How to Prepare for an In Studio Newborn Photoshoot | Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk
Schedule Your newborn photoshoot in advance
This one seems obvious, but those 9 months fly past quicker than you expect and once you have your newborn baby, well, life can get a bit chaotic. If you have your photoshoot booked in advance and you have trust in your photographer, that will be one extra thing you have to worry about.
I like to photograph newborns in the first month and mostly between week 2 and 4, because as a mom of two I know how stressful the first two weeks can be and I’d like to give you time to get to know your baby, maybe have some sort of a routine(ish) and heal a bit from giving birth.
Keep baby awake before the session
Now this one might seem surreal but if there’s any way you can manage to keep baby awake we have a good chance we can take those beautiful sleeping newborn photos. However, I am highly flexible with newborns and if your baby is totally awake, I am more than happy to take awake shots - those are incredibly cute wiggly photos that you will absolutely adore just as well.
Feed baby 20-30 minutes before arrival
If you can manage to feed your newborn prior to arrival that gives us a good chance that they will be fed, calm and sleepy so I can get to photographing them straight away. Please do not stress if this doesn’t happen, it is very hard to keep a schedule with a newborn, and we will roll with it whatever happens. Baby is boss so if baby needs to feed during your hair and makeup time that is completely fine. We will not rush.
professional hair and makeup for mom
Before your photo session, you only need to come in with clean and moisturized skin and clean dry hair (preferably freshly washed the night before so it’s fresh and DRY). You’ll be offered refreshments upon arrival and will hop into our comfy makeup chair to be pampered by the makeup artist. Please do not apply any makeup before your photoshoot. Then she will proceed to custom create a look for you that you’d love the most. I think it’s incredibly helpful to have a pro prep you, it is absolutely the last thing I’d expect a fresh mom to put do her own makeover before a morning photoshoot with a newborn in your arms.
So while you are relaxing having your hair and makeup done - it’s about 90 mins but will fly past quickly) I will photograph your newborn on a beanbag if all goes well and in daddy’s arms.
Beanbag poses and outfits
My style is very natural, baby-led and family-focused. That means I’ll not dress and undress the baby into several different outfits. You are advised to bring your baby in a white or cream onesie and in case baby allows I can undress them into a soft baby wrap to be able to photograph those adorable rolls, but please note, it’s all up to baby. I don’t like to handle and overstimulate babies too much.
I like to use neutral colors so I stick to whites and cream as they will definitely not take away from the focus which is the baby and their beautiful skin tone.
While I photograph baby, your partner will be able to relax, surf on their phone and have some refreshments.
So please bring the baby in a white or cream onesie and bring additional ones in case an accident happens (pee or poop).
Also, please do bring a dummy for your baby even if you don’t want to use one. It is not going to affect breastfeeding if we use a dummy for a couple of minutes, however all most newborns wanna do is feed day and night and that might prevent us with going with the shoot. So in case baby’s belly is full and all is well we might use the dummy to settle baby into the pose.
Posing with daddy/partner
While you are still in the hair and makeup chair, we will have a chance to photograph daddy or your partner with your newborn. Please make sure for both of you to black t-shirts. Your partner can also have a beautiful skin-on-skin photo with your newborn, those photos are stunning as well.
Mother and baby and family photos
Once you are ready with your hair and makeup and we will photograph all three (or more) of you in the black t-shirts.
Afterward, you can pop into your own outfit - if you chose to - or I can provide an outfit for you to be photographed in. I have beautiful silks I can make into an elegant dress, fabrics to drape around you and the baby, and other dresses to choose from. I will send you a list of outfits to pick before your photoshoot.
I will photograph you and your baby standing, sitting and laying down as well.
Please make sure to bring a nude, strapless bra with you. (for one of the gorgeous looks)
It is advised that your partner brings a nice shirt along for those images where you wear a nice dress. You can go casual with jeans and a shirt or elegant as well. Please steer away from strong colors or patterns or writings on shirts - we will discuss colors beforehand.
That’s a wrap!
Your newborn photo shoot will last around 2-3 hours long. After your photoshoot, you will most probably be hungry and a bit tired so I advise you to have lunch booked or prepared to make the day nicer. You’ll look your best, so you might as well have a nice lunch out - if you’ll feel up for it.
After your photoshoot, we will schedule your viewing which we can do in person in the studio about 2-3 weeks after your photoshoot. You will see your beautiful gallery and will be able to pick your final package. You can choose from beautiful custom albums to prints and wall art, but more on this later.
I cannot wait to welcome you to the studio and photograph your beautiful family!
Please don’t hesitate to reach out with any questions, I’ll be in touch as well!
Key Takeaways
Please do bring with you:
onesies and extra ones for baby
nappies, blankets and
one dummy even if you don’t plan on using it yourself
white t-shirts for parents (and siblings if there are)
black t-shirts for parents
strapless nude bra for mom (or we just take the straps off for the shot)
would like an elegant style? Prep dad’s outfits - no prints or neon colours
clean nail, manicure done before
Get in touch with me and ask questions if in doubt!
