7 Things Your Newborn Photographer Wants You to Know

Congrats!! You’ve chosen a newborn photographer and can’t wait to get photos of the precious new addition to your family! But if you’ve never had a newborn session before, you may not be sure what to expect from the experience. That’s why I want to let you know a few things that newborn photographers wish all their clients knew.

Every newborn is unique.

Just as every family is different, no two babies are exactly alike. One newborn might be perfectly comfortable posed laying on her belly, while another might absolutely hate it. Your photographer will work with you and your newborn to find the positions they’re most comfortable in and will definitely not force your baby into any poses they aren’t willing to do.

We’ve seen it all. TRUST ME.

If your baby pees on the photographer’s set, throws a fit, or just wants to nurse the whole session, don’t be embarrassed. Chances are your photographer has experienced everything from poop all over their props to being peed on. As a newborn photographer, this is their everyday life, and they’re totally understanding. After all, your baby’s needs come before your photos. So, don’t feel like you have to apologize for every little thing that goes wrong. Your photographer is there to support you and work with you.

We have a lot of tricks up our sleeves.

It can be tempting to swoop in and pick up your newborn as soon as they start crying, but most photographers know a variety of ways to sooth little ones. It’s important for parents to use their newborn session as a time to relax and to trust the photographer. If your baby is truly upset and can’t be calmed down, we’ll be sure to pass them on to you for feeding, diapering, or comfort.

You should feel free to take a break.

As the parent of a newborn, you probably haven’t had a moment to yourself in a while. Well, your photo session is the perfect chance to just sit back and relax. Most of the images will be of your baby, so you get to sit on the sidelines, have a cup of coffee, and maybe finally check your email or return some phone calls. And no judgment if you doze off during the session! I’ll wake you when I need you.

 We want you to share our photos.

Photographers take images for you to cherish and enjoy, and we want you to share them! Post those photos of your newborn all over social media and send to family and friends. We want our images to be seen! Just be sure to credit your photographer when you share their images on Facebook or Instagram and feel free to recommend them to other expecting parents!

Our work doesn’t end with your session.

Since everyone has a camera on their phone these days, photographers hear a lot about how anyone can take a photo. But a professional does so much more than simply click a button. We set up backdrops and lighting, and we know all the tricks of the trade to make your photos turn out amazing. And once the session is over, we spend hours editing your photos to make them the absolute best they can be, providing you with images you’ll cherish for a lifetime.

Simple Studio Newborn Session | South Jersey Photographer

Ohhhh look at this sweet face! Mr. Landon slept amazing and made my job easy! Mama picked neutrals for her photo session and wanted everything pretty simple, so we came out with such a beautiful, cohesive gallery! Take a look at some of my favorites from his session

Baby Boy Newborn Session | Baby Phoenix | South Jersey Newborn Photographer

Ohhhhh look at this sweet little guy! Sometimes you just get a newborn session that goes so smooth and just makes you feel like on top of the world — THAT was this session.

Mr. Phoenix and his siblings did absolutely amazing for their photo session! Sometimes it can be tough for littles to sit in a studio setting and cooperate for these sibling poses, but every single one of his brothers and sister did fantastic and you can really tell how much they love their new baby brother!

Mama picked neutrals for her photo session colors, so we came out with such a beautiful, cohesive gallery I am so excited to share these photos with you.

How to Prepare for your Newborn Photo Shoot | South Jersey Newborn Photographer

Congrats on your newest addition! A baby can give a totally different meaning to life. By now I’m assuming that you’re thinking of booking a newborn session, or you already have! But now what? This is all so new, so what do you need to do next?

My newborn photography sessions are specially planned and designed to celebrate the love of your growing family and to capture those moments that mean so much! My studio is fully equipped and has thousands of props and accessories that we will use to design, create and plan your newborn photography session so that it reflects you and your personal style. When you book a session with me, you will receive a more in depth guide on how to prepare, but for now lets go over what you’ll need to know to make the most out of your newborn session!

Book Ahead of Time I always encourage my clients to book their session before they reach their 3rd trimester. Once the baby arrives, or the closer you get, the LAST thing on your mind will be to schedule a photoshoot, and before you know it, they’ll be too grown. I like to get newborns in the studio around 2-3 weeks if possible, while they are still tiny and sleepy, so planning ahead also allows us to work with your due date and be flexible if needed.

Plan the whole day Newborn sessions can take anywhere from 2-4 hours, but we never rush and follow baby’s cues, so it may take longer. When baby needs a break, we’ll take a break. Don’t worry if baby is fussed, they are not used to being handled, posed and move so much and it make take a while for them to settle down. Most babies need to eat at least once during their session. so we will plan to take as many breaks as needed to keep baby happy.

Dress/Pack appropriately You’ll notice that the studio is nice and warm. I keep my studio around 70-75 degrees, this helps keep baby nice and sleepy, but can sometimes be uncomfortable for mom and dad (sorry dad). Bring a pair of comfy, cool clothes to change into if wanted! Your style and prep guide will go over more details on how to dress for your photoshoot! Below is a list of other items to pack for the big day

  1. Pacifier - even if baby only sometimes takes these at home, they are super helpful during our photoshoot time incase we need to settle the baby without feeding or moving them. Try to keep one on hand if possible!

  2. EXTRA milk. Whether you pump, breast feed or formula feed, most babies will eat more than normal during their session, and more freequently. I’m not sure the science behind it, but come prepared with more than you think you need! I do have a refrigerator if needed to keep it cool.

  3. Anything sentimental from home- I am always open to incorporating special items from home if you’d like, so bring anything you’d like to be a part of the photoshoot!

Feed As close to photoshoot time as possible If possible, it is best to feed the baby either right before you leave for your session or as soon as you arrive. I don’t want to throw off any schedule they are on, but feeding right before go time will help baby get nice and content and sleepy for longer! And again, we will most likely have to stop and feed at least once more during your session time, so don’t stress if you notice them eating more than normal.

Older siblings If you have an older child that will be participating in the session, I always suggest bringing two cars if possible. I do family and sibling poses first, and then your other child (children) can either go to lunch with dad, grandma, etc, or hang out in the front room for the duration of our session. I do keep some books and snacks in my studio, but sometimes taking them for a little adventure and coming back at the end is a special little day for them!

I hope that this helped ease your worries and stress just a little bit and I hope to work with you and your little ones in the near future!