Quick Tips to Prepare for a Relaxed Newborn Session | Denver, Colorado Lifestyle Newborn Session | Sunshine Lady Photography

Five Quick Tips for Relaxed Sessions featuring Baby Cade

You're pregnant! Congratulations! And if you're anything like me, you're probably already planning out every detail of your little one's nursery. But before you can get to that, there's one more important thing to think about: how to prepare for your at-home newborn photography session.

Don't worry, I'm here to help. As a professional photographer, I've photographed my share of newborns, and I know just how to make sure your session goes off without a hitch. Here are my top tips:

1. Find a good time to schedule your session.

The best time (for me) to photograph a newborn is typically within 2-3 weeks after they're born. They tend to sleep a lot during this time, which makes it easier to get those cute sleepy shots. It’s also important to give new parents a minute to get this whole parenting thing under control. I always shoot sessions on weekday mornings, so make sure you consider what works best for both parents in terms of scheduling.

(Want to capture your babe at an age when she/he is a little more interactive? I also LOVE working with older babies for relaxed Mommy + Me sessions.)

2. Create a nice, relaxed atmosphere.

One of the keys to getting good photos is making sure your baby is comfortable. Before I arrive for the shoot, I encourage my clients to turn up the heat so that the room is nice and warm. I also recommend turning on some soft music and light some candles to help create a relaxing environment.

3. Get everything ready ahead of time.

If you want things to go smoothly, it's important to have everything ready before I arrive. This includes things like making sure there are plenty of swaddles or little outfits on hand and having all of the props you want to use within easy reach. In this case, my client asked me to photograph Cade next to her baby photos so we could capture their likeness- I loved this idea.

Trust me, you don't want to be fumbling around looking for things while your baby is crying or getting restless.

4. Be patient (and have patience).

Newborns can be unpredictable, so it's important to be patient during your session and go with the flow. There will be times when your baby just doesn't want cooperate, and that's okay! The most important thing is that you stay calm and try not relax as much as possible so that your baby will pick up on those good vibes and hopefully do the same. I HIGHLY encourage parents to have a cup of coffee and relax during our sessions because anxiety is no fun and it shows up in photos.

5. Trust me!

I often get “do you think you got any good shots?” and the answer is always YES. Don’t let me chatty and relaxed nature fool you- it’s all part of the process of getting you to relax so we can get photos where you’re not making your uncomfortable face (cause we ALL have one when we know we are being photographed).

If you don’t believe me, read what my client said about our most recent (I’ve photographed each baby) newborn session:

Preparing for your at-home newborn photography session doesn't have to be stressful! Just follow these simple tips and you'll be on your way to capturing beautiful memories that you'll cherish for years to come. Good luck!

Want to book your own newborn session with me? It’s never too early to get on my schedule!

Featured Photographer

I love to feature blog posts written by other photographers and this one is super relevant because I have so many pregnant friends in DC looking for an amazing maternity photographer. Jessica Hendricks is a DC Maternity Photographer who specializes in dreamy, film-like maternity sessions that are absolutely timeless. Check out her linked post Maternity Photos DC to see her beautiful sunset maternity session!