Newborn Session Tips: What to Expect at Your Richmond Session
Congratulations on your new little one! If you’re reading this, you’re probably getting ready for your baby’s first professional photo session. As a Richmond photographer who specializes in newborns, I want to share some newborn session tips to help you feel prepared and relaxed.
The best time for newborn photos is within the first two weeks after birth. Babies are sleepier during this time, which makes it easier to pose them in those sweet, curled-up positions. But don’t worry if your baby is already older – we can still capture beautiful images at any age!
Before your session, try to keep your baby awake for 1-2 hours prior to coming to the studio. This might seem counterintuitive, but a tired baby will sleep more deeply during the session, allowing us to move them into different poses without waking them up.
Essential Newborn Session Tips for Parents
The day of your session, dress your baby in loose-fitting, front-buttoning clothes to avoid leaving marks on their skin or disturbing them too much when changing. A simple onesie or sleep sack works perfectly.
For parents, I recommend wearing solid colors in neutral tones. Creams, soft grays, and light blues photograph beautifully and keep the focus on your new addition. Avoid bright patterns or logos that might distract from those precious newborn features.
Remember that newborn sessions typically last 2-3 hours. This gives us plenty of time for feeding breaks, diaper changes, and soothing your baby between setups. The studio will be warm (around 80 degrees) to keep your little one comfortable, so dress in layers you can remove.
What should you bring? Pack more than you think you’ll need:
- Extra diapers and wipes
- Formula or expressed milk if bottle feeding
- Pacifier (even if you don’t typically use one)
- Change of clothes for yourself (spit-up happens!)
- Any special items you’d like included (special blanket, toy, etc.)
Tips for a Smooth Experience
Don’t stress about crying – it’s totally normal! As a newborn photographer, I expect babies to need breaks for feeding, changing, and comforting. These moments are actually special opportunities for me to capture tender interactions between you and your baby.
If you have older children participating in the session, consider bringing another adult who can take them for a short break if they get restless. I always photograph sibling shots early in the session when their patience and excitement are at their peak.
Some additional newborn session tips: feed your baby right before the session starts. A full baby is a happy, sleepy baby! Also, try to keep stimulation to a minimum on the morning of your session – this can help your baby remain calm and content throughout our time together.
Remember that babies can sense your emotions. If you’re relaxed and calm, your baby is more likely to be settled too. Trust me to handle the posing safely – I’ve worked with hundreds of newborns and their safety is always my top priority.
After your session, you can expect to see your final gallery within about two weeks. This gives me time to carefully select and edit each image to perfection, creating timeless memories you’ll cherish forever.
To get your newborn session reserved, head over to our contact page.
If you’re looking for a studio in the Richmond area for your newborn, family, maternity or other type of session, check out The Studio on Broad!
