What to Wear for Your Newborn Session
A newborn session is a beautiful celebration of one of the most profound moments in a mother’s life.
Capturing these fleeting early days with a new baby allows a mother to embrace the overwhelming feelings and love that comes with welcoming her new baby into the world.
Each gentle pose and tender gaze tells a story of new beginnings, deep connections, and the incredible journey of motherhood that’s just started.
These photos are not only cherished memories but also timeless keepsakes that reflect the unique bonds between a mother and her newborn, that pass and are forgotten all too quickly.
Colours For Your Newborn Session
I suggest choosing neutrals, muted/soft pastels or earth tones.
These types of colours photograph very well and make everyone look their best. You can also never go wrong with neutrals like white, cream, gray, or black.
These colours are timeless and will never go out of style, plus they keep the focus where it belongs — on your new baby.
If you prefer patterns over solid colours, small and understated patterns like small chequered or small stripes are also fine.
They read as a solid pattern from the camera’s perspective, and keep your clothing from becoming the focal point of the session.
Layers or textures like a chunky knitted sweater, tulle, denim, or a shirt with a collar can really add visual interest and depth to a portrait.
Some Things to Avoid
As much as I want the photos to reflect you as a family, here are some things I would suggest you avoid when choosing outfits for your newborn photos:
Logos: Avoid logos or graphics. Not only are they distracting, they tend to date your photos much faster than other clothing choices.
Patterns: Large patterns or florals. They tend to cause chaos, distract from faces, and create busy images.
Accessories: Avoid too many accessories. These can get in the way of handing your new baby and also date your images.
Neon/Bright Colours: Please no neon colours. Your clothes will reflect light back on to your skin, and neon colours create unflattering skin tones, especially on newborns!
I also suggest not over accessorising with lots of jewellery or scarves.
What To Wear In Newborn Sessions for Mama
It is important that you feel like you, in the clothes they are wearing. How you feel in your clothes is just as important as what you’re actually wearing and it shows in the photos.
So whatever you pick, be sure you feel confident and comfortable in your clothes. It really does make a world of difference.
What To Wear for Newborn Photos for Your Partner
Keep it simple! A nice pair of jeans or khakis with a fresh t-shirt or button up looks great. Casual and relaxed.
What to Wear for Newborn Photos for Older Siblings
I have two children of my own, so I know exactly how hard it is to get everyone dressed and out the door! My suggestions for finding outfits for older siblings for newborn photos:
Go with coordinating rather than exactly the same. Find outfits that have colours and styles in common.
Be sure to also make sure their outfits don’t bother them in any way, like too hot, or itchy, or too tight.
A happy toddler is more likely to sit for a photo and be relaxed than an uncomfortable one!
Don’t worry too much about shoes. I love seeing the bottom of cute little toes rather than shoe soles. Bare feet are just so cute!
Dress your Baby for Ease
I prefer to photograph babies just in their nappies or a little sleeveless/ legless body (remember to put a fresh nappy on before you leave the house), dressing them with just a nappy and an easy to remove outfit (like a front buttoned or one-piece with a zipper) is great as baby isn’t handled too much and becomes unsettled.
We want to keep your little newborn content and sleepy as best we can and don’t want to fuss with extra layers!
For a home session, we can chat if there are any outfits you’d like your little one to wear, but just the timeless white body or just a nappy with a cover on works beautifully and creates lovely photos.
I also have a selection of little bodies and outfits that your newborn can wear.
For a posed session if you dress your baby in their nappy and in something loose so they aren’t too disturbed when it is taken off and from there we can dress them or wrap them for the flow of the session.
