A well-planned newborn photoshoot is a relaxed and stress-free experience for the whole family and results in enchanting newborn photos to cherish as memories of your first days together
You’ve booked your newborn photoshoot and are wondering what you should prepare. You don’t need a perfect home or store-bought props. A well-fed baby, a few coordinating outfits, and parents who stay relaxed are all you need.
Thorough preparation ensures that the photo shoot goes smoothly. To help you enjoy the shoot in a relaxed manner, I’ll walk you through, step by step, how to prepare well and approach the shoot with a relaxed mindset.
Here is a brief summary of the most important steps in your preparation:
- Timing: The ideal time frame is during the first 14 days of life, when newborns are still sleeping deeply. Ideally, you should choose your photographer during pregnancy and book a time slot around your due date.
- Preparing the baby: Newborns sleep most soundly during a photo shoot if they are fed shortly before it begins and kept awake for about an hour beforehand. Clothes with snaps can be opened without waking a sleeping baby.
- Outfits for the family: Light, solid-colored clothing in beige, cream, gray, or soft earth tones keeps the focus on the baby. Large patterns, logos, and bold colors distract from photos of newborns.
- Preparing for a home photoshoot: For a newborn photoshoot at your home, all you need is a bright room with a large window that’s been well heated beforehand. Your home doesn’t have to be tidy.
- Here’s what you should have on hand: Diapers, burp cloths, a change of clothes, pacifiers, and matching outfits should all be kept in one place. I’ll bring the baskets, wraps, hats, and blankets—you don’t need to buy anything.
- Duration and Scheduling: A newborn photoshoot takes two to three hours, including breaks for feeding and diaper changes. Having other appointments on the same day creates time pressure, and newborns are immediately sensitive to that.
- In a nutshell: Here's how to prepare for your photo shoot
- When should you start preparing?
- What should you discuss with your photographer beforehand?
- How do you prepare your baby for the photo shoot?
- What are Mom, Dad, and the siblings wearing?
- How do you prepare the siblings?
- How do you get your apartment ready for a HomeStory shoot?
- What should you set up at home for the shoot?
- Checklist for Your Newborn Photo Shoot (Download)
- What do we do if nothing goes according to plan on the day of the shoot?
- Frequently Asked Questions About Preparing for Your Newborn Photo Shoot
- Take a look at my offer for newborn shootings
- More information about Newborn Shootings
The preparation takes place in two stages. The first stage is during pregnancy: choose a photographer, book a time slot, and discuss in general terms what you’d like. The second stage takes place in the last few days before the shoot, once your baby has arrived and the date has been set.
It’s best to choose your newborn photographer during the last trimester of your pregnancy. Specialized photographers only take on a few newborn photo sessions per week because they need to keep slots open for last-minute appointments. If you’re interested in a photo session on short notice, just get in touch. I’ve described what to look for when choosing a photographer in my post “Finding Your Newborn Photographer.”
You’re not booking a single day, but rather a time frame around your due date. After the birth, just let us know—a quick message on WhatsApp is all it takes—and we’ll set the exact date. For details on the ideal time for the photoshoot and how long the time window actually is, see the post “When Is the Best Time for a Newborn Photoshoot?”
There are a few things we should clarify before the shoot: what kinds of photos are important to you, what you’d like to wear, and who will be there. That’s really all it takes. Feel free to send me some examples of what you like beforehand.
Beautiful poses and motifs
Think of two or three subjects that are truly close to your heart. These are often close-ups of hands and feet, a photo with a sibling, or a peaceful shot of the three of you. Leave the rest to me—I’ll build the rest of the shoot around those.
Some of the poses you see online are created using multiple shots and wouldn’t be safe without this technique. I explain which ones these are and why in the post “Safety During Newborn Photoshoots.” You can find an overview of possible poses in the “Newborn Poses” section.
Your favorite outfits and accessories
You don’t have to buy anything. I’ll bring baskets, wraps, hats, scarves, and blankets—all color-coordinated. Feel free to add your own outfits and favorite pieces.
Soft, simple clothes without tight cuffs are best for your baby. Seams and elastic bands can leave pressure marks on their delicate skin, which will be visible in close-up photos. To find out which fabrics and colors have proven to work best, check out the post “Newborn Photoshoot Outfit.”
A newborn who is full, warm, and tired sleeps soundly and can be gently moved. That’s the essence of it. Everything you do for your baby on the day of the photo shoot contributes to these three things. And if things don’t go as planned anyway, that’s perfectly normal. We have plenty of time.
Feeding, changing diapers, and keeping them awake
Keep your baby awake for about an hour before the photo shoot, as best you can. If possible, breastfeed your baby or give them a bottle shortly before the newborn photoshoot. A well-fed baby is usually calmer and sleeps more soundly.
Make sure you have everything you need for breastfeeding and feeding to hand and create a relaxed environment. Think about bottles, milk, bib, burp cloth etc. and find a quiet place to breastfeed.
Change your baby’s diaper right before the photo shoot. A full diaper is sure to wake your baby up just when they’ve finally fallen asleep.
A quiet and relaxed environment with dim lighting—and perhaps some soft background sounds or music—can help your baby fall asleep.
Bathing and swaddling
A warm bath about an hour before the photo shoot helps many babies relax and makes them pleasantly sleepy. Bathing increases the likelihood that your newborn will sleep during the photo shoot and will be easier to position in different poses.
Swaddling helps many newborns fall asleep because it recreates the familiar snugness of the womb. I swaddle the babies during the newborn photoshoot anyway, so you don’t need to prepare anything. You can find more techniques for calming a fussy baby in the post “Calming a Baby During a Newborn Photoshoot.”
Clothing that’s easy to take off
Dress your baby in something you can open without pulling it over their head. Wrap-around onesies or rompers with snaps are ideal. That way, you can change your baby’s clothes without waking them up.
Anything that has to be pulled over the head almost always wakes a sleeping newborn.
Choose light, solid-colored clothing in muted tones and coordinate the pieces with each other. Beige, cream, gray, and soft earth and natural tones are almost always a good choice because they blend well with any home. More important than any color rule is that you feel comfortable in your clothes.
Have a second top ready. There’s a reason why burp cloths are called that.
Colors That Won’t Overpower Your Baby
Avoid large patterns, logos, and cartoon characters, especially when photographing siblings. They immediately draw the eye and distract from the baby. Very bold colors also show up as a color cast on the baby’s skin in close-up shots. I’ve described in detail there which colors and fabrics have proven to work best for a newborn photoshoot outfit.
You don’t have to wear matching outfits. It’s enough if your colors are from the same color family. I’ll show you how to put this together for the whole family in the post ” Outfits for Your Family Photo Shoot.”
Styling Tips for Tired Parents
You’ve just had a baby. No one expects you to look well-rested. Still, there are two things worth paying attention to because they’ll be visible in close-ups: well-manicured nails and, for dads, a clean shave or a well-groomed beard.
When it comes to makeup, the rule is: light and matte. Shiny products reflect light more strongly in daylight than you might think.
Your hands will be prominent in close-up shots when you’re holding your baby. Take off any watches or bracelets beforehand; bare hands look more natural in these photos.
Tell your older child a few days in advance what’s going to happen: that someone is coming to take photos of the baby and the whole family. Let them pick out a blanket or a stuffed animal for the baby to use during the photo shoot. Kids are much more likely to cooperate when they feel like they’ve had a say in the matter.
And then don’t put pressure on yourselves. Older siblings are sometimes excited and sometimes just not in the mood on that particular day. Both are fine. I don’t force any child into a pose, and the best sibling photos rarely turn out the way you planned anyway. I describe how I work with children during newborn photoshoots in the post “Newborn Photoshoot with Siblings.”
If you have a dog in your family, he or she can be in the photo, too. You can find out what you need to prepare for this in the post “Newborn Photoshoot with a Dog.”
You need exactly two things: a room with a large window and warmth. Everything else is optional. You don’t have to rearrange or redecorate your apartment.
Choose a well-lit room; the living room or bedroom is usually a good choice. I work with natural light, so the window is more important than the furnishings. The backgrounds and subjects in a home story should be personal. Take this opportunity to showcase your spaces, whether it’s the lovingly decorated kids’ room or the cozy reading nook.
In this room, please clear the area where we’ll be taking photos and put away anything that shouldn’t be in the shot. Photos usually look better with fewer objects in the background. If possible, also remove distracting elements such as cables or eye-catching decorations that might draw attention away from the main subject.
Make sure to warm up the room well beforehand. Newborns get cold quickly, especially when they’re wearing only a onesie or are swaddled. A room that’s too cool is one reason why a baby might not settle down during the photo shoot.
I’ve compared in detail whether a home photoshoot or a studio photoshoot is a better fit for you in my post ” Newborn Photoshoot at Home.”
You don’t have to buy anything or pack anything. You already have everything you need. Put it all together in one place the night before, so no one has to look for anything on the day of the shoot.
For your baby:
- Diapers and wet wipes
- Changing mat or blanket
- Burp cloths and muslin diapers
- A pacifier, even if you don’t usually use one
- Bottles and formula, if you’re not breastfeeding
- one or two changes of clothes
For you:
- the coordinated outfits
- a second top, just in case
- Water and a light snack
For the siblings:
- Snacks and drinks
- A favorite toy or a book
- a small reward
- Change of clothes
Personal items for the photo:
- Ultrasound image, first baby shoes, knitted blanket, stuffed animal, name tag
- It’s best to check with me briefly beforehand, and then I’ll plan a design for it
I’ll bring baskets, wraps, hats, scarves, and backdrops. You don’t need to bring anything.
If you decide to have a photo shoot in the studio, getting ready will turn into a real hassle. Be sure to allow plenty of extra time for the trip there. Any rush on the way there will cause stress for the baby.
Here’s an overview of what’s on the checklist:
So things might turn out a little differently, but the photos will still turn out beautiful. A newborn photoshoot almost never goes exactly as planned—that’s just how it usually is. We’ll take breaks when your baby needs them, and we’ll change the order of the shots as needed.
So please don’t schedule any other appointments for that day. A newborn photoshoot often takes two to three hours, including breaks for feeding, diaper changes, and cuddling. Time pressure is a real distraction, because newborns can sense tension right away.
When your baby cries, you don’t have to do anything to “save” the moment. You can breastfeed, hold, and comfort your baby for as long as it takes. I wait, and so far, every photo shoot has resulted in beautiful newborn photos.
And don’t worry about baby acne, skin redness, scratches, or diaper rash. That’s just part of being a newborn, and I’ll subtly touch it up during post-processing.
