Newborn sesson prep guide
First things first—take a deep breath! Your session will be relaxed, natural, and stress-free. The goal is to capture this beautiful (and let’s be honest, sleep-deprived) season of life in a way that feels real and timeless. Here’s everything you need to know to prep for your session!
Newborn Session Prep Guide
First things first—take a deep breath! Your session will be relaxed, natural, and stress-free. The goal is to capture this beautiful (and let’s be honest, sleep-deprived) season of life in a way that feels real and timeless. Here’s everything you need to know to prep for your session!
before your session:
prepping baby
Please try to feed your baby right before the session so they’re nice and sleepy when I arrive! If possible, have them dressed in a simple onesie or just their diaper, swaddled up and cozy. This way, if they’re asleep, we can start with solo photos without too much disruption.
- Swaddles: Muslin swaddles work beautifully and come in a variety of colors and patterns.
- Blankets: Neutral throws, quilts, or any special blankets you'd like as a backdrop for baby’s solo photos.
- Accessories: If you have headbands, hats, or anything sentimental, have them ready to go!
Jen was incredibly easy to work with, making the entire experience enjoyable and stress-free.
— katerina m.
what to wear:
for the family
Think about where you’ll display your photos and choose a color scheme that fits your home! A mix of three coordinating colors (instead of matching outfits) works best.
Avoid bright reds, oranges, or hot pink as solid colors—they don’t photograph as well but work fine as accents if pink is your favorite color or part of the nursery.
Keep it comfortable! Moms, flowy tops with leggings or jeans work great, or a dress works well. Bare feet look best for a cozy, in-home feel.
Dads, a button-down with jeans is perfect—just skip the white athletic socks. ;)
Siblings should be in casual, comfy outfits that coordinate with the family rather than their fanciest clothes.
Great places to shop: Zara, J.Crew, Old Navy, H&M, Madewell, Anthropologie.
what to wear:
For baby
Less is more! Avoid complicated outfits—most newborn clothes are too big and can look bulky in photos. A fitted onesie or just a diaper with a swaddle is perfect. We’ll also do a few different swaddled looks, so have up to three blankets ready.
Some swaddles that work well:
Oilo Studio
(check out their sale section too)
Prepping Your Home
No need to deep clean—promise! I typically photograph in the living room, master bedroom, and nursery, plus sibling rooms if they have great light. Just tuck away clutter like remotes, bottles, and anything you don’t want in the background.
Keep it cozy
Babies love warmth! Set the thermostat to 68-70°F or have a space heater nearby in case baby needs extra coziness. But don’t overdo it—I know postpartum hormones can be wild!
WHAT TO EXPECT
After the session
- Your full gallery will be ready within 4 weeks of your session.
- Your online viewing gallery will be available for 30 days, and you’ll receive instructions on downloading.
- If you order prints or albums, payment is due at the time of ordering, and your products will arrive within two weeks (albums within two months after final design approval).
I can’t wait to capture this special time for your family! If you need anything before your session, feel free to reach out at 319-621-2279.