welcome

Welcome to my blog where you’ll find the latest about what’s been going on in the studio and on location, as well as articles that will help you better prepare for photo shoots.

THE BLOG

Newborn Photo Shoot: A Parent’s Guide to Success

I have been a professional newborn photographer in Orange County, CA for more than 10 years. Throughout the years, I have learned some tips and tricks that parents can do before, during and after the newborn photo shoot that will help things go much easier! When it comes to newborn photography, the baby is ALWAYS in charge. That means that sometimes, no matter what we do, the baby may not be up to having their picture taken. No worries though, because a professional photographer will always be able to pivot and suit the session to baby’s needs.

Before the Newborn Photo Shoot

Sleepy newborns are the best models

The best newborn sessions happen when baby is nice and sleepy. I will try to get images with baby’s eyes open toward the end of the session, but, for the most part, we want baby sleepy because that’s when they are calm and cooperative. I will wrap up babies that are awake for their session because they tend to move so much that we can’t get our best shots.

Please try to keep baby awake for at least 1.5 hours before you leave the house for the session. If baby is awake before the session, they will likely sleep well during the session. If you’re baby is having a hard time staying awake before the session, here’s a few things that you can do to wake them up:

  • Change their clothes. Nothing wakes up baby more than taking their clothes off for a diaper change.
  • Tickle their feet or give them a good foot massage.
  • By far, a bath is a great way to wake them up and prep them for the session. A nice, soothing lavender bath right before their session is a great way to relax them.

How to dress the baby for the photo shoot

Once you’ve given baby a nice long bath, dress them up in a button-up or zip-up outfit with NO ONESIE underneath. Taking off a onesie usually requires more manipulation, which means there’s more chance to irritate the baby. Don’t put a onesie on a baby to make it easy for them to be undressed when we start the newborn photo session. Some of my favorite outfits are the two-pieces with magnetic closures from magneticme.com.

What parents should wear for the photo shoot

I always encourage families to join in the newborn session to document the new family dynamic. Neutral colored clothing works best for family pictures. I ask families to wear white, cream, black or grey outfits if they are planning to be photographed during the newborn photo shoot. You will most likely only be photographed from the waist up, so don’t worry too much about your shoe choice. Neutral colors are timeless and tend to look good for years to come and match most home décor so they can be printed large and fit in perfectly in any home.

Mom and dad wearing posing with their newborn baby boy his photo shoot.

Feed the baby till they’re full

We’ve all heard of the expression ‘Milk Drunk.’ Well, milk drunk babies are the best kind of babies when it comes to a newborn photography session. Try to feed baby as much as possible just before you leave the house. That way they are super full and then can sleep on the way to the photo shoot and hopefully stay asleep for the majority of the shoot. This should keep baby nice and full (and asleep) during the session.

Pack a Soothie pacifier

I know that parents have different opinions when it comes to using pacifiers. When it comes to newborn photography, a pacifier can make all the difference in the world. Sometimes all a baby needs is a few seconds with the pacifier to settle into a pose. In my opinion, babies tend to do best with the soothie type pacifiers. I ask that parents bring a pacifier to the session even if they think their baby won’t use it. If they forget, I have individually wrapped, sterile pacifiers for baby to use.

During the Newborn Session

Wrangle the toddlers

If big brother or sister is going to be joining us in the studio for the session, it’s important to try and keep them as entertained as possible so that they don’t interrupt the newborn session. Newborn photography sessions can take up to 2 hours, depending on the baby’s temperament. So, siblings may have a hard time sitting still for that long. I do have toys at the studio, as well as a television with streaming programs, but sometimes bringing a small, new toy might help to occupy the child and feel extra special.

If you have a very active toddler, it may even be a good idea for another family member to take the sibling out for a play date to a local park while we photograph the newborn.

I have some snacks and candy that can be used to bribe siblings when all else fails.

Toddler girl wearing a white dress and holding her baby sister that is wrapped up in a white swaddle for her newborn photo shoot.
Toddler Sibling with Baby Girl Newborn

Take a nap

One of the best things you can do during the session is to take a nap. What? Yes! You can relax knowing that your baby is being well cared for during their session. I actually take it as a huge compliment when parents are able to fall asleep while I work with the baby during the session. Whether it’s due to their complete trust in me or sleep deprivation, I love it.

Trust the photographer

Another way parents can help make the session a success is to trust your photographer. I’ve been photographing babies for more than 10 years and my experience has helped me trouble-shoot and streamline the process. I always welcome parent’s ideas during the pre-planning. However, sometimes when we try to add things during the session or change set-ups, it can lead to an even longer session. Be sure to discuss any color, props, or pose preferences with your photographer prior to the session.

Keep talking to a minimum

I create a soothing environment in the studio as a way to keep the baby as calm as possible. This includes diffusing essential oils and playing white noise and keeping talking to a minimum. If baby requires a feeding break, that’s my chance to chat with the parents, but, other than that, I keep chatter to a minimum so that I can focus on the session. It helps so much if parents keep speaking with me during the session to a minimum.

Share your sneak peeks

Photographers share sneak peeks from sessions so that clients can see a bit of the magic that happened during their session. It’s also a great opportunity for parents to show off their new bundle of joy. One of the best things you can do for a photographer is to share their work directly from their social media. For example, if they post a sneak peek on Instagram, share the image directly from their feed to your feed.

Refer Friends and Family

If you don’t share directly from their feed, or if you share images after you’ve received them, be sure to tag the photographer’s page. It means the world to photographers to have our work credited when sharing. One of the biggest endorsements we get as photographers is a personal referral. When you tag a photographer, you are helping their business more than you may realize.

Give them feedback

Photographers love to hear feedback when we send out images to clients. Once you get your final images back, I’d love to hear if you are happy with them. I put a lot of care into my photo shoots so I want to make sure that my clients are happy.

Leave a review

A review can help a small business more than you realize. Many potential clients read through a variety of reviews when they are considering their photographers. Leaving a review, no matter how big or small, could really help your photographer. I appreciate every single person that takes time out of their day to leave me a review.

WORK WITH ME

Freebird Studios is an Orange County Maternity, Newborn and Family photography studio located in Brea, CA and serving Fullerton, Anaheim, Yorba Linda, Rowland Heights, Costa Mesa, Huntington Beach, Riverside, Laguna Beach and all of Los Angeles and Orange County.