Preparing for your Newborn Studio Session

Helpful suggestions on preparing for your newborn photography session.

By Jena Michaud

Preparing for your Newborn Studio Session

When to Photograph

It’s best to schedule newborn sessions within the first two weeks, when babies are still in that naturally sleepy and curled-up stage. After this period, they tend to wake more easily and are less likely to settle into those classic newborn poses.

To make sure your newborn session goes as smoothly and efficiently as possible, please keep these tips in mind:

Watch What You Eat (for Nursing Moms): If you’re breastfeeding, try to avoid spicy or gas-inducing foods for the 24 hours before your session, as these can upset the baby’s tummy and make it harder to pose comfortably. If your baby happens to be gassy on the day of the session, consider using Oval or Gripe Water to help ease their discomfort.
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Keep Baby Awake Before the Session: Engage with and keep your baby awake for 1–2 hours prior to your session to ensure they’re ready for a deep sleep. This step is essential! A wakeful stretch beforehand makes it easier for your baby to settle into those peaceful poses. Giving them a gentle bath before the session can help keep them alert.
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Feed Baby Right Before Leaving for the Studio: Make sure your little one has a full belly before you arrive. Babies who have just eaten are more likely to fall into a deep sleep, which helps us capture those sweet, flexible poses. If you’re bottle-feeding, bring extra bottles and milk (whether formula or breast milk) to the session—babies tend to work up quite an appetite being gently repositioned in the warm studio.
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Dress Baby in Loose-Fitting Clothing: To avoid leaving lines on their skin and to make undressing easier, dress your baby in something simple, like a loose-fitting sleeper. Avoid onesies or anything that has to go over their head. We have a variety of wraps, outfits, props, bonnets, and headbands, but feel free to bring any special items you’d like included.
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Bring a Pacifier: A pacifier can be very helpful in soothing your baby during the session. If you don’t have one, don’t worry—I have new pacifiers available at the studio.
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Expect a Warm Studio: The studio will be set to around 25°C to keep your little one cozy and comfortable while being photographed.
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Arrive with Baby in Their Car Seat: When you arrive, leave your baby in their car seat. I’ll gently remove them in the warm studio to help keep them calm and sleepy.
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Take Time to Relax: During the session, you can sit back and enjoy some much-needed rest. I’ll take care of all the details and won’t need much assistance from you.
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Remove Any Bandages: If your baby has bandages from shots or similar, please remove them at least an hour before arriving at the studio so their skin looks natural and unmarked.

Following these guidelines will help us capture those precious, peaceful images you’ll treasure forever!

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Parent Portraits

I highly encourage parents to join in on portraits with their new baby—these moments are truly special! We typically start with parent portraits at the beginning of the session to capture those first, precious interactions.

For clothing, I suggest something neutral and soft to keep the focus on you and your baby. Dads can wear a simple, short-sleeve shirt in a neutral or cream tone, and Moms might consider a neutral or cream tank or blouse. I know it can be hard to feel photo-ready so soon after giving birth, but these early portraits are ones you’ll cherish forever. Embrace this beautiful moment, and let’s capture those first days with your little one while they’re still so new and tiny.
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Sibling Portraits

If you’d like older siblings included in your newborn session, we’ll capture these photos at the beginning of the session. For sibling outfits, I recommend cream, ivory, white, or other neutral colors without any patterns or logos. Simple tops paired with jeans work well, or dresses for girls, and adding textured fabrics like knits or lace can add a lovely, timeless feel to the photos. Siblings will be barefoot, so no need to worry about shoes!

After the family photos, you’re welcome to have Dad take the siblings to a nearby park within walking distance! This way, we can focus on the newborn shots while the older siblings enjoy some playtime nearby.

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Notes to Consider for Your Newborn Session

I dedicate time and care to ensure that every detail—down to each tiny finger and toe—is perfectly positioned when capturing photos of your baby. My top priority is that your newborn looks peaceful, comfortable, and natural in each image, creating a piece of art that you’ll treasure. With years of experience and plenty of patience, I prioritize safety first, and I’ll never place your baby in a pose or prop that isn’t safe.

Here are a few things to keep in mind for your session:

Session Duration: Plan to spend 2 to 3 hours at my studio. I’m a perfectionist when it comes to newborn photography, so I take the time to capture every little detail—from their lips to their eyelashes. Sometimes, it takes up to 10 minutes to perfect just one pose.
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Be Prepared for Accidents: When you’re in photos with your baby, it’s common for little “accidents” to happen, so bring an extra shirt for yourself just in case.
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Circumcision Consideration: If your baby is circumcised, please schedule your newborn session either before the procedure or wait at least five days afterward to allow for healing. If your baby arrives with a recent circumcision (within 5 days), we’ll reschedule the session to ensure their comfort.

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Props and Colors Choices

I provide a full range of backdrops, furniture, hats, headbands, and wraps for your newborn session, carefully selected for comfort, safety, and timeless style. While I love bringing new ideas to life, I prioritize your baby’s safety and comfort, so I won’t use props that could irritate or feel awkward on them. If you’ve seen a specific setup in my gallery that you like, please let me know before your session.

If you have any particular colors, themes, or ideas in mind, feel free to share them with me in advance. I’m also happy to consider poses you may have found on Pinterest; however, please keep in mind that each pose depends on your baby’s comfort level, cooperation, and safety. For these reasons, I can’t guarantee specific poses, but I’ll do my best to capture your vision.
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