3 Newborn Session Tips From An Athens Newborn Photographer

One of the greatest honors as a mother is being asked to photograph my couple’s new family! Blair and Andrew eloped in Piedmont Park in 2020 and are two of the kindest people I know. So when they welcomed baby Emily into their lives, they wanted a 3-month lifestyle newborn session to capture this incredible time. I love doing newborn sessions, whether it’s at home or in my Athens studio.

While I’ve discussed how to prepare for an at-home Newborn Session in a previous blog post, I wanted to provide tips for the day of your newborn session! As an Athens newborn photographer, I know firsthand how exciting it is to have photos taken in your home, but you might also be a little nervous. So, I wanted to share a few day-of newborn session tips to help make your session a little less stressful.

Stick To Light And Neutral Outfit Colors

For the parents, it’s best to stick to light, neutral-colored clothing for a clean, fresh, and airy look. When it comes to your newborns, it’s similar. Usually, if we are doing photos in their first two weeks of life, babies are too small for real clothing. Instead of worrying about “outfits,” focus on choosing solid, neutral swaddles. A tightly wrapped baby generally stays happy and photographs super sweet too!

If we are photographing your baby a bit older (one to three months), then they will fill out clothing better, and in this case, feel free to have a few options ready. As for yourself, simple neutral clothing is best. Think creams, soft blues, blush, and gray. This way, the colors don’t reflect too much on the skin, and the focus can be on you!

Prepare Your Baby

One of my biggest newborn session tips is understanding what will work best for your baby. First, know that we will take ample breaks for feedings, changing, etc. So, don’t worry if baby needs something during the session!

Also, don’t worry if your baby is sleeping. Many moms hope for their babies to be awake, but it’s actually easier to get those beautiful photos when they are calm, still, and sleeping. I recommend keeping your baby awake before the session and then giving them a big feeding right before so they are nice and sleepy for most of the session.

Whether asleep or awake, happy or crying, there are lots of different shots and poses we can do for each scenario. When baby is fussy, I can take this time to grab tight detail shots of their hands, feet, and ears. There’s also always photographs of the details of their sweet nursery.

Consider lighting

For at-home sessions, I love getting those gorgeous shots of your baby’s nursery. So, you know that we’ll spend part of the session in the nursery. Aside from your nursery, I also love to get pictures of the family in your bedroom.

However, I love to suggest my Athens studio space for newborn photography because the light is absolute chefs kisses. Not only that but there are also so many different set-ups and backdrops we can use to capture your little one’s personality! Best of all, you don’t have to worry about cleaning up or getting your space photo-ready. Plus, you can always bring your own props or sentimental items to incorporate into the session.

Wrapping It Up: Consider Our Baby’s First-Year Collection

Photographing newborns and their families is a rewarding experience; I love sharing tips to ensure a great session. I recommend spending the first half focusing on just you and your newborn and then including pets and older siblings in the second half, all tailored to your comfort level. It’s about creating the best experience for you!

If you want a collection created just for new parents, you will love our Baby’s First Year Collection! Enjoy discounted session fees, priority booking, and complimentary album credits to capture every milestone. This lets you document all those milestones – from newborn to 3-6 months to one year birthday. After each session, we will schedule a Reveal to view your images and help you choose artful heirlooms for your home. After the final session, you will get a beautiful family album you can treasure forever. I can walk you through our heirloom products, including our wall galleries.

If you’d love to start chatting about your own newborn session (or better yet, a collection of your baby’s first year), say hello! We’d love to hear from you!