This guide is here to help you feel confident and prepared for your newborn session—so you can relax, soak in the moment, and let the magic unfold.

Newborn

Session

Guide

Hello!


Welcome, and congratulations on your beautiful new arrival!


I’m truly honored to help you preserve these tender, fleeting moments. Newborn sessions are a gentle, slow-paced experience—much of our time will be spent soothing, posing, and following your baby’s natural rhythm. My approach is baby-led, which means we’ll pause as needed for feedings, diaper changes, and snuggles. The goal is always to keep your little one calm, cozy, and content.


To help you feel confident and prepared, I’ve put together this guide. Inside, you’ll find a breakdown of each session type so you know exactly what to expect. I’ve also included a few helpful tips to make your session smooth and stress-free from the very start.


I can’t wait to meet you and your sweet new addition—let’s create something beautiful together.


What To Bring + What's Already Here



 

I’ve got everything we’ll need to create a beautiful session—wraps, headbands, outfits, hats, and a curated collection of props are all ready and waiting. That said, I always love when families bring meaningful heirlooms or personal touches to make their session truly one-of-a-kind. Think:


• A great-grandmother’s picnic or sewing basket


• A handmade quilt from a beloved family member or friend


• An antique rocking horse, pedal car, or tractor


• A special outfit gifted by someone dear


• Personalized blankets, gowns, or hats


These treasures add such heart to your photos. While I welcome them with open arms, please note that I can’t guarantee their use due to safety or timing considerations—but I’ll do my best to incorporate what we can.


A few essentials to pack for baby:


• Extra bottles (if bottle feeding)


• Diapers and wipes


• A weather-appropriate outfit for heading home


Studio comforts I provide:


• Receiving blankets (perfect as burp cloths)


• Diaper disposal sacks


• Bottle warmer


• Paper towels for quick clean-ups


I want your experience to be as relaxed and enjoyable as possible—so you can focus on soaking in every sweet moment with your little one.

 

What To Expect

 

We’ll begin with parent and family images—these are typically simple, waist-up portraits that focus on connection and emotion. If you have older children, we’ll capture a full family photo first, then move into newborn + parent combinations (both parents together and each parent individually). After that, siblings will be photographed with baby. Once their part is complete, I recommend having a parent or grandparent take them out for a little break or playtime. My studio is cozy, and little ones can get restless—stepping out helps keep the session calm and focused.


Next, we’ll move into wrapped prop poses, if you have chosen to include the add-on. These usually include setups like a basket, bed, and bucket—each styled with care and softness. After that, we’ll transition to blanket poses such as froggy, side-lying, chin-on-wrists, and more.


Most babies wake for a feed between the wrapped and blanket portions. If they don’t settle right back to sleep, no worries—we’ll talk more about how to navigate that later in this guide.


 

What To Expect After Your Session




 

A few days after your session, I’ll send over a handful of sneak peeks—usually featuring just baby—via text or email, depending on how we’ve been communicating. These previews are low-resolution and lightly edited, meant to give you a glimpse of the magic we captured. They won’t include final touches like skin smoothing or blanket cleanup, and aren’t suitable for printing or sharing on social media just yet.


While my contract allows up to 30 days for delivery (to account for illness or unexpected delays), I typically send your fully edited gallery within 1–2 weeks. Your images will arrive via email in a private online gallery, complete with instructions for downloading, ordering prints, and creating a favorites list.

Once your gallery has been delivered, I’ll share a few highlights on my social media. If you spot your little one’s sweet face in my feed, that’s your cue to check your inbox! I started this approach in 2023 because I believe you should be the first to see and celebrate your session—not the internet.

 

 

Tips To Help You Prepare

 

01.Full Belly

To help your little one feel cozy and content during the session, try to give them a full feed before arriving. If you’d prefer to feed once you’re here, no problem at all—just let me know, and we’ll make time for it. A well-fed baby is a relaxed baby, and that makes for a smoother, snuggle-filled session.

02.Awake Before

If possible, try to keep baby awake for a bit before your session—this can help us capture those dreamy, snuggly poses once they’re ready to snooze. That said, if it feels like a challenge (and let’s be honest, babies have their own agenda), don’t stress! They’ll do what they do best—run the show.

Following this section, I’ve included a few simple tips to help encourage wakefulness before we begin.

03.What To Wear

Choose soft, complementary colors that flow well together—think neutrals, earthy tones, or pastels. Try to avoid busy prints or bold patterns, as they can be distracting and sometimes distort in camera. Most importantly, wear something that makes you feel comfortable and confident. When you feel good, it shows—and that’s what makes your photos truly shine.

04.Makeup

Keep your makeup light and natural—something that flatters you and feels like you. If bold makeup is part of your everyday look, go for it! Otherwise, softer tones tend to photograph beautifully.

Please check that your nail polish is fresh or removed before your session, as hands often make their way into close-up shots. I have a mirror in the studio so you can do a quick touch-up to hair or makeup before we begin.

And one tiny detail that makes a big difference—consider stashing hair ties in your bag or pocket instead of wearing them on your wrist. It’s a small thing, but it helps keep your photos clean and timeless.


05.Helper for Siblings

It’s always helpful to have someone available to take older siblings out for a break once their part of the session is done. This keeps the studio calm and allows us to focus on baby without distractions. If you’re looking for nearby spots to keep them entertained, I’d be happy to share a few fun suggestions!

 

Tips For Keeping Baby Awake

 

 

Newborns have short wake windows, but a little stimulation beforehand can help us capture those dreamy, sleepy poses once they’re ready to snooze. Here are a few gentle ways to keep baby alert in the hour leading up to your session:

 

 

• Undress Them: Letting baby feel the ambient air on their skin can help keep them awake—just make sure the room is warm enough. If it feels chilly, opt for a light sleeper or a onesie with pants.


• Engage Them: Hold eye contact, talk softly, or sing to them. Your voice and presence are their favorite things.


• Tummy Time: A change in perspective can spark curiosity. Tummy time on a blanket or even on your chest counts and can help baby stay awake a little longer.


• Gentle Movement: Stretching their arms and legs or softly bicycling their legs encourages movement, which burns a bit of energy and helps them be ready for a nap when it’s go-time.


And if keeping baby awake feels tricky—don’t worry one bit. If your little one wakes during the session, I use these same “unsoothing” techniques to help them settle back to sleep. I’ll continue photographing throughout, so you’ll have a mix of sleepy snuggles and those beautiful wide-eyed moments. If your baby prefers to stay awake and is calm and content, I’ll capture that too. I never force sleep—your baby leads the way, and I follow with care.