How to Prepare for your newborn photo shoot
newborn Photography Sydney
everything you need to know before and tips to prepare for your newborn photo shoot
OUR TOP TIPS ON HOW TO PLAN YOUR NEWBORN PHOTO SHOOT
Congratulations on your pregnancy!
After months of longing to meet your baby the first couple of weeks can fly by really fast as you settle into your new normal and getting to know each other.
Newborn photography is a way to capture the memory of your baby as a brand new, fresh and tiny newborn, memories that you will keep for a lifetime.
Preparing for a newborn photoshoot can be a fun and exciting experience, however with so much to think about it can be hard to know where to start.
Here are some helpful tips to make it easier to plan and get ready.
Start your research early!
Book your newborn session with the baby photographer whose style you like the most. Most of the best newborn photographers’s calendar fills up 2-3 month in advance.
The best time to book your newborn session is as early as soon after your 20 weeks scan. This is to ensure you don’t miss out on booking your favourite photographer.
Consider the cost.
Newborn photography can be expensive as it requires specialized equipment and a significant amount of time and expertise.
Make sure to discuss the cost with the photographer in advance and to budget accordingly.
And please don't be tempted by cheap photographers. Your baby only deserves the best!
Things you should Consider - tips to prepare for your newborn photo shoot part 1.
01.
Safety and experience should be your priority for your newborn session
Make sure you look for a professional photographer with years of experience. One who specialises in newborn photography and who can provide a safe and comfortable environment for your baby.
Ensure they have been trained in newborn posing as their number one priority should be your baby’s safety at all times.
This will allow you to trust your photographer! They will be experienced in working with newborns. They will know how to pose your baby safely and to capture the best photos. Listen to their guidance and ask any question you may have.
02.
Timing of your photoshoot
The best time for newborn photographs is around 7-10 days after baby’s birth. Reason being is that this is when babies are their sleepiest, most flexible and able to curl into those cute newborn poses.
After the second week babies tend to be more alert and less willing to sleep through the session. This makes it harder to get those sleepy photographs that many parents wish to capture.
03.
Patience and positivity
Newborn photography sessions can take several hours, as the baby may need breaks for feeding and changing.
It is important to be patient and to allow plenty of time for the session to ensure the best possible results.
04.
Be open to use a dummy during the session
A good newborn photographers would never force babies to use a dummy as it's a personal preference of every mum.
We can however say, from a personal experience, that there may be moments when dummies can save a session and make our models calmer and happier to be photographed - this is especially true when posing baby naked.
You can always dispose of it after the session, and never pick one up again.
If your baby is getting soothed with a dummy, please remember to take it with you on the day.
05.
Communicate with your newborn photographer
If you have any special request or vision for your session make sure to discuss with your photographer prior to your session so they can plan ahead and work with you to create a gallery you will truly love.
Save your favourite images that you would like to achieve for your newborn photoshoot.
tips to prepare for your newborn photo shoot Part 2.
01.
Prepare the night before your newborn photo Shoot
You don’t want to stress on the day, so anything that could potentially cause you any stress needs to be dealt with beforehand. Make sure your outfits are ready and ironed the night before.
Check that your nappy bag is fully packed and has extra nappies and supplies for baby.
If you are bottle feeding, please bring plenty of extra bottles for the session. You may be surprised at how much a little human can go through within just a couple of hours in a warm studio.
Also ensure to check address of your studio on Google and how long your journey will be.
02.
No caffeine
This may sound obvious, but avoid any caffeinated drinks if you are breastfeeding in the days leading upto your baby's newborn session.
This includes taking coffee with you in the car on the way to your photoshoot or having it in the studio. Even the smell of coffee can increase baby's alert level.
03.
Relax
Babies can sense their parents anxiety and worry. We find it if the parents are relaxed and easy going, their baby tends to be as well.
Babies can pick it up if their parents are anxious or nervous and it can make them feel unsettled and restless. So please try to relax and keep calm.
03.
Avoid spicy food if breast feeding
If you are breast feeding, avoid spicy or citrus foods a day prior to the session.
Things like onion, garlic, cauliflower, green peas, mushrooms, apples, cherries, mango, peaches, pulses, wheat products and dairy foods high in lactose can upset baby's stomach and in some cases make them gassy, and being gassy will make them fussy!
We want them to be as happy and comfortable as they can be on the day.
04.
Warm newborn studio environment
Newborn studios are generally heated to 26 degrees during a newborn photoshoot, to make sure the tiniest models are as comfortable and warm as possible.
With that in mind, please avoid warm clothing or take a t-shirt to change into, unless you enjoy tropical temperatures.
05.
Allow your photographer to bond with your baby
It’s important you allow your photographer to take care of your baby during your newborn session. Trust their expertise to calm and safely handle baby in order for your baby to bond with them to feel comfortable and at ease.
It might be hard to hear your baby cry between poses and it will be tempting to want to rush over and help, but try to avoid crowding your baby and allow the photographer to do their job.
You should however stay in the room during your session the whole time.
Last but not least, enjoy it!
I know it's easy to say, but your newborn photoshoot is the time when your photographer will be capturing you and your love as a family. Those will be the memories your children will pull out of the dusty box 20-30 years from now, at a Christmas table.
Whatever is on your mind, put it aside for this hour and try as much as you can to enjoy this time. If your calm, baby will be calm resulting in a successful and enjoyable experience.
A little bit about Reka at HelloBABY Newborn Photography
Reka is a well-known, multi award-winning Newborn Photographer based in Sydney, specialising in maternity and newborn photography.
She is a member of the International Newborn Photographers Association and is also qualified by the Society of Portrait Photographers.
Reka has been trained by some of the greatest newborn photographer in the US, UK and Australia, including word renown, Kelly Brown.
Most importantly Reka is fully trained in newborn posing and safety.
Being one of the most sought after Newborn Photographers in Sydney, Reka has clients travelling to her from all over Sydney, including North Sydney, The Hills District, Sutherland Shire, North Shore, Penrith and as far as Wollongong for her elegant and stylish newborn portraiture.
With over 9 years of experience working with babies, you can rest assured that your little one will be in the safest of hands.
If you are looking for a family or a baby photo shoot in Sydney, please get in touch.
We hope to meet you soon!
We hope these top tips to prepare for your newborn sessions will help you plan for your perfect experience.
However if you have any questions at all please do not hesitate to get in touch, we are always happy to help!
Please share with your friends and anyone you think this article can help.
We would also love to hear your thoughts and feedback, so please leave your comments below!
Really helpful guide how to plan a newborn photography session. So many helpful tips for new parents. It’s great to read all the things we need to consider when choosing the right newborn photographer for our baby and how to prepare for our newborn photoshoot.
Hi Kinga, thank you for your feedback. I’m so pleased you liked our blog and found it useful.
Awesome guide on how to prepare for and how to plan a newborn photoshoot. So many useful tips and ideas I wouldn’t have thought of. Great article!
Hi Jay, thank you for leaving a feedback. I’m so happy you like our newborn photoshoot prep guide.
What an informative and reassuring blog post for expectant parents like me! The idea of capturing those precious moments with a newborn is heartwarming, and your tips make the process seem manageable. Starting research early is a fantastic tip, and I appreciate the reminder to book ahead to secure the photographer we love. It’s great that you emphasize considering the cost upfront to avoid any surprises, and your warning about cheap photographers is spot on – our little ones deserve nothing but the best! Thanks for sharing these valuable insights; I’m feeling more prepared and excited for our upcoming newborn photo shoot. 📸👶💖
Thank you for your comment and feedback. I’m so pleased you found our guide helpful. We aim to help our expectant parents to prepare best for the arrival of their brand new addition – after all there is so much to think about. It’s such an exciting time but can also be quite overwhelming, so if we can make the process of booking and preparing for their newborn photoshoot a little easier at least, I feel we are helping already. I’m so excited for your newborn photo shoot as well. I hope you’ll find it relaxing, enjoyable and memorable.