newborn baby photography

PREPARING FOR YOUR NEWBORN PHOTO SESSION

cotswolds & cheltenham photographer claire westaway

a mum and dad sit holding their newborn baby and the camera focuses on the back of his head and their hands in a newborn baby photo shoot in The Cotswolds — your baby…

This guide is here to help you prepare for your newborn photo session. i remember all too well how it feels when you’re navigating those first few weeks with a baby so this information is here to give you a few easy tips and hints to get the most out of your session, even when you’re sleep deprived!

let’s go…

relaxed and baby-led

My newborn photo sessions are very relaxed and baby-led. I very much work around the needs of your baby - if they need a feed, if they need a cuddle, if they need a nappy change, if they like to be held, if they like to lie-down then that’s absolutely fine.

I don’t pose babies but I do find the best light and I do offer gentle guidance about what will look best for your photographs.

So, I encourage you to relax as much as you can and just enjoy this time together but if you can follow some of the advice listed below beforehand it will really help you feel ready for the photo session.

on a newborn baby photo shoot in cheltenham a dad holds his baby against his chest while the mum stands behind the baby kissing him on the head.

on a newborn baby photo shoot in Cheltenham a mum stands over a cot with her hand on her baby's chest in his nursery

on a newborn photo shoot in The Cotswolds, a dad hold his newborn baby's hand and the camera focuses just on his hand

Your Home

I’d really advise you to take a look at my guide on preparing your home - I know that when you’re juggling a newborn baby, tidying the house is the last thing on your mind. And so it should be! But there are some really good hints and tips which will make a real difference. I’d also say that I’m always happy for your to send me photos of the key rooms in your house so I can indicate which areas I might use (because the light is best) and therefore which areas it’s worth tidying up a bit and which you can ignore! And I am an expert at doing a quick sort-out when I arrive to just help make some space and de-clutter so most importantly, do not put any pressure on yourself, you’ve got enough going on! If you have finished decorating the baby’s room then I always try and get some photos in there and if the light is right, the master bedroom is the ideal spot for some shots of baby lying on the bed so I’d prioritise those spaces to begin with..

Feeding

Ideally you’d give baby a big feed just before the session so they have a fully tummy and are nice and content. Please don’t worry if they’re still feeding when I arrive, that’s not a problem at all. And if they need a top-up during the session then of course that’s absolutely fine. Have a think about whether you’d like some images of you feeding your baby, whether breastfeeding or bottle feeding so you can always remember that really special and intimate moment between parent and child..

Sleep

I am well experienced in photographing newborn sessions with babies who are wide awake or fast asleep the entire time. So please don’t feel any pressure to magically get your baby to sleep just in time for the session. Having said that, a sleepy baby does give us a few more options in terms of set-ups and detail shots so it’s certainly something to encourage if possible but not a necessity. I always allow plenty of time for a newborn session.

Time

I always allow plenty of time for a newborn session (up to 3 hours) to allow for lots of nappy changing, feeds and sleep cuddles so there won’t be any sense of rush or pressure. Although I make it as relaxed and calm as possible, something like a photo session can actually be quite tiring for a new baby - and you! So I’d really recommend keeping your diary clear for the rest of the day so you can all catch up and have some downtime once I’ve left.

Blankets & Muslins

I always bring a selection of blankets to a shoot as it can really add colour and texture. But if you have a blanket or muslin which is particularly special to you then please mention it and I’ll do my best to incorporate it.