Preparing for your newborn photo session

Connecticut newborn photography, Shoreline Connecticut newborn photographer, baby photography in Connecticut

Congratulations on your new addition, and on booking a session with a professional photographer!  I have been photographing newborns in Connecticut for over a decade.  If you are preparing for your newborn photo session, here is some wisdom I can share!

1. WARM UP YOUR HOME – Newborn babies are remarkable from head to toe.  I love photographing the swirl of their hair, their tiny fingernails, and the wrinkles of skin on their knees.  So we may take some photos with just a diaper or blanket, and a warm environment is therefore important!  If it is winter, turn up the heat to 75 or so.  In summer, keep air conditioning to a comfortable, but not cool, level.
2. BUY SOME NEUTRAL SWADDLE BLANKETS – I love muslin blankets like these or these.  They are a bit stretchy and come in neutral colors.  I prefer solid neutrals over patterns, though subtle patterns like this or this also work well!
3. BE READY TO GIVE YOUR PHOTOGRAPHER A TOUR – The best spot for photos in your home isn’t necessarily the nursery.  Your photographer will walk through your home to look for which spots have the best light.  I always tell my families that they do NOT need to clean up for me.  We can clean up the corners we are going to use together.  If you have older children, I often use the biggest bed for photos, where they can safely hold the baby.  You could make your bed and find a large neutral blanket to cover it with.
4. REMIND YOURSELF THAT YOU CAN RELAX – Newborn sessions are slow-paced, snuggly, and based on your family’s rhythm.  I will simply guide you to a spot and give you a direction (“stand by the window and give her a kiss on the head”).

A note about families with older siblings: I do not expect older children to “behave” and most do not.  This is an emotional time for them, and this can come out in many ways.  I have some ideas for you re: older children and baby sessions that I’ll write about in another post.

Preparing for your newborn photo session is not complicated.  Warm up your house, have neutral swaddle blankets ready, and be ready for your photographer to take a little tour of your home when she arrives.  And remember to enjoy every moment.

If you’d like to schedule a newborn session with me, contact me here!  I would love to meet you and your new little one.