Expert Tips for Creating a Newborn Photoshoot at Home

A newborn baby entering your world is lifechanging in so many beautiful ways. Soon, you'll be swept away with the intoxicating smell of new baby combined with the heartwarming sound of sweet baby coos. Your precious bundle of joy will melt your heart every time you look at him or her. Ah, baby love!

Those first days of your baby's life are moments to treasure, but it's easy to forget how special they are as you navigate the raw emotions of new parenthood. Between soothing your post-partum body, managing sleep deprivation, and getting comfortable with your new baby, the first precious days of your baby's life can be a total blur. How can you make sure you remember them? A newborn photoshoot!

Here are some tips to help you capture baby's first moments with beautiful images you'll always cherish.

Know the best time to plan your newborn's photoshoot

After months of patiently waiting to meet your newborn baby, you're finally bonding and getting to know him. While your plans may include lots of getting-to-know-you and snuggle time, your baby has other plans—sleeping. Newborns tend to sleep eight hours or more during the day and eight or more (hopefully!) hours during the night.

Some of the most adorable newborn images are of sleeping babies with dreamy faces, all cuddled up and cozy, snoozing away without a care in the world. (Think Anne Geddes. This iconic Australian photographer put newborn photography on the map!)

Wondering when the best time to capture a quintessential sleepy baby pose is? You may want to plan even before your baby makes his arrival so you won't miss it! According to most professional baby photogs, the ideal time for a newborn baby photoshoot is before three weeks of age.

Newborn shoots take place in the first two weeks because, during this time, the sleepy curled-up poses can be achieved; after this time, babies tend to sleep less and are less flexible, so it will be less likely that we achieve these poses.

Sally Slack, Professional Baby Photographer    

Another pro tip includes planning on photographing your baby shortly after his feeding. Photographers love to take advantage of their "drunken milk" stage, and who doesn't love that look of utter contentment a baby has when she's got a full belly!

Get organized

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