Lifestyle Newborn Session Guide

 Hey there! I’m so excited to work with you for your newborn session. I know there’s already so much to prepare for when you’re expecting - packing a hospital bag, finishing the nursery, prepping for labor and delivery, and everything involved with bringing a tiny human home, to name a few. My hope is to provide you with all the information you need to prepare for your newborn session as well. I know how nerve-wracking getting your pictures done can be so my hope is this helps you feel more prepared. Here’s what this guide will cover…

  • How to prepare

  • What to wear

  • What to expect the day of your session

How to Prep

Ahead of time

  1. Have wardrobe options ready BEFORE baby arrives

    You will be overwhelmed and exhausted in the best way possible when your little one arrives so do the leg work while you’re waiting, not once they’re born. Trust me, I didn’t take my own advice for my newborn sessions and it was so stressful!

  2. Think about if there are any elements that you’d like to include in your lifestyle session

    What feels natural to you as a family? What rooms do you tend to hang out in? What do you do when spending time together? For my own family, my husband plays guitar for us so that was important for me to capture. Another family I worked with were huge beer snobs (their own proud description, not mine) and so they ended their session with a couple brews. For you, this may be snuggling on the couch together or drinking coffee in the kitchen. You definitely do NOT have to do anything specific and we’re not going for cheesy either but if there’s something that feels natural to you, I want to capture it!

  3. Prep your partner and older siblings

    Be sure to let your partner know that these are lifestyle images so no one needs to worry about looking at the camera. Newborn sessions are literally the easiest because everyone just gets to snuggle and stare at that new babe.

    For older siblings, you can tell them I’m going to take pictures of them with their new baby and of your family all hanging out together. Hype up how much fun you’ll have snuggling together and loving on your new baby. Don’t worry about asking them to listen or follow directions (they won’t anyways) and for the love, please don’t tell them to look at the camera! They’ll naturally be curious about me and my camera and my goal is to capture their connection with you and their new sibling ; )

  4. Accessories

    Think about what accessories you’d like to incorporate into your sessions - swaddles, baby blankets, woven bassinet, bonnets, bows, or a special outfit. Be sure to consider how these accessories coordinate with your outfits and surroundings so your little one doesn’t get lost visually. I also have a bassinet and blankets I can bring to your session as well, just ask me about them!

  5. Fill out your questionnaire

    Your questionnaire is so helpful in getting to know a little about you and your family before meet. I love to know what you’re envisioning and what images you’re most excited about so I can make sure to capture those! Also, if baby has older siblings this is so important in helping me connect with them and know what they need to get comfortable in front of my lens.

On the day of your session

  1. De-clutter

    No, I don’t need your kitchen floors scrubbed clean or your rugs vacuumed but take a minute to de-clutter rooms that we’ll work in. This usually includes the master bedroom, nursery and living room so think about minimizing distractions on night stands, dressers, coffee table, etc. It doesn’t need to be perfect and once I’m there I can help move things around with your permission.

  2. Keep your home a cozy temp

    Babies do best when they’re warm so depending on the time of year you may want to adjust the heat or A/C. Nobody needs to be sweating but it’ll keep your baby happier if they’re not chilly.

  3. Turn off all the lights and open the blinds

    It’s a bit counterintuitive but overhead lighting is not ideal as it creates weird color casts. The light we do want is outside and I want as much of it as possible so pull those curtains back and open the blinds. I can always help with this when I get there too!

  4. Keep baby awake

    If you prefer images with a sleepy baby, then keep your little one awake before your session. Newborns have a really short wake window, about 60-90 minutes. By keeping them awake and then feeding them right before I arrive, odds are good we’ll have a nice sleepy baby for your session. This also means a quicker session if we’re not trying to settle a fussy baby.

  5. Make sure everyone is fed

    I recommend dressing your baby in their outfit, swaddling them in a blanket and then feeding them about twenty minutes before I get there so they’re full, happy and hopefully, sleepy. We can always pause during the session if they need to eat again. Don’t forget about the rest of the family too, mom included! Nothing is worse than a sleep deprived dad with plummeting blood sugar.

  6. Relax

    This might be the most annoying thing to be told but seriously, trust me, I got this! I will roll with the punches and get what we need. If you’re half dressed with curlers in your hair when I arrive, no problem, I’ll start with images of baby or dad. If your two year old starts melting down? No problem, they get a break and we can just focus on the baby.

What to Wear

Newborn sessions are one of the hardest sessions to plan outfits for because you have no idea what size you or your baby will be a few weeks after they’ve arrived and you may not even know the gender yet so it’s all kind of a moving target. Don’t panic, there are solutions! Keep reading for considerations for styling you and your family as well as specific examples of outfits for each family member. Please know that I’m always happy to help with any decisions on what to wear. Seriously, wardrobe makes such a difference in your final images!

Ground rules

  • Be comfortable

    Seriously, you’ve just had a baby so don’t plan on squeezing into your pre-pregnancy jeans for your session. Whether you’ve had a c-section or not, you will still be recovering and so comfort is the name of the game! As long as you feel able, we’ll do a variety of poses with baby so make sure you can stand, sit and lay comfortably in your outfit.

  • Choose mom’s outfit first

    Yes, I know those baby clothes are so stinking adorable and way more fun to look at than your clothes but that’s the point. Your baby will look adorable in anything and YOU need to feel good during your session so focus on selecting your outfit first!

  • Think about the colors in your home/ rooms we’ll be using

    Make sure that your family’s outfits don’t clash or blend in with your surroundings and are in a similar color palette.

  • Opt for neutrals and soft/muted colors

    For newborn sessions, we want our focus to be on the smallest member of the family. This means that if dad is wearing a red shirt, my eye will immediately go there instead of your sweet new baby. I find that neutrals (creams, greys, oatmeals) and soft or muted tones (light pink, soft blues, sage green) photograph well and offer a more timeless look. I recommend staying away from black and navy, especially in shirts and keep patterns subtle.

  • Be true to your style

    I include a lot of ideas in here that I love and are in line with my style but these are YOUR family pictures and should reflect your personality and style. I photographed one family who loved bright, bold colors so everything from the wallpaper to baby’s teal onesie were fun and funky… so perfectly them!


ideas for what to wear

For moms:

  • Dress - Think flowy or empire waist dresses. If it has a fitted bodice then look for an elastic waistband so you have flexibility and don’t have to worry if it will fit postpartum. You can either opt for sleeves or layer a cardigan over a sleeveless dress if you don’t want your arms exposed.

  • Maternity jeans and a flowy top or sweater. Keep in mind that if you wear denim that your partner should be in a different color pant (like khaki, cream, or grey).

For partners:

  • Khakis, cords or shorts with a henley

  • Jeans and a button up. Avoid dress shirts which are longer and meant to be tucked in, opt for a casual button up instead. I prefer a more laid back look so leave button ups untucked with the sleeves rolled up to keep it from looking too business-like.

For baby:

My biggest piece of advice is to make sure their outfit actually fits them. It may be adorable to look at a baby wearing clothes that are too big but trust me, it doesn’t photograph well. Newborn size clothing works best for most little ones compared to 0-3 month size clothes. I also recommend avoiding footed pants or outfits so we can capture those tiny toes! I have a client closet of high quality baby and children’s clothes and accessories that are perfect for newborns and siblings that you’re welcome to borrow from. Just ask me about the options!

  • Knotted gown

  • Romper

  • Textured onesie (i.e. ribbed, pointelle, etc.)

  • Sweater or long sleeve top with bloomers

  • Diaper + swaddle

For siblings:

Make sure their outfit is unfussy. Dresses that need to be frequently adjusted or shirts that need to be tucked in can be a headache to deal with during your session. Go with something cute, simple and casual!

  • Dresses with bloomers are always a win for sisters

  • Jeans, cords or shorts with a henley or sweater for brothers

Finishing touches:

  • Jewelry - I recommend keeping jewelry simple but I always love a bracelet or two for those close up shots of baby in your arms.

  • Simple hairstyles and bows - Keep hairstyles for mom and big sis sweet and simple. I find that ponytails can be tough to photograph because from some angles can look like you’re bald which generally is not a look most girls or women are going for.

  • Nails - I know a manicure isn’t realistic with a newborn at home but make sure you don’t have chipping nail polish for those close up shots of you holding baby. If you opt for polish at all, soft/ neutral colors tend to look best.

  • Ditch the socks and shoes - The idea is that we’re capturing your family hanging out at home with your new addition so bare feet tend to look best/ more timeless. Also, who needs one more thing to worry about like coordinating shoes?

my favorite places to shop

Don’t forget, you can also borrow anything from my client closet for free. 
Don’t hesitate to reach out with any questions!

What to Expect

on the day of your session

It’s finally the day of your session! Here’s what you can expect from me…

  • When I arrive, I’ll take a look at the rooms we’ll be using (that’s usually the nursery, master bedroom and living room) but I’m also looking for any other spots with great light or that you’d like to use

  • With your permission, I’ll open blinds and de-clutter spaces we’ll use

  • We’ll get started! What shots I start with depends on who is ready, how sleepy baby is and what the priorities are. If there are older siblings, I like to start with them first and get all the images I need while they’re interested in participating. I’ll include older siblings as long as I can/ you want but usually after a bit, they’ll need a break and we’ll focus on parents and baby.

  • I may use flash if it’s an overcast day or if your rooms don’t get ideal light which is fairly common in New England homes. Don’t worry, they won’t look “flashy”!

  • As a ballpark, plan for 1.5-2 hours. This let’s us not feel rushed and take breaks for feedings or changes if we need to

  • After your session, I’ll post sneak peeks on Instagram if you’re okay with that and then I’ll email you your online gallery in 2-3 weeks. If you decide to print images on your own

That’s all, folks!

In case you can’t tell, I’m a Type A planner so huge props if you’ve made it all the way to the end! I’m so honored you’ve chosen me to document this sweet time. Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any other questions. I can’t wait to meet you and your growing family!!

- Elizabeth