If you’re thinking about having newborn photos here are a few things I recommend considering and to help you get a feel for what to expect. My newborn photography sessions are lifestyle & documentary which means I photograph you and your family at home and I do some verrrrrrrry light posing but mostly candid/documentary style photography. I don’t do heavy posing, wrapping or putting your baby into certain positions. For the most part, and especially post Covid, I will handle your baby as little as possible. Here are few things that might help you understand how it all works and what to expect.
WHEN SHOULD I BOOK MY NEWBORN PHOTOS?
I recommend finding a photographer you love and book in at your 20 week mark. Calendars can fill up about 6 months in advance for me so it’s best to be on the radar. Once you’ve booked with me I mark your due date in your calendar and keep space on either side of that to accommodate you when your baby arrives. In terms of how old the baby should be for photos then 6 - 14 days is best for that very sleepy newborn look but many people prefer to wait until they’re a little older. I wrote another blog on the best age for newborn photographer. You can read it over here. Really there is no wrong time to create a keepsake, but by planning it advance, you can just drop me a line when the baby arrives and I will pop over. You might just prefer to wait until baby is here to decide when you feel ready. So find someone you can have an easy conversation with and book them. Then have them take the heavy lifting from there - send a message when baby comes and tell them if you’re feeling ready (or even if you’re not sure ideally you’ve formed a little connection with your photographer and can be like having a friend popping in for coffee!).
HOW TO PREPARE FOR MY NEWBORN PHOTOGRAPHY SESSION?
We’ll schedule the newborn photography session typically between 10am - 2pm. If you have older children I will suggest we pick the time that suits their schedule best, which is typically the morning. If it’s your first baby then we pick the time when you might have the chance to feel ready. We will photograph in 2 - 3 rooms of the house with the best light. This is typically the master bedroom, the lounge room, and some nook of our house where the light falls beautifully, like a stairwell or front step. Don’t worry about mess or anything like that. I won’t be photographing your laundry pile.
WHAT SHOULD WE WEAR TO OUR NEWBORN PHOTOGRAPHY SESSION?
It’s best to be comfortable and remember you’re at home so a relaxed dress or jeans and jumper is fine. Partners look great in relaxed tees or coloured shirts if that’s their norm. You want to feel good and cosy works so well for in-home photography. For baby simple white onesie looks lovely, knitted outfits, wraps, blankets, textured items all look great. Gather a few things in a pile and we can go through them when I drive. Simple is best.
WHAT TO DO BEFORE I ARRIVE AND WHAT TO EXPECT DURING THE SESSION.
Try and dress the baby in their photo outfit and feed them 20 - 30 minutes before I arrive so they're hopefully in deep sleep when I drive and we can photograph them alone on the bed by the window. Now babies don’t know much about routines to begin with so if it doesn’t work out that way no problem. Try and have your home nice and warm so the baby feels cosy and sleepy. We'll likely spend 1.5 hours together, maybe up to 2 hours if you have older children. You can expect to stop for feeds, nappy changes or to settle baby in need. We keep it low pressure and relaxed and follow the lead of the little ones.
ARE SIBLINGS WELCOME AT THE SESSION?
Absolutely! Please also feel free to include grandparents or any special family members. It’s often helpful to have an extra pair of hands if there are siblings around too.
SHOULD I DO BREASTFEEDING PHOTOS OR SKIN TO TO SKIN IMAGES?
One thing you don’t always know before you have your first baby is that breastfeeding isn’t always easy for everyone and not everyone does it. So this is definitely a personal decision. I do love to capture intimate skin to skin and breastfeeding with either parent - it doesn’t need to be just the birthing partner. So I will gauge this with you based on our chat and ask you which photos you connected with of mine. I can generally read which type of photos each client likes from my style and I do a range. So the answer is yes - if you feel it.
I hope that’s helped give some insight about what to expect in your newborn photography session. If you’re looking for a family photographer in London I’d love to hear from you. You can also see my frequently asked questions over here.
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