August 10, 2026 | Washington DC
Congratulations on your newest addition! Those first few days and weeks with your baby are incredibly special; and they go by so quickly. It’s such an honor to capture your little one during this beautiful season of life.
To help you feel prepared and relaxed, I’ve put together a few tips to make your newborn session as smooth, stress-free, and enjoyable as possible.
As soon as your baby arrives, let me know!
Once you’ve had a chance to settle in at home, send me an email, call, or text; whatever is easiest for you; to let me know your sweet baby has arrived. From there, we’ll choose a date for your session.
Newborn sessions are best scheduled when babies are 4–20 days old. The sooner you reach out after your baby is born, the more options we’ll have for finding a date within that window.
If possible, try to keep your baby awake for about an hour before the session. This helps them become extra sleepy once we begin, which can make posing and transitioning between setups much easier.
A warm bath is a great way to help keep baby awake, as is talking, cuddling, and interacting with them while they’re in just a diaper.
A full belly usually means a happy, sleepy baby!
If you have a longer drive to the studio, feel free to arrive a little early so you have time to feed baby before we begin. Feeding baby well in the hours leading up to your session can also help them settle into a nice, deep sleep.
And don’t worry if baby needs to eat again once we’re underway; we’ll take a break whenever they need one.
I recommend having older children leave once their photos are finished. I typically photograph family and sibling images first, and newborn sessions can last anywhere from 1.5–3 hours.
That can be a long time for little ones to wait, especially since we need to keep the studio relatively quiet while baby is being photographed.
If possible, consider having Dad drive separately or arranging for Grandma or another family member to take siblings home once their portion of the session is finished.
If you’re comfortable with your baby using one, I recommend bringing a pacifier; even if they don’t regularly take one.
Sucking can be very soothing for newborns and can help settle them while I’m getting them into position. Sometimes I may even gently hold the pacifier in place for a moment while baby settles.
If possible, try to keep your baby awake for about an hour before the session. This helps them become extra sleepy once we begin, which can make posing and transitioning between setups much
Newborns love to be warm, and keeping the studio nice and cozy helps them stay comfortable, sleepy, and settled throughout their session.
That means you may get warm, too! Feel free to bring a drink and even a change of clothes if you think you’ll need one.
Almost nothing!
There’s no need to pack a whole wardrobe for your newborn. I provide the wraps, headbands, hats, outfits, and props we’ll use during your session.
If there’s something special you’d like your baby photographed with; a family heirloom, meaningful blanket, special outfit, or favorite prop; please bring it along and let me know ahead of time. I can plan a setup specifically around it.
I recommend having older children leave once their photos are finished. I typically photograph family and sibling images first, and newborn sessions can last anywhere from 1.5–3 hours.
That can be a long tim
We take a break. Simple as that!
Please don’t stress if your baby gets fussy during the session. Newborns are unpredictable, and that’s completely normal.
If baby needs to eat, be changed, cuddled, or simply needs a little extra time to settle, we’ll stop and take care of them. Most newborns need at least one feeding or diaper change during their session.
After all, looking this cute is hard work!
One less thing for you to worry about; I have a beautiful client closet available for both Mom and baby!
My client closet includes carefully selected pieces designed specifically for newborn photography. I’ll help you choose outfits that photograph beautifully and complement the colors and style of your session.
For baby, I provide everything we’ll need, including wraps, outfits, headbands, hats, and other sweet little details.
For Mom, you’ll have access to a selection of flattering, timeless pieces that are perfect for those beautiful, intimate portraits with your new baby. You’re welcome to choose something from the client closet, or you can always bring an outfit of your own if you have something special in mind.
For Dad and siblings, I recommend keeping clothing simple, neutral, and timeless. Soft colors such as cream, beige, gray, taupe, and muted earth tones photograph beautifully and keep the focus on your family connection.
Avoid neon or very bright colors, as they can reflect onto the skin and create unwanted color casts in photographs.
For siblings, classic outfits without large logos, graphics, or writing work best. This keeps the attention on those sweet sibling moments rather than the clothing.
And don’t worry if you’re unsure about what to wear; I’m happy to help! If you have questions about coordinating outfits or would like to see the available pieces in my client closet, just reach out.
Your only job during your newborn session is to slow down and enjoy this moment.
These early days are so fleeting. Before you know it, your tiny newborn will be growing, changing, and reaching all sorts of new milestones. Let yourself soak in this season and enjoy watching your little one experience their very first photo session.
I’ll take care of the rest.
I can’t wait to meet your sweet baby and capture these memories for your family!
Some things that will make your life easier
SPECIALIZING IN CANDID, JOY-FILLEd FAMILY + NEWBORN PHOTOGRAPHY
