Your newborn guide
What to expect, how to prepare, and how to fully be in this moment.
Lifestyle newborn sessions are calm, relaxed, and baby-led. They’re about connection—not perfection. And the good news? There’s very little you need to do to prepare.
How to prepareFor Your Newborn Session
Lifestyle sessions are very relaxed, so there is really not much to do in preparation. Before the session take some time to choose what the baby, you and the other family members will wear and take a look around your home to decide if you need to remove any objects. On the day of the session we will just go with the baby and follow their lead.
If you can manage to feed the baby before I come, change their nappy and get them dressed in a plain onesie, great! This way we will not have to wake up the baby. Prepare the wraps that you would like to use and keep a bottle of milk (if not breastfed) ready. And this is pretty much all!
I will give you a few instructions in the beginning and then I will guide you while shooting. All you need to do is cuddle your baby, inhale their sweet aroma, talk to your husband and enjoy this very special moment in your lives!
PrepareYourHome
Before the session, take a quick walk through your home and remove anything you wouldn’t want showing up in the photos—things like water bottles, medicine boxes, phone chargers, remotes, or any items that might feel out of place.
We’ll likely use your master bed for some of the photos, so please keep the bedding in mind. Bright colours or busy patterns can reflect onto the baby’s skin and draw attention away from the moment. If your bedding is colourful, feel free to use a plain bedsheet or the white inner side of your comforter—neutral tones work best to keep the focus where it belongs.
For newborn sessions, I also recommend switching off the A/C just before I arrive. A warm, cosy space helps keep baby settled—especially if we’re doing any nappy-only or outfit changes.
Dress Your Baby for the Session
The Onesie Less is more when it comes to dressing your baby for their first photos. A plain white, gray or pastel onesie is a perfect choice. It is simple, classic and timeless and your baby really does not need more. A plain onesie that fits the baby perfectly will not only show how tiny the baby is, but will also let me photograph the little hands and feet and won't be distracting. If you would prefer a more colourful onesie, choose one that has a subtle pattern. For little girls and to add some colour and charm to the gallery, you can prepare any small and delicate tie-back or headband. Try to avoid shirts/collars/frills as more often than not, they just don’t fit perfectly.
The Swaddle Babies love to be swaddled and I adore photographing them when they are all wrapped like little bundles. Once wrapped, the babies feel safe, warm and happy. Using a swaddle is a great way to calm a baby and continue taking beautiful photos and is a must for siblings shots. It can be a plain swaddle wrap or a more colourful one to add a pop of colour to the gallery, so keep all your swaddles handy. We’ll pick the one that matches best our scene.
The KeepsakesIf you have a special piece of clothing that is special to your family, by all means prepare it and we will make sure to use it during the session. This can be a blanket knitted by granny, a scarf given as a gift or your husband's newborn outfit. Anything that has a meaning to you and your family is welcome.
Choose Your wardrobeWhen planning your family’s wardrobe for the session, keep it simple and soft. Neutral tones—like white, cream, beige, or light grey—photograph beautifully and help create a calm, timeless feel. Earthy tones also create a warm, cosy feel of the gallery.
Try to avoid bright or dark colours, as they can reflect onto your baby’s skin and create unwanted colour casts (just like bold bedding can). Choose outfits that feel like you—comfortable and in harmony with the look and feel of your home.
Aim for outfits that complement each other in colour and tone, but don’t stress about matching perfectly. This session is about your baby and your connection—not coordinated outfits.
One easy way to plan is to start with your outfit, lay out everyone’s clothes on the bed, and mix and match until you find a combination that feels good. And if you’d like extra support, head over to the Styling Guide.
That’s it! Thank you for taking the time to read these tips. And of course, if you have any questions at all, I’m just a message away.
