The first few days pass in a blur, and a newborn changes almost overnight. A good newborn session freezes that fleeting stage — the tiny fingers, the folded knees, the sleepy yawns. Here is everything you need to know to prepare, and what a session with us actually feels like.
The best time to book
Newborns are most sleepy and easy to pose between 7 and 21 days old. In this window they curl naturally and settle quickly, which lets us create those calm, dreamy portraits. If your baby is a little older, do not worry — we simply adjust the style to suit an alert, wide-eyed little one, which has its own charm.
Safety and patience come first
A newborn shoot is never rushed. We keep the room warm, our hands clean and sanitised, and we follow the baby's pace — feeds, nappy changes and cuddles all included. Some poses you may have seen online are done as a composite of two safe images. We never place a baby in any position that is not fully supported. A relaxed baby always photographs better than a hurried one.
How to prepare at home
- Keep baby awake a little longer before the session so they sleep deeply during it.
- Feed just before we start — a full tummy means a settled baby.
- Dress them in loose clothing with no tight elastic, so there are no marks on the skin.
- Warm the room — newborns are comfortable at a temperature that feels slightly warm for adults.
- Have a spare set of everything ready; little accidents are completely normal.
What a session looks like
A typical newborn session runs two to three hours — most of that is gentle settling and feeding breaks, not constant shooting. We usually begin with a few wrapped poses while the baby is deeply asleep, then move to family frames with parents and siblings. Bring one or two meaningful props if you like — a grandparent's shawl, a name plate, a soft toy — and we will weave them in.
Involve the whole family
Some of the most treasured frames are the simplest: a parent's hands cradling tiny feet, or an older sibling planting a first kiss. Tell us who will be there and we will plan for everyone. These early photographs become the ones your child looks back on for a lifetime.