In-home newborn photo sessions are all about capturing the authentic beauty of the real-life moments that are emblematic of having a newborn baby. My greatest hope is that one day, when your baby has grown out of onesies and sleepy snuggles, looking back at photos from our newborn session will transport you back to the way this particular and fleeting time in your life FEELS.
So, in theory, I want our session to be as similar to a chunk of your everyday as possible — because that’s what I want you to remember. Much of a session with me will be documenting all the ways you care for and love on your baby, so you don’t even need to have baby “ready” for pictures when I arrive. Feeding, diapering, dressing, changing, snuggling, and adoring your little one are the main event.
But there are a few things that can help to amplify the beauty in all those precious moments.
A quick tidy of clutter on end tables can help to clear the scene for what we really want to be focusing on. That being said, rest is super important during the postpartum period, and I certainly don’t want you to spend your time cleaning. And really, bottles or breast pump parts, a stack of diapers, and a book about babies laying around is pretty indicative of this moment in time, so don’t worry about things like that. Really, just tossing the wrapper from your granola bar and stashing the stack of mail that’s piling up are the types of things I’d recommend.
But what you’re really wondering about it what to wear, right? So let’s get to it. The advice I give most of my newborn clients is to wear something comfortable that you feel good in. That’s the most important part. Beyond that, though, I do have some guidelines to help make your choices for what to wear yourself, what to dress the rest of the family in, and what to have ready for baby.
Most importantly, avoid super bright, neon-type colors, and logos, words, or characters on your clothing. Those things really just distract from your gorgeous family.
Greens & Earth Tones
I personally love Earth-tones and think they photograph really well. Greens are lovely and provide a subtle warmth and earthiness. From emerald to olive to sage, each is quite attractive and also coordinates really well with a number of other colors.
Mustard and Rust
Mustard and rust are gorgeous and provide a richness that looks fantastic on baby as well as parents or siblings. They work well individually or in combination.
Blue Hues
Blue hues, including greenish-blues like aqua, work well and can be a great alternative for people who wear a lot of black — which I definitely do not recommend for photos, generally, and especially not for newborn photos. I find black to be harsh and dominating, while blue is more subtle, but still a nice deep hue.
Creamy Neutrals
Creamy neutrals pair beautifully with so many other colors, whether you’re using them as a base or filling in to coordinate with a main color palette. Plus they really set the stage for baby to shine bright.
A Simple White Onesie
I generally recommend avoiding a stark white, however, I’m never sad to see a plain white onesie on a fresh baby. There’s just something so classic and timeless about that look. So if you’re at a loss for what to put on baby, don’t feel like you have to find the “cutest” thing they own. Sometimes that simple onesie does just right on babe.
Patterns
Aside from color palettes, a few other things to consider that can really elevate the look and feel of your photos. Small, subtle, or delicate patterns or small stripes — used sparingly — go great with solids and add lots of interest.
Texture
Texture - both in the form of clothes and blankets — really add dimension and depth to your images. Think muslin blankets, knit sweaters, denim, cordoroy, bamboo, and linen.
Hats and Bows
Don’t forget cute accessories like hats and headbands. These are great for adding variety to your gallery of images because you can pop them on for a few photos and pop them back off or even switch it with another option.
One other note about hats… When it comes to the grown-ups in the family, some people have pretty intense attachments to wearing hats. If a hat is the absolute norm for you or your partner, then by all means, wear what makes you comfortable (but still try to avoid logos if at all possible). However, if a hat is a sometimes accessory, I highly recommend removing it for our session, as it can really cast deep shadows across the face and make it so much harder to capture the joy of having a precious new baby in your arms.
Diapered Babies
Feel free to plan to either have baby in just a diaper when I arrive or plan for an outfit change at some point during the session (during a diaper change is a great time for this). I love getting to document the change and capture some of those little features that can be covered up and hidden under baby’s sweet outfit — skinny arms or chunky thighs, belly rolls or belly buttons.
Toes and Feet
If it’s warm enough to go without socks, I always love to grab a photo or two of baby’s feet and those sweet little toes. If it’s a bit chilly or the clothes you’ve chosen for baby cover their tootsies — never fear. I’ll do my best to capture those important details during an outfit change!
Feeding-friendly Attire
If you are breastfeeding or chestfeeding and plan to feed baby during our session, I highly recommend wearing something that comfortably accommodates that — whatever that means for you!
Coordinate!
Whether you reach for Earth tones, Jewel tones, or pastels, the most important thing to remember when choosing clothes for your family (aside from what makes each of you FEEL the best), is to coordinate — NOT match. Layers of texture, pattern, and color will always be preferable to matching attire that just bleeds together into a mass of jeans or white or pattern. When in doubt, I always welcome you to lay out a few options and snap a photo or two to send my way. I’m no fashionista, but I’ve learned what photographs best and I’m always happy to point you in the right direction or guide you toward what is going to create the loveliest photos for you to treasure for so many years to come.
