Baby is here! Mom and Dad are exhausted, elated, probably unshowered, and definitely sleep deprived. As a two time mama myself trust me when I say I GET IT. The postpartum period is the most beautiful and the most overwhelming in so many different ways. The sink is full of bottles or pump parts, the laundry is piling up on the floor, the takeout boxes have overtaken your fridge, you have every swaddle blanket known to man within an arms reach, and you most likely have at least two spit-up stains on your shirt at any given moment.

I know the thought of having someone coming into your home to TAKE PHOTOS right now seems like the very last thing you want to happen — but I am here to encourage you, guide you, and help you document this ever fleeting moment in time while your baby is fresh and the feelings still new. I promise I don’t care one bit about the clothes on the floor or those dishes in the sink (seriously…..just leave them please) I want this time to not only be memorable for you, but super super enjoyable for everyone involved.

In this short guide you’ll find some notes on what to expect during our time together, outfit planning advice for the whole family, and a few tips on getting yourselves (& your tiny new addition) prepped for a super sweet session together.

I cannot wait to work with you all.

Before the session

I’ll start off by saying no matter what anyone tells you there is no “right or wrong” way to dress for your newborn session. I will give you some recommendations below, but ultimately the goal here is cute & comfortable, so go with what you know.

Baby’s Portraits & Tiny Detail Photos

WHAT TO WEAR: : the simpler the better! A solid neutral colored onesie with no patterns, or even just a diaper works best. You can absolutely have other outfits in the lineup, but for the main portraits + photos of their little features it works best to keep it clean and solid!
WHAT WE’LL NEED: A light-colored solid blanket or sheet create the perfect backdrop without distracting from baby's features.
OPTIONAL EXTRAS: Bows, beanies, swaddle blankets, etc.

For the Family

FIRST — FIND YOUR VIBE: Some families like to keep these sessions super casual, and some prefer to dress it up a bit. I’ve done newborn sessions in long dresses + button down work shirts, and I’ve done newborn sessions in full pajama mode. Either way is totally fine! Try to stick to what feels most natural for you and your family and run with it!
WHAT TO WEAR: Whatever direction you go make sure you’re comfortable and able to move around.
BEST COLOR OPTIONS: Try to find a coordinating color palette that goes together but doesn’t “match” (example: not everyone wearing the exact same shade of the same color) While I LOVE color, I tend to recommend a more neutral color scheme for clothing with newborns!
TRY TO AVOID: Super bright colors that reflect onto skin (think bright greens, hot pink, etc). I would also recommend not wearing anything with visible logos, words, or large patterns that compete with baby’s small features.

Day of Session

Try to get in a solid feed just before session start time, it usually helps keep baby more content and happy about photos (no judgement here — we all get hangry!)
Do NOT stress over the cleanliness of your home, seriously I do not care if you have unfolded laundry or baby gear all over your dresser. I don’t want you to be stressed or rushed the morning of your session or feeling like you have to have it all together because someone is coming over. This experience is about YOU and this sweet time in your lives, no one has time for a perfectly clean home. There’s literally zero judgement,
Try to keep the time leading up to the session chill, cozy, and fun! Your energy makes a huge difference in your photos and how baby feels, so try to make it a relaxed morning (I know that’s sometimes easier said than done!)
Feel free to play your favorite music in the house, have on your tried & true TV show in the background, or make yourself coffee or a drink! Little touches that make the day feel more normal usually go a long way in the overall vibe + your comfort level for photos.

What to have ready:

A mostly solid or neutral colored swaddle blanket
A mostly solid or neutral colored onesie for baby
A mostly solid or neutral colored sheet or blanket
Your SnuggleMe or Dock-A-Tot pillow (only if you have one! This is not a necessity!)
Any outfits or outfit options you’d like baby photographed in (I would say around 1-3 is the sweet spot)
A charged portable sound machine (if you have it! If not that’s totally fine — I can play brown noise on my phone! It helps if baby is fussy)

During the session

Location & Lighting

When I arrive, I'll scout your home for the spot with the best natural lighting. Sometimes the best light is found in the living room, the nursery, or a random corner in your house right beside a window (these are often my favorites!) So don’t stress if you feel like you can’t decide where to take the photos…..I’ll look it over and decide when I get there!
I will usually photograph baby’s main portraits in the spot with the best light, but we’ll absolutely get portraits in the nursery or family room or wherever you like as well!

Session Flow

Flexible timing: Portrait shots happen whenever baby is most sleepy, content, or comfortable, sometimes that happens right when I get there, and sometimes we’ll start with the family portraits or nursery details until baby is ready! There’s no set schedule and we’ll go with the flow so there’s no stress or rush. If we need to take a short break to feed baby, it’s all good!
What shots to expect:
- Close-up portrait shots, and tiny feature photos in the best-lit area (I’ll use a folded up blanket or pillow on the floor, nearby couch, or snuggle-me / dock-a-tot if you have one!)
- Nursery photos with you holding, rocking, and bonding with baby
- Cozy family shots on the couch or bed for those sweet candid moments
- Your family sitting outside (front porch, yard, etc) if you want!
- Room + detail shots of baby’s nursery.

Newborn sessions typically last 45-90 minutes but I will shoot until I have what I need, so there’s no rush! After your session you’ll be getting your online gallery with the edited images usually within 2 weeks.