Those first few weeks with a newborn are a blur; tiny fingers and toes, middle-of-the-night feeds, and so many baby snuggles you can barely remember what day it is. And somehow, in the middle of all that exhaustion, there’s so much love that you never want to forget. A newborn photoshoot is my favorite way to slow this season of life down just a little and capture what it actually feels like to hold your brand-new baby in those first few weeks.

As a Boston newborn photographer, I’m excited to tell you all about what taking newborn photos is actually like and also to give you tips to make your session go as smoothly as possible! 

Your Newborn Photoshoot: What It’s Really Like

As a new mom (or even a veteran mom), the thought of planning a newborn session might feel incredibly daunting and I get it! Although it’s a magical and exciting time, welcoming a new baby is a huge adjustment. I’m a mom of three little ones so I completely understand how the idea of getting the house ready, planning outfits, and making sure everyone is ready to go for a photoshoot all while being sleep deprived is a lot. However, I promise that a newborn session with me doesn’t have to feel stressful. 

What it really looks like is a sweet, intimate session capturing this new season of life for you and your family. I focus on natural lighting and natural posing, which is basically just a lot of baby snuggles! The session will revolve around capturing all of the little moments with you and your new little babe! I don’t use props but instead, I focus on capturing real, authentic moments. We will document everything from your little one’s tiny toes and fingers to their newborn scrunch, smiles, and adorable yawns. 

 

A Boston Newborn Photographer’s Tips to Make Your Newborn Photoshoot Simple and Easy

Take Your Newborn Photos at Home 

One of the easiest ways to eliminate stress for your newborn photos is to take them at home. There’s no stress about packing up everything your babe could need and transporting it to a studio because it all gets to stay right where it belongs! Everything you might need is at your fingertips and you don’t have to worry about traveling anywhere.

And don’t think that this means you have to have a perfectly clean, polished house either. If there are bottles on the counter or laundry all over the house, that’s real life with a newborn. We won’t be taking photos in every room in the house and instead, we will focus on using the rooms that get the best light in your house. These rooms are typically the nursery, bedroom, and sometimes the living room. I always recommend tidying up those rooms and then once I arrive, I’ll help decide which ones are best for your newborn photos!

Make Sure Your Baby is Fed, Rested, and Has a Clean Diaper

We’ll get the best photos when everyone is happy, most especially your new little one! Newborn sessions are always scheduled between 9am-10am when newborns tend to be sleepiest and when there is beautiful natural light in your house. I recommend feeding them right before I arrive so they’re nice and happy. A fed baby equals a happy baby! We can’t control whether they are awake or asleep but no matter what, I promise we will capture adorable photos of you with your little babe! 

If they need to stop and eat mid-session, that is totally fine. Newborn photos move at your baby’s pace, always!

What to Wear for Newborn Photos

My best tip when planning outfits for your newborn session is to have your family wear something that coordinates but doesn’t match perfectly. The colors that always photograph best for newborn sessions are creams, neutral tones, shades of blues, blushes, etc. Always make sure to try on everyone’s outfits a day or two before your session to make sure everything fits. Also, plan to have a backup option for your little one that way if they decide to have a blowout during your session, you have another option you like for photos! I’m always happy to help provide my opinion on your outfit choices so please feel free to reach out with your options! You can also view my Pinterest board with newborn session outfit inspiration here!

The Best Time of Day for a Newborn Photoshoot

Whenever your home gets the best lighting is the best time to take your newborn photos. This is typically in the morning sometime between 9am-10am, but every space is different! As a Boston newborn photographer, I’ll always help you coordinate the timing of your session to make sure we’re getting the best possible photos. If your home doesn’t receive great natural light, opting for a studio for your newborn session would be a great idea. I love studio newborn sessions as well and have a few studios I love to recommend for newborn sessions. If you’re debating between choosing to have your newborn sessions at home or in a studio, you can view this blog post with more advice for choosing the best location for you and your family. You can’t go wrong with either choice! 

When Should You Take Newborn Photos? 

The best time to schedule your newborn photos is between 7-21 days after your baby is born. This time frame is when your baby is still very much a sleepy newborn. I always recommend picking a day on your due date and then we can always adjust accordingly once your little one arrives. Depending on how your birth goes, how your own recovery is going, and how your little one is doing, we can always move your session further out if that feels like a better option. It’s most important to schedule your newborn session whenever is best for you and that can be different for every family! I’m here to help you decide when it’s best for you and your family and regardless of when your session is scheduled, we will capture beautiful portraits of you and your loved ones!

More Ideas for Your Newborn Photoshoot

There are a few more things I always recommend to my clients for their newborn photos, so don’t miss out on these newborn photoshoot ideas! 

Include Your Dog(s)

Your pup is part of the family too! I am always a huge proponent of including your dog in your newborn photos. Remember that they were your first baby after all! We won’t include them in every photo, but I can almost promise you that the photos of your baby and your fur baby together will most likely be your favorite ones in the whole gallery! Plus watching your baby grow up side-by-side with your furry child will be so sweet and absolutely needs to be documented. My two biggest tips are to make sure to have lots of treats ready to go for your dog and if they’re a shaggy dog, make sure they’re groomed ahead of time (trimming the hair around their eyes)! You can view more tips on how to get your dog ready for their portraits session here!

Include Some Personalized Props

If you want to include any sentimental items in some photos during your newborn session, you are more than welcome too! This could be an embroidered blanket, a wooden sign with your baby’s name on it, or a meaningful stuffed animal. Any of these ideas make such an adorable touch to your newborn photos! 

Make it a Family Session

If your new baby has big siblings, make sure to include all the little ones in your newborn session! I know it can feel like a lot to wrangle all of the siblings for photos but I promise I will make the session fun! We won’t be focusing on stiff posing but instead, will focus on playing and intimate moments with you and your little ones! There will of course be lots of candid moments included in your final gallery! We will be capturing this season of life very candidly so my biggest recommendation is to go with the flow for your shoot! The photos of them kissing their new baby sister or brother, jumping on the bed in the background, or being flipped upside down by Dad always turn out so precious and will be the moments you’ll cherish them for years to come. 

 

Go With the Flow

The best moments happen when you’re being yourselves, not worrying about how the photos are turning out. Sure, we may need some feeding breaks, some diaper change breaks, and some cuddle breaks for your little one, but that’s all part of the beauty of newborn life!

 

Lauren Dobish | Boston Newborn Photographer

As your Boston newborn photographer, I would love to help you plan the perfect newborn photoshoot. Inquire about booking a newborn session with me here, and we’ll talk about your vision, I’ll learn about your family, and we’ll get you on the schedule for newborn photos that you’ll love and hold dear for years to come! 

While you’re here, check out some more blog posts to help you plan! 

When to Take Maternity Photos (And More Tips for a Successful Maternity Session!)

Newborn Photoshoots at Home vs. In a Studio