In this post you’ll find tips on how to have a relaxed lifestyle newborn photo session

How is it possible to have a relaxed newborn photo session?

After your baby is born, you’ll enter into a state of absolute newborn bliss and a blurred reality of constant sleep-deprivation. Not to mention your whole body is recovering and adjusting to this little baby and it’s needs. Not only will you need to take care of your baby, but the rest of your kids will need you too. Now to add getting photos done to that mix…how is that going to happen? And how can you make it “relaxed” as possible?

In this featured newborn session you will find tips on how to have a relaxed lifestyle newborn photo session.

To read more on what a lifestyle newborn session is, read my blog post here.

#1 – Prepare your outfits ahead of time for your newborn photo session

In order to feel relaxed during your newborn session, you’ll need to prepare your outfits ahead of time.

Aside from good lighting, what you wear during your session plays a huge role into how your family newborn photos turn out!

Choose 3-4 light, earthy, neutral colors. Then start by choosing mom’s outfit first. Newborn photos are taken around 5-10 days after birth, so moms, you’ll still be in maternity clothes. I recommend flowy dresses, or materials that flow away from the body.

Whites, creams, greys, and subdued colors always photograph the best. Try to avoid bright and bold colors, super dark colors like black or navy, big patterns, shirts with logos, lettering, or anything distracting on them.

Dads look great in a basic tee or henley. All family members should be barefoot if possible.

Go through all the options in your closets first, then go shopping (online is my favorite!) to fill in any gaps. Some of my favorites are Target and Amazon.

This family chose light blue, creams, light brown, and gray as their color scheme. Everything is simple and it works together. The baby stayed in the same muted pink-tone swaddle blanket pretty much the whole time.

When I arrived at this home for this family newborn session, all of the kids and baby’s outfits were laid out on the couch. As I was setting up my lighting and chatting to get to know the family, the kids got dressed.

During this newborn session the mom and baby weren’t quite photo-ready yet, so I took the opportunity to just focus on the two older kids until the rest of the family was ready to join us.

#2- Plan on including your whole family in your newborn session and taking breaks

Did you know that you can include your whole family in your newborn photo session? Although this is called a “Lifestyle Newborn Session”, the WHOLE family is involved in the photos! But everyone doesn’t have to be involved in all of the photo the whole time.

Here is my newborn family session shot list (I start with whomever is ready first, then work my way down the list, depending on the moods of the baby and kids):

1. Whole family
2. Siblings + baby
3. Each child individually
4. Mom + baby
5. Dad + baby
6. Mom, Dad + baby
7. Just the baby

We will try to get a few good shots of everyone looking and smiling at the camera, but for the most part I want you to have a good time and just be yourselves.

All children need to take breaks during photo sessions. If your toddler isn’t feeling up to doing family photos, no stress! I just work on other combinations until everyone is ready to participate.

#3- Let go of it all during your newborn session!

Let go of the idea of everything being perfect during your newborn session and embrace the season of life you are in now.

One of my favorite things to capture at every session is all those inbetween moments that can’t be perfectly posed.

Will someone cry? Yes!

Will someone run away and not want to take photos! Most likely, yes!

And guess what…that’s totally OK!

Don’t worry about how your kids will behave or embarrassed if things don’t go as planned.

Being able to be flexible and letting go of the idea of perfection is the key to not stressing out during your session. You just had a baby and things aren’t going to be totally perfect.

You’ll want to look back on your family newborn photos and remember just being grateful for this new baby in your family and being able to embrace the season of life you were in.

Sometimes those “imperfect” moments lead to that “perfect” photo.

#4- Don’t go crazy with the cleaning

My last tip is all about home preparation.

Pick two rooms that have the best natural light. This is usually a bedroom, living/family room, baby’s nursery, or spare bedroom.

After you have picked these two rooms, please declutter and put take away anything that might be distracting. Don’t forget about phone chargers or other visible wires.

Please don’t feel the need to deep clean your entire house before I arrive. No need to go overboard cleaning, you just had a baby! There are zero expectations to impress me. I’m a mom to four kids so literally nothing scares me. Put anything distracting in the background into another room for now.

Before I arrive, please open up all the blinds and curtains so that way I can see the lighting potential in each room. If you’re unsure of the lighting, you can always send me a photo of the rooms you’re considering and I’ll let you know my thoughts.

I do bring lighting equipment with me, so if you don’t have very good natural lighting in your home, don’t worry about it!

Get in touch with me here to book your relaxed lifestyle newborn session or if you have any questions!