When people say the days are long, but the years are short, they aren’t kidding! Those first newborn days are exhausting and long, but your little one will change so much over that first year. I want to capture this new stage for you, so that long after the fog of the newborn stage wears off you can remember your little one just how they were. My goal is to capture natural moments of your new little one with the family. This also means that what you wear for newborn photos should be natural too. I will help you every step of the way in planning your newborn session outfits. You can find more information about my newborn sessions here.
Before Choosing Newborn Session Outfits: Consider the Location
Newborn sessions can take place in the comfort of your own home or, in the warmer months, outside at locations in the Metro-West Boston area. For in-home sessions, you can control the temperature of your home so you don’t have to worry about the baby getting cold. For outdoor sessions, you will want to keep in mind the temperature. You will want to have layers and blankets with you in case your baby gets cold.
How to Choose Your Newborn’s Outfit for Photos
I often get asked what to wear for newborn photos. My answer is always that simple and neutral is better. I have a client closet of neutral baby outfits and swaddles that my clients are welcome to borrow from.
Tips for Selecting Newborn Clothes for Pictures
White onesies or even just a diaper and swaddle work great! We want your baby to be the star of the show, so we don’t want their outfit to distract from them. If you want to have your baby wear an outfit here are some suggestions:
- Pick neutral colors
- Avoid busy patterns
- Pick soft fabric
- Find fabric with texture
Choosing Accessories for the Baby
Like I mentioned before, we want your baby to be the star of the show. I want your photos to be natural and true to life (but looking through the lenses of rose colored glasses) . For these reasons, I don’t use props. If you have a special family item like a quilt or piece of furniture with sentimental meaning, then I would love to include those in a few photos.
How many outfits should I prepare for my newborn?
I recommend planning to have one main outfit for your baby. You may want to have something as a backup in case your baby has a blow out diaper accident, but we can always change the baby’s diaper and transition to photos with the baby in just the diaper and a swaddle. I don’t recommend having more than one outfit because we don’t want to be changing the baby a lot. Outfit changes can lead to cranky babies.
Choosing Parent Outfits for a Newborn Session
One of the most common questions I get asked during the planning stages with my clients is “What should we wear?” I would love to discuss your clothing choices, help you narrow down your choices, or send you links to help give you ideas for outfits.
I have a client closet that you are welcome to borrow from. Just let me know if you would like me to bring any of my dresses to your session. I also have an Amazon idea list to help give you some inspiration.
Tips for Coordinating Newborn Outfits with Parent Outfits
- I suggest starting with mom finding an outfit that she feels her best in and then build the other family member’s outfits off of that. I love flowy dresses for moms. They are super flattering and add great texture and movement to photos.
- Khakis and a neutral, button-down sweater or henley top are great for dads.
Choosing Sibling Outfits for a Newborn Session
Siblings are an important part of newborn sessions. You can find some tips for including siblings in sessions here. You will want to make sure that the siblings’ outfits coordinate with the whole family’s look.
Tips for Coordinating Newborn Outfits with Siblings’ Outfits
You might include tips like:
- Choosing a similar color palette (use moms outfit as a jumping off point)
- Choosing complementary patterns or textures
- Keeping it comfortable and simple
- If the older sibling is interested in clothing, get them involved in choosing their outfits
Looking for a Metro-West Boston Newborn Photographer?
I would love to help your family freeze these special moments in your life. Reach out and let me know a little bit about your family!
Find more Client Resources on the blog
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