Welcoming a new baby into your family is an exciting time full of joy for this new chapter of your life that is about to start. At the same time the first days of having a newborn at home might be overwhelming. As a photographer I want your newborn photo shoot to be a stress free experience. That's why I believe the comfort of your house is the best place to document your growing family and to make it an enjoyable time I have prepared a few tips that will help you to make the most of your newborn photo session.
Book your session when you are ready
Most studio photographers will tell you that the best time to schedule your newborn session is within the first 2 weeks of baby’s life. With lifestyle photography we have much more flexibility as your baby doesn’t have to sleep during the whole session. I have been photographing babies within the first few days of their life till many months and there is no perfect age when you should have those pictures taken. There is no need to rush the newborn session if you feel you need a little bit more time. I know how it feels to be a first time parent (or second time as well ;) and how life can be overwhelming or simply unpredictable (for example your baby out of nowhere got a rash). I am always trying to be as flexible as possible in case you need to reschedule.
Don’t worry about having perfectly clean house
My clients are often worried if their house will be a good place for the newborn photo session and I always reply : as long as you have a window at your place and a bit of light the answer is yes:) And believe me you do not need to do a big clean up before the photo shoot day. Usually before we meet I will ask you for some mobile pictures of your apartment (usually bedroom and nursery) to understand what to expect when it comes to available space and light. Please don’t be surprised when I arrive I might be moving things around to make sure there is nothing distracting in the background.
Choose your outfits in advance
If you decide your wardrobe in advance we won’t have to rush on the day of the session. When choosing your outfits please consider the environment and available light. I usually advise light colors that will keep your photographs brighter. Also for the baby a simple solid colored onesie will work best.
Please avoid strong patterns and logos that will distract the composition and attention from what is most important : you and your baby. They are a big no no unless it is a subtle smaller pattern and limited to only one.
I am always happy to help my clients choose the most flattering option. In case it is still too overwhelming you can use one of my dresses from my client closet. Recently I am also upgrading it with newborn outfits. Reach out for more details.
Feed your baby
Just before my arrival please give your baby a feed and a diaper change. Full belly will help keep your baby happy and settle for the photoshoot. If you don't find time to do it prior to the session, that's not a problem at all! We can start off with feeding your baby which is also a great opportunity to capture those tiny little details like feet and hands.
Discuss details before the shoot
It is crucial to discuss details before the session to make sure our vision aligns. I will always make sure you see my portfolio and check if you understand what to expect from a lifestyle photography. If there is any particular photograph in my portfolio that you really like please share it with me. Sometimes it won’t be possible to recreate exactly the same photograph as each family and light conditions are different but it will help me to understand what effect we are aiming for.
Also if you are searching for someone to take photographs of your baby in a studio with different props and poses we are not the best match.
I hope you found those tips helpful ! If you are looking for a lifestyle newborn photographer in Abu Dhabi I would love to connect with you.
Looking for more information on lifestyle newborn photo session? Please have a look at my blog posts: