Welcoming a newborn into your family is one of life’s most precious moments, and capturing these early days through photography is a beautiful way to cherish these memories forever.
Whether you’re a first-time parent or adding to your growing family, a newborn photo shoot is a wonderful opportunity to document the tender moments, tiny details, and overwhelming love that accompanies this special time.
In this blog, I’ll walk you through what to expect during a newborn photo shoot, from booking your session to receiving your stunning gallery of images. Let’s dive in!
Inquiry & Booking
The journey to capturing those precious newborn moments starts with a simple inquiry. Once you reach out, you’ll receive a response from me within 24 hours with a comprehensive pricing guide and additional details about the photo shoot. This is also an excellent opportunity to set up a phone call to discuss any questions you might have.
When you’re ready to book, I’ll provide you with a booking link to sign a contract and pay the deposit. Your due date will be noted in my calendar, and when your baby arrives, you’ll just need to let me know so we can schedule the session. Most mothers prefer to schedule the photo shoot two to three weeks after birth to allow some time to rest and feel prepared.
Session Preparation
Approximately one to two months before your due date, if you’ve opted for an in-home newborn session, you’ll send me a photo of your nursery. This helps in planning and allows me to create an outfit mood board for you.
The mood board will include dress options from the client closet (a curated collection of clothing, blankets, and swaddles I have available for complimentary use) as well as coordinated outfit suggestions with links for your spouse, baby, and any siblings. I’ll bring your chosen dresses, steamed and ready for you to try on and wear on the day of the session.
If you booked a Bump to Baby session package, which includes a maternity session scheduled between 28-32 weeks of pregnancy, you’ll also receive a maternity outfit mood board with links for inspiration.
The Photoshoot
On the day of the newborn session, I reserve about two hours for our time together. This relaxed schedule allows ample time for you to choose your dress, feed, and change the baby as needed without any rush. My aim is to create a safe, stress-free, and slow-paced environment to keep the session flexible and enjoyable.
For the shoot, we’ll use your nursery if you have one, along with other well-lit areas of your home, such as the family room, master bedroom, or even a hallway with beautiful architecture. If you don’t have a nursery, that’s perfectly fine! We can use other parts of your home, opt for an outdoor session with props like a Moses basket and blanket, or even use an indoor natural light studio for a small fee.
During the session, I’ll guide you through various poses and setups, capturing both posed portraits and candid moments. It’s normal for newborns to be fussy or restless during the session, so don’t be discouraged if your baby doesn’t cooperate right away. Patience is key, and I will work with you to ensure a positive experience for both you and your little one!
After Your Session
Following the session, you’ll receive a few sneak peek images within 48 hours to share with family and friends. The full gallery will be delivered within two to three weeks, with a promise of at least 60 images (but typically, there are many more!).
For those who booked a Baby Membership (a session package that includes newborn, maternity, and milestone photo shoots), you can schedule milestone sessions at your convenience.
Milestone sessions, which can be done around 3, 6, or 9 months or at 1 year, can take place outdoors or in the studio. These sessions include parent participation, multiple outfit changes, and props such as a Moses basket and antique high chair for one-year cake smash photos. These milestone sessions beautifully capture your baby’s growth and development and are some of my favorite sessions to shoot!
Now that you know what to expect during a newborn photo shoot, we can work together to carefully plan and personalize an enjoyable experience and capture the precious moments of your baby’s earliest days!
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