choosing the outfit, how to prepare, how to make your baby sleepy, and more!
NEWBORN Session
your STYLE GUIDE for your
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There is a lot to think about when it comes to planning a session. In this guide I will provide you with tips on outfits, making your baby sleepy before our session, how to incorporate pets, and so much more!
Any additional questions you have, as always, feel free to shoot me an email!
I am so excited to be working with you and we can’t wait for our time together during your session!
Often, we look back on milestones and wish we had more photos of that time in our life. I feel so honored to capture the early days of your baby's life!
Most of all, I love getting capture the real, candid moments for you and your family or celebrate this new season of parenthood where you can be full present.
For your comfort and convenience, newborn sessions take place in your home. I will come to you!
Welcome
Newborn sessions are best when they occur 7-14 days after the baby is born. This is when babies are most fresh, flexible, sleepy, and likely without baby acne. However, I want to do whatever timing is comfortable for you and your family!
Please contact me within 72 hours of your baby being born so we can confirm your session date, as it may vary from the date we originally put on the calendar.
Time & Light
In my experience, one to two hours is the ideal time frame for a lifestyle newborn session. A majority of your poses will include mom, dad, and siblings (if applicable). Toward the end of your session, I will photograph some individual shots of the baby.
To allow for the best light, and a sleepy baby, I like to schedule your session to start at 10:00am.
To get the most out of your session, please plan a 30 minute buffer when getting ready so you are ready before I arrive and your session can start on time. We’ll want to take advantage of every minute we have together!
Session Timeline
10:00am - Siobhan Arrives to your home + sets up
10:00am - Baby is finishing up feeding
10:15am - Siobhan Photographs Nursery
10:20am - Swaddle the baby
~10:30am - Portraits with mom, dad + siblings begin
11:15am - Solo Portraits of Baby
This timeline lays out the typical flow of the session. If you have pets you want to incorporate, we will include them before solo portraits of the baby.
Choose one or two rooms in your home to unclutter and style for your newborn session
Styling your space
Rooms with large windows, free of dark screens, far from surrounding walls, and void of thick shrubbery are ideal. The living room, nursery, and master bedroom are the most common spaces.
Dress up the spaces with simple, subtle touches like fresh flowers, meaningful heirlooms, or neutral decor. Light and bright is my signature style!
If you have a nursery space, I will take a few minutes to photograph it, along with all the thoughtful details that make up the space!
Quick tip: If you have colorful or dark bedding in the master bedroom, and plan to photograph in this space, I suggest replacing it a with white or ivory comforter or quilt for our session. This will help with achieving my signature bright, light style!
When to feed + What to have handy for the session
HOW TO PREP YOUR BABY
+ Please keep Baby awake and stimulated for 1-2 hours before I arrive. (This is usually a good job for Dad so Mom can take this time to get ready). A stimulating bath is usually a good way to encourage deep sleep throughout the session.
+ I suggest you start feeding Baby about 30 minutes before I arrive so that he/she has a full tummy and will likely fall asleep just as we are ready to start the session. The baby should be awake, yet drowsy, when I arrive.
+ Things to have handy: pacifier, bottle, burp cloths, touch up makeup, and water for parents
+ A calm environment is very important for the baby. I will bring a Shusher (a white noise machine). It helps keep the baby calm and sleeping during the session. We will move him/her as little as possible to keep him/her asleep.
What the baby will wear, how to keep your baby looking his/her best
STYLE GUIDE: For the Baby
The baby is the star of the show! Wraps and tight swaddles will photograph better than clothing. Bodysuits and other clothing tend to look too baggy.
I also suggest switching what the baby is wearing as little as possible, as they are likely to wake up during an outfit change (feeling the cold air) and may not fall back asleep during the session. This can result in less photos.
I will bring a swaddle with me and get the baby wrapped up nice and tight at the start of your session. I have a white, pink and blue swaddle. If you want to use a different swaddle, you are welcome to. We can also do one neutral swaddle and one colorful swaddle.
Of course if there is a special outfit you want your baby in, let me know. Let's plan to do pictures with them swaddled first, then change them into a second outfit.
Be sure to cut the baby's nails so he/she doesn't leave scratches on his/her face.
My goal is to shoot your entire session while Baby is sleeping.
Similar to changing their outfit as little as possible, we will also move them as little as possible, to keep them sleeping.
General Tips/ Guidelines
Including props + Accessories
You are welcome to add any accessories you would like! I do not bring any because these items tend to be personal to you or your families.
Here are some props I see often:
+ Bows
+ Teddy Bears/small stuffed animals
+ Bonnets
+ Mini Signage
+ Decorative blanket
+ Family Heirlooms
What to wear and not to wear // How to look your best in photos
STYLE GUIDE for mom + dad
1. Softer, pastel colors, white and neutrals will compliment my style of photography. These lighter shades tend to photograph better than bright colors - especially since bright colors could reflect on your skin. Think earth tones! Avoid bold bright colors (neon, hot pink, etc)
2. There’s no such thing as too much white!
3. Textures photograph beautifully and add additional, soft, interest in the photos - a linen, knit, soft pattern texture etc.
4. Accessories: Keep it simple. Large jewelry pieces will distract from where we want the focus: on the baby! Wear your wedding band and small earrings only, if desired.
5. AVOID clothing with large logos or wording, and bold patterns such as thick stripes, polka-dots, stars, etc. I suggest avoiding plaid flannel shirts, as they can take away from your faces and/or the scenery in the pictures.
6. Mani/Pedi: There will definitely be times during your session when we’re shooting your hands - which means it’s a good idea to clean up your nails before your session (this applies to the guys too!). Wearing socks can look strange in photos, so don't forget about a pedicure!
7. Dads: Soft, neutral colors are the best choice. We want the mood to be calm and relaxing. A soft t-shirt or sweater with jeans or slacks and bare feet is ideal. Solid shades of light gray, blue, khaki, and white are a strong compliment to most women’s outfits, whereas pinstripes or plaid patterns tend to distract the eye.
General Tips/ Guidelines
Flatter your Features
+ In my experience, every woman--regardless of her shape has an area of her body that she's self-conscious about, especially postpartum as your body is still changing, so recognizing that area in advance is key, and it is something I am very aware of! Please don't hesitate to tell me what you don't like.
+ Choosing flattering silhouettes and colors that complement your natural features is the best way to ensure you'll love the way you look in your photos.
It's absolutely normal to still look somewhat pregnant after delivering a baby. It takes time for your uterus to shrink back to it's pre-pregnancy size!
This is why most moms choose to wear loose, flowy dresses versus tight-fitting clothing for their newborn photos. Plus, it's way more comfortable!
+ Off-the-shoulder or long sleeve dresses have a slimming effect on all arms, while strapless, sleeveless, or spaghetti strap dresses have the opposite effect.
When considering the length of your dress, factor in whether or not you'll have young children with you. If you have little ones, you'll likely be sitting or squatting next to them. Cute, cocktail length dresses are adorable, but make these poses difficult, as do low-cut tops and high leg slits.
How to prepare them, what to have handy + creating a stress free environment
All about siblings
+ If you have multiple children, don’t feel like you need to put them all in the same type of outfit. For example, one of your daughters could wear a dress, while the other wears a romper. One of your sons could wear a button-down, while the other one wears a long sleeve t-shirt or sweater. Mixing up the wardrobe pieces will bring a great visual interest to the photos.
+ Before your session, grab a little bag with snacks, water, and any small, neutral-colored toys that your child loves (just in case the toy ends up in your photos). Those may help to get their attention when it's time for them to look at the camera. I also suggest having your kids avoid screen time the morning of your session. This helps when we have to start the session. Their show is always going to be more interesting to them than taking photos.
+ Give them (and yourself!) lots of grace. I've seen it all and will make sure to deliver some beautiful photos, regardless of their moods. My goal is to make this as fun and stress-free as it possibly can be for you and your family! They are welcome to pop in and out of the pictures!
Including your pet in photos
I'm a big dog lover and get so excited when families choose to incorporate fur baby into their session!
If you’re going to include your pet, I recommend exercising your pet before the session and have your pets favorite toy or treats handy! Depending on your pet’s fur type, it might also be a good idea to groom them before the shoot and bring a lint roller.
To avoid your clothes getting hair on them and to allow your dog to get used to a stranger being in their home, we will wait until the end of family portraits to include them.
Tips + Timeline
Please do not include your pet if they have been prone to be aggressive toward others. I have been bitten during a session and unfortunately have scars from it. If they have an aggressive behavior, please keep them in a crate or closed room.
A Note on Posing
When it comes to posing for your session, you don’t need to worry about a thing! I’ll guide you through the entire process beginning with “poses” that are super easy and natural. If I tell you to do something that feels a little funny, it’s either because I know it's going to look great, or it’s going to make the two of you laugh - and that’s the photo I'm actually looking for.
Throughout your session, I’ll keep an eye on your hair, makeup and outfits to make sure things stay in place. I want you to feel as relaxed as possible and enjoy your time!
"what do I do with my hands?"
I know that this guide is long - hopefully it covers everything you need to know to prep for your session! However if there is something I missed, or you have any questions, feel free to email me at
hello@siobhanstantonphotography.com
If you have any inspiration images, please feel free to send them to me as well!
THANK YOU!
