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Enjoy your Newborn Session with these 7 quick tips!

So you’ve booked your newborn photography hills district session and now you’re wondering how you can make it as successful and stress-free as possible, not only for your baby but for yourselves as well.

Here are seven tips I can suggest to help you not only thoroughly enjoy your newborn session, but to also appreciate this peaceful window of time.

Enjoy the photoshoot, enjoy your baby from afar and have moment to breathe.

Here’s your complete guide to an enjoyable and relaxed newborn shoot.

Plan your Newborn Photography Session Ahead of Time!
Your professional photographer will send you information on how to plan for your session as soon as you have booked.
I recommend you have a read through the provided information pre-baby. This way you’ll have more time and energy to make notes on what you need to bring and points to keep in mind during your newborn shoot.
Some photographers may ask for you to bring a sandwich as the shoot will go over lunchtime, or to bring a dummy to assist with resettling.
Ensure to read through all the provided information well before your session. Don’t read it the night before as you may have questions and require more details in advance.
Planning ahead for an enjoyable and relaxed newborn photoshoot is one of the best ways you can reduce stress before your shoot, as there will be no surprises or running around on the day.

2. Pack for your Newborn Shoot in Advance

You have a little mini human now.
Leaving the house is not as easy as it once was.

You used to grab your keys, and phone and just, well, leave.

Now, you have to pack as if you are going on a six-week holiday.
Nappies, wipes, bottles, formular, pumps, more wipes, extra clothes, the whole kit and caboodle.

Not only that.

When you think you’re ready to leave the house, your little bundle of joy decides that this is the exact time that they will ‘poonami’ through all their clothes and you have to go back inside only to start the whole process again.
It can be stressful when you have to be somewhere at a certain time.
My advice, pack in advance.
Ensure your nappy bag is ready to go the day or night before your baby shoot.
That way the only thing holding you back is a feed and a quick nappy change.

3. Leave the House in the Window you Have!

Your bub is settled, you’re dressed, packed and ready.
Now would be the perfect time to get in the car, but wait!
You don’t need to leave for another 30 minutes.

What do you do?

Don’t wait around at home in fear you will get there too early.
Sometimes when you miss the window, it can delay you for ages if bub wakes up, needs a feed, a change and a cuddle.
Ask your photographer if they mind if you came earlier to your session if timing suits you.
As a mother myself, and a newborn photographer with years of experience under my belt, I let my clients know they’re welcome to come as soon as they are ready.
If I’m still setting up, this is perfectly fine.
If my clients arrive early, it’s a nice way for them to come and relax in the photography studio.
This way, both the clients and the newborn will feel ready to go, rather than anxiously waiting at home, or hurrying to settle in if they are late.

If, for whatever reason, your photographer does not allow for this window of time, ensure you know how long it may take to get to where the newborn shoot will be held.
Even better, find a nice cafe to hang in, close to the photoshoot before hand.
This way you’re in the vicinity and if bub needs a feed, you aren’t far from the photography studio to get there in good time.

4. Trust your Photographer*

You’ve arrived at your photographer’s studio ready for your newborn shoot.

Your photographer is either wrapping your baby or settling your baby and you notice the whole process is taking a little longer than expected. You’re on the edge of the couch, ready to lunge forward and take over.

You know your little one.

Maybe if you settle your baby, the shoot will progress much quicker and surely that will help the photographer.

If you’ve booked your session with a professional, accredited newborn photographer, who has safe practice, this is your time to trust them.

The newborn photography process can become more complicated if mum or dad are handling baby too much as the little one can smell their parents, and as a result won’t settle as well with the photographer.

A trained photographer will have a mental toolbox of many different settling techniques and ways of making your baby feel safe and comfortable- and sometimes sleep can take a while.

If the photographer senses the bub has gas or maybe hungry, then the photographer will communicate this.

The photographer will also be monitoring the temperature of the room and your baby’s signs to ensure the baby is completely comfortable.

If you booked your session with an experienced professional, now is the time to relax and watch the session from the couch.

Have a biscuit, chill and enjoy having two hands to use.

While you sit back and watch, your new bundle of joy being immortalised in photos you will also undoubtedly learn a few settling techniques too.

Enjoy this time and let your photographer do their thang!*

5. Play it Cool

The shoot has started.

Your little one is looking so adorable in a bowl, or on the beanbag, and your photographer is shooting away.

You’re so welcome to come over and have a look every now and then, especially if the photographer has requested that you do for safety.

Hovering over the photographer’s shoulder, however, during the newborn session won’t be relaxing for you.

By all means, if you’d like to see your baby while you are sitting down and watching from afar, ask the photographer if you can move a seat closer to watch the session.

Watching from a distance is a lovely way to enjoy your baby and to watch a professional handle, dress and pose your little one.

Note, standing too close to the photographer, or the baby during the photoshoot may impact your photographer’s performance.

Keep in mind that we’re doing our best to provide you with the bet possible gift to treasure your newborn’s memories.

If you’re too close while we’re photographing the baby, your presence may interfere with our line of thought, the lighting, our focus, and even safety for your little one as we may become distracted.*

In saying this, feel free to come and check out your beautiful little bub every now and then as this is such a special moment.

6. Taking Photos of Taking Photos?

First things first, your baby is adorable.

You may want to take a photo of your mini me to send to your friends, cousins, grandma, so they can see how adorable he or she is.

As a mother, I have been there.

I get it.

You’re just so excited, and for the first time seeing your little one with someone else, wrapped beautifully, not screaming, and looking super cute.

Why wouldn’t you want to record this moment?

Guess what? It IS being recorded, by a professional! =)
Remember to respect the photographer’s time, craft, experience, equipment, set up, prop spend, talent. Essentially everything that goes wth it.

You’ve hired us, and you’re paying us for a reason.

Just relax and enjoy your newborn’s time in the limelight.

When you hold back from taking a photo of the set up, we as photographers have created for you, it is a sign of respect not just to our craft and business, but also your trust in us to take photos of your baby.

During your preparation stage, before you have the baby, double check with your photographer about taking photos during the newborn photography session.

Some photographers may not allow their clients to take photos of the photoshoots, while others may be happy for you to take behind-the-scenes photos or videos.

Always ask first so to ensure you are respecting you photographer’s skills.

7. Allow Yourself to Take a Breather

You were up how many times last night?
The night before?
The night before that? How long was your labour?
How many other kids do you have?
For many of you, this may be the only two-three hours you will be lucky to have where someone else is settling, changing, wrapping and watching your baby.
Relax.
You deserve a little breather.
Watch the session and enjoy every moment of your down time.

So, to Wrap it Up

The seven tips to your complete guide to an enjoyable and relaxed newborn shoot is to:

Plan ahead
Pack in advance
Early is better, than rushed, leave the house in the window you have
Trust your accredited, professional newborn photographer
play it cool
Taking photos of photos, always ask
Have a little down time while you watch the photoshoot.

These days are fleeting, as is the time to allow someone else to settle and take care of your baby.

Be excited about all the beautiful photos that you will receive after your session.

For more tips and ideas on choosing the best Newborn Photographer, check out this post!

Seven Tips to an Enjoyable and Relaxed Newborn Shoot | Newborn Photography Hills District