Having a new baby is one of life’s most magical moments and one worth documenting beautifully and sensitively. Capturing the tiny details of your new joy and the early, hazy, days of parenthood will provide you and your child with a lifetime of beautiful memories to look back on. While this time can also be full of emotion and sleep deprivation, choosing the right photographer will make the experience both relaxed and enjoyable; producing an array of meaningful, happy memories. Jess Morgan, a lifestyle and documentary newborn photographer for families living in London and Surrey, provides some tips for new parents looking to capture this special time.
When is the best time to have a newborn photo shoot?
I’m happy to say that there really are no hard and fast rules to this, but the style of images you’d like to have of your new baby will have some bearing on the best time for your photo shoot. There are also a few other considerations regarding timing that could make the shoot more relaxed for you, all which I will go into detail about below.
A lot of new mums also worry about the way they might look at this time and while your body will have changed to grow and nurture your new baby, I personally believe this is something that really should be celebrated. There really is no need to delay having your newborn photographed in order to get back to your post-bump body. If you are feeling self-conscious about stepping out in-front of the camera be assured that an experienced, professional photographer will use the most flattering light, angles and positioning to create beautiful photographs of you and your baby.
The best time for in-home lifestyle and documentary photo shoots
If you want to capture your new baby naturally, in the comfort of your own home, the photo shoot can take place at any point after having your baby. Some of my clients want to document the very early days of their new family life and will invite me over within the first two weeks of birth when their baby still looks like a brand new baby. Equally, other families decide to leave the session until a bit later. Booking your photo shoot when your baby is 4,6,8 or even 12 weeks of age won’t impact the variety of photographs and it may even have some added benefits. You’ll have more time to recover from giving birth and also allow any older siblings time to get used to having the new arrival around.
If your baby is still very young when you have your photo shoot (i.e. 1-2 weeks old) you can expect them to sleep and feed for a lot of the session, it may even be the case that they sleep for the entire shoot. Most lifestyle and documentary newborn photographers will follow your baby’s lead so you don’t have to feel pressured into them performing for the camera. Some may gently pose you and your baby, while others will let your baby be true to their natural, beautiful, state.
From around 6 weeks of age onwards, your baby will start to become more alert for longer periods of time, they may begin to start smiling and they’ll also start to engage you more with eye-contact thereby allowing the photographer to capture even more love and connection.
Best age: Any age (24 hours – 12 weeks onwards)
Shoot duration: 2 hours
Studio or home location: home
Best time for posed studio photographs
If you are looking for posed newborn photographs; the style of images where the baby is positioned in a variety of cute poses (often naked or wrapped), you will need to do the shoot within 5 to 12 days of birth. This is because the photographer will need your baby to be in a very deep sleep and still have a lot of flexibility in their limbs to pose them in this way. From 2 weeks of age your baby will become less sleepy for longer periods of time, and will also begin to lose their curled-up newborn appearance.
Most posed shoots take place in the photographer’s studio but some photographers also do home visits bringing with them a range of blankets, wraps, a large posing beanbag, as well as any necessary lighting equipment. Expect a shoot like this to last longer (approx 3-4 hours) as your baby will have to go through a few feed cycles to fall into a deep enough sleep required for posing.
Best age: 5-10 days of age
Shoot duration: 3-4 hours
Studio or home location: both
When should I book the shoot?
A good newborn photographer will normally have their diary booked months in advance so I always recommend penciling in a date while you are still pregnant, ideally after you’ve had your 20 week scan. At this stage you will probably be given a better idea of when your baby will arrive, although it’s very unlikely that he or she will actually be born on that date (something I can vouch for personally!). Because of this, I always ensure I have lots of flexibility in my diary so we can easily shift the date if we need to.
How should I dress my baby for the photo shoot?
I truly believe that newborn babies are best photographed simply so you don’t need to worry about dressing them up for the occasion. A simple vest or baby grow is perfect and natural tones and soft pastel shades will work beautifully against your newborn’s skin. For a timeless feel avoid slogans and logos but feel free to include natural textures and small pretty prints. Also gather any other items that are part of your new baby’s story: a scan photo, their hospital name tag and any family heirlooms and blankets you’d like to include.
