Styling your In-home Newborn Session
Spokane Newborn Photographer
We’re back again with another photoshoot styling blog! Today, we are going to talk specifically about styling your in-home newborn session. In case you missed my blog going over the do’s and don'ts of styling your family photoshoot, you can check it out here.
Styling your in-home newborn session is very similar to styling a family session, but there are a few special considerations for a newborn and a postpartum mama/family that I want to share. As always, I always like to remind my clients that outfit choices simply add to the magic of your photos. Your family and the connection that you share are the focus of your session and the right outfit can help that shine through.
I have to start off this blog by stating just how much I adore my in-home newborn sessions. They are my absolute favorite to capture. Being welcomed into someone’s home during such a new and precious chapter of a family’s life is something I am so honored to do. Seeing Mom & Dad love their newborn and sweet siblings excited to interact with their new baby brother or sister is such a joy to capture and the connection is so present in the photos. To all of my past newborn clients- thank you for this experience I always walk away from these sessions in such awe and full of gratitude for the miracle of life.
Now back to styling your in-home newborn session- I included a few photos from the Hamilton’s in-home newborn session in this blog. They are repeat clients and it was so fun to photograph the newest addition to their family as well as see their family grow from four to five.
The Hamiliton’s had recently purchased, renovated and moved into their new home. This made their in-home newborn session even more special as I got to highlight a few special characteristics of their home. In addition to their fun and unique space, they looked absolutely adorable in their outfits! Their choices were a great example of what I recommend (not require) for my clients to wear. Everyone looked season-appropriate, the newborn outfit was form fitting (this is important, we will get to that later!) and their outfits weren’t distracting. In addition, Audrey’s sweet dress added texture and color and everyone was comfortable. 11/10 on outfit choices, for sure!
Do: Feel Comfortable
This may be the most important suggestion for a newborn session, so I’ve listed this first. Wear something that you are comfortable with. Not just comfortable physically, but mentally too. If you put on something that makes you feel self conscious, it’s an immediate “no”. For my mom's reading this- you just gave birth! You are a literal superhero. I want you to be as comfy as you can be. If you are breastfeeding, be conscious of your outfit and make sure it will allow you to breastfeed as needed throughout the session. You do not have to wear what Instagram thinks is ‘cool’ or ‘trendy’. Wear what makes you happy. The more confident you feel in your outfit, the better your pictures will turn out!
For your newborn: try to find something that is a bit more form fitting and not too big for your little one. We don’t want an outfit swallowing up baby, but instead we want to capture how tiny they are when they are the smallest they will ever be.
Do: Reach Out To Your Photographer for Advice
Have a few outfits in mind but want to know how they may look behind the lens? Send a screenshot or two to your photographer and ask for their opinion! They will be able to tell if a pattern will clash with any other colors you’ve picked out, if a fabric color might not be the best in front of a camera or indoors, or if it will fit in with the colors of your home. I would love to be included in this part of the process with you!
Do: Stick to Neutrals
Neutrals (think whites, greys, tans, muted colors) age well and help make your photos feel more timeless. If you are dressing with the trends, you may notice your pictures become dated faster. Neutral colors also don’t take away from your beautiful faces :) They tend to compliment the background of your photos more cohesively as well.
A neutral color doesn’t take away from the tiniest details on a newborn. You’ll want to remember how tiny those fingers and toes were! In addition, neutral colors will help add more light to your photos too. Since we will be inside, we will be working with less natural light than if we were outside so this is a bonus of choosing neutrals.
Do: Implement Complimenting Textures
In the session pictured here, Madeline and Audrey wore dresses that add texture and depth to the photographs. The boys wore neutrals with white, tan and the same mint green of the girl’s dresses. Visually, these outfits created a lot to look at but weren’t distracting like clashing patterns or colors could be.
Don’t: Spend all of your Money
Please don’t feel like you have to spend a lot of money on new outfits for your family. There are so many ways to find great outfits without breaking the bank, and the goal is to pick outfits that accurately represent your family- so naturally, you should have no issue wearing your outfits again in the future!
I have a few neutral onesies I have purchased for my newborn client closet. If you are looking for something for baby to wear, I have a few options you are welcome to take a look at.
Don’t: Wait Until the Last Minute to Try Your Outfits On
Please do not wait until the morning to decide what you are going to wear. Inevitably, something will go wrong. You may find your child has outgrown the chosen outfit, or that your spouse isn’t happy with what you selected for them. You could be trying on outfit after outfit unhappy with everything and we all know this results in a post-tornado mess of a closet. Not a great way to start off your newborn family session. Plan ahead and I promise it will make the session go much more smooth. It’s also smart to maybe have an extra onesie ready to go or a backup option in case baby makes a mess on the other!
Don’t: Try to Conform to Another Style You Are Not
Stay true to who you and your family are. The session is in your home. Be as comfortable as you like! If your family is low-key, find something cute and comfy. I promise you’ll be so focused on how tiny and precious your baby is you will barely notice how fancy your clothes are.
If you take away anything from this blog, please let it be this: your photos are going to be beautiful and so precious. These photos will bring you back to a time of long nights, tired days, but the most love you’ve ever felt. They will serve as a beautiful reminder for a more simple, cherished time in your life. Just remember to talk to your photographer, choose comfort and neutrals and remember that your outfits do not make or break your photos.
I hope these tips will make you fall even more in love with your photos!
Cheers!
-Meredith “The Camera Kidd”
