Professional photographers can retouch this in post-processing. If you don’t want any of this removed, let your photographer know before they edit your images.
  • birthmarks are usually never removed, but again do let your photographer know in case it’s not an obvious birthmark and the mark blends in with their skin flakes/acne on the day of the session.
  • Avoid using a lotions or skin products right before the shoot as this can cause your little ones skin to appear shiny/greasy.



7. Bring the Essentials

Pack these in your bag the day/night before so you don’t have to rush or stress on the day of your shoot:

  • Extra nappies and wipes
  • A pacifier (even if your little one doesn’t usually take one - it can help to settle them while posing and then be removed before photos are taken)
  • Extra milk/formula if bottle-feeding
  • A plain blanket or swaddle
  • A change of clothes for both baby and parents (just in case! Poo explosions happen)
  • Any sentimental items you’ve discussed with your photographer that you’d like included with your session.


8. Dress Neutrally if Possible

  • I know it’s hard straight after birth when nothing fits properly (or you’ve had a c-section) but try to wear simple, neutral, solid colours for photos if you can (whites, beige, pastels, greys etc) You can always change into this clothing at the studio so you can remain in comfy clothing the rest of the time.
  • Always avoid logos or bold colours/patterns so you & your little one remain the focus of the images.
  • Coordinating (not matching) outfits always look best for family portraits.



9. Stay Calm and Flexible

  • Sessions can be slow paced and involve lots of stopping/starting because Newborn sessions are led by your little one. Crying, feeding/cuddle breaks, and nappy changes are all part of it and totally normal.
  • Babies can sense stress, so staying calm helps your little one stay calm too.



10. Be Ready to Be in the Photos

  • Even if you don’t plan to, be prepared. The photographer might ask you to hold or cuddle your baby during certain shots.
  • Many photographers will also subtly include hands, arms, or silhouettes of parents to add those emotional connections to your images.



So there you have it - my top 10 tips for preparing for your newborn photography session. I hope you’ve found this post helpful and reassuring as you get ready to capture those precious early days.


Keep in mind, though, that every photographer has their own approach and session requirements, so it’s always best to check in advance with them directly. Don’t ever hesitate to ask any questions or if you want to clarify anything you’re unsure about - they’ll be more than happy to guide you through the process and make sure you feel confident and prepared.


These early memories are so worth it.