Preparing for your Newborn Session

Congratulations, you're a mom or dad to a tiny human and they'll never be this tiny again. It's hard to imagine how quickly they grow and photographs of your wee babe will be treasured and saved to be shared at all the family functions, especially for their wedding! *wink, wink*

This blog post is to help prepare you for your little one's time in the spotlight. I hope you find some helpful tips that will reassure and calm you before your baby's photo session.

My newborn sessions are taken as lifestyle images, but what does that mean? I love to capture the bond between infant and mother, father, sibling, or even pet in natural posed photographs. I'll give you direction on how to position yourself and hold your little one, along with cues on what to do, such as looking at the camera or into the sleepy eyes of your child.

A couple things that will help prepare you for the best newborn session possible are simple. Keeping your little one warm and secure, having food ready and available, and basking in the glow of parenthood. But if you are the planner and preparer type, I can give you a couple helpful hints.

• More than outfit is always helpful, even for a super short session, because the possibility of spit up or a blow out is possible.
• An extra shirt for Mom or Dad just in case one of you is hit with the spit up or blow out.
• Burp clothes and diapers (don't forget the wet wipes!).
• Swaddle or warm blanket (depending on weather if outside).
• Favorite toy, pacifier, or white noise machine, to help soothe.

Outfit ideas for little girls:
Maybe a sweet little dress or onesie with pants. How about a matching bow or hat to adorn her little head? Personally, I love to see her tiny bare feet, but tiny socks or even itty bitty shoes are super cute, too!

Outfit ideas for little boys:
You can go casual or Sunday best, I'm thinking maybe some overalls and a onesie or a little button up shirt with trousers and a clip on bow tie. Once again, bare feet are cute, but so are tiny lace up shoes or cowboy boots.

During your session, if we need to take a little break for a snack for your baby, don't sweat it. It's better to take the time to get a little something in the tummy then to power through the session with a grumpy, fussy, tired, hungry, and/or crying baby.

If you can't tell, I love to capture all the features of babies, from their little hands to tiny toes, wide-open eyes to little ankle rolls.

Here's a couple tips for indoor sessions! Find a room with a window for the lovely natural light which can be in the nursery, master bedroom, or even the living room. Don't loose your precious sleep stressing about a messy house. I've been there, all your energy is put into caring for and keeping your baby happy and alive. I would be coming into your home to capture memories not messes.

For solo baby photos, ones in the crib or nestled on the changing table work well. Or rocking in the glider with a swaddled infant napping with the swaying motion. We could even do photos in the master bedroom; just throw a duvet on your bed (who cares about the sheets!) and then we'll go from there. And another location would be the living or family room all snuggled up on the couch with some cozy blankets. What really matters the most are these precious moments (and some great natural light through windows).

Here are a couple of tips for outdoor newborn sessions! If there's any sort of chill in the air, have a warm blanket (or two) handy! Babies may run warm, but once they get cold, they are not happy and we want a happy and content baby (as much as possible) for the photo session. Dress your baby accordingly with the weather, be it cozy and fleecy clothes on a cold day or a cute dress or trousers on a warm summer day.

If you want some solo baby pictures, make sure to bring along a variety of pillows (different firmness), blankets, and maybe a fluffy rug to protect them from the ground. Sometimes, depending on size, a basket or cute bucket can work.

I do love capturing photos of mom or dad snuggling with the little one while outside. Some babies don't have a lot of opportunities to see trees or the sky and they can be curious or overwhelmed, so the comfort and security of some they know is always reassuring.

Thank you so much for reading through this (long) post with some tips to help prepare you for your newborn's photo session with Western Rose Studios.