Most parents arrive at a newborn shoot nervous — about timing, about feeds, about whether baby will sleep. Most parents leave saying it was the calmest thing they'd done in the first month. The difference is the prep. This guide is exactly what we tell our clients in the pre-shoot call, in writing.
when to book
Book the slot before baby arrives. Once your due date is set, get the date in the calendar — we hold it provisionally and confirm within 48 hours of birth. The optimal window for posed sleeping newborn images is the first 14 days; we can shoot later, but babies are notably more awake and less moldable from 3 weeks onward.
feeding and timing on the day
Best results come when baby is fed, warm and drowsy. We schedule sessions around feeds, not the clock — if your usual feed time is 11am, arrive a little before, do a full feed in the studio's quiet feeding area, and we start once baby's settled. The 2.5-hour window means we never need to rush a feed.
If you can keep baby slightly awake in the hour or two before the session (gentle stimulation, a fresh bath if it suits, slightly cooler room), you'll get the deepest post-feed sleep when it matters.
what to pack
- Plenty of nappies, several changes of clothes, and muslins (more than you think — we'll go through them).
- Whatever you use for feeds — bottles, formula, breast pump if you're expressing.
- Your usual soothing items — dummy, comforter, swaddle blanket. Familiar smells help baby settle.
- A snack and drink for you — the session is 2.5 hours and you'll get hungry.
- Sentimental keepsakes for the photos if you'd like — christening blanket, named soft toy, family heirloom.
- Outfits for you, partner and any siblings (see our newborn photoshoot wardrobe guide).
what we provide so you don't need to bring it
- Pre-warmed studio at 27°C — the room is warm before you arrive.
- Newborn-safe wraps, blankets, hats and headbands across a full tonal range.
- Beanbag posing setups, baskets, bowls and soft posed props.
- Warm towels, private changing area, kitchen with tea and biscuits.
- Quiet feeding area separate from the shoot floor.
bringing siblings or pets
Bring them. Sibling shots are some of the most powerful frames in a newborn session, and well-behaved family pets fit naturally too. Plan for siblings to be photographed early in the session — they have a 30-minute attention span at best, and once their part is done they can have snacks and screen time while baby photography continues.
what to expect during the session
- Arrival. 5 minutes settling in, fresh nappy, possibly a top-up feed.
- Family shots first. Wider family, parents and baby, siblings — get them done while everyone is fresh.
- Baby-only posed work. The classic posed sleeping newborn images. We work slowly, repositioning between setups while baby stays settled.
- Detail shots. Tiny hands, feet, lashes, lips. These are often the parents' favourites.
- Lifestyle, parents-with-baby. Soft, natural, posed but unforced. End-of-session frames once everyone's relaxed.
if baby doesn't settle
Some don't, and that's fine. We work to baby, not against. If they want to be awake, we shoot awake newborn imagery (often more characterful and parent-favourite than the posed sleepy ones). If they need an unscheduled feed mid-session, we pause for as long as it takes. The 2.5-hour window absorbs everything.
after the session
Online gallery delivered within 7 working days. Print release included so you can print, frame and share without further licensing. If you'd like rush turnaround for a christening or family announcement, let us know at booking — we can usually deliver in 48 hours.
booking
See full pricing and timing details on our newborn photography page. Sessions are £295 with 15 edited high-resolution images. Many clients pair the newborn session with a maternity photoshoot earlier in pregnancy — the maternity deposit rolls forward to newborn.
