My Take on Newborn Photos: As a Mom and Family Photographer

We’re gearing up to take our final set of newborn photos, as a family of SIX. That sounds absolutely wild when I put it into words. We’ll be having one of my good friends and photog colleagues taking our photos and, just like anyone else, I am praying to all the Gods that things go smoothly.

When Should I Take Newborn Photos?

As a family photographer, I get this question often. My general rule of thumb: within the first two weeks of life. I know! This sounds exhausting. You’ve just birthed a child. You’re healing. You’re tired. You do not feel your best physically. You blink and two weeks have flown by.

But trust me. You’ll want to take them within that time. By the time one month rolls around, I hate to break it to you, but your little newborn has lost some of it’s newborn. It’s the saddest part of this whole parenting thing. They’ll not only look older and different already, but they will also be more alert and awake. Which in turn, makes the photo taking a bit more difficult. And if you haven’t paid enough attention to a newborns eyes, let me tell you, you do not want them open for photos. Their eyes are still unfocused, half opened, and more times than not, a bit crossed. So it is always best to have them asleep during these- and the sleepiest time of their life is within those first two weeks.

Tips to Help Baby Sleep During The Photoshoot

My biggest advice to keeping baby asleep during their newborn photos is to ensure they were plenty fed before the photographer arrives. Even if this means topping them off with a small nursing session or bottle just before. A fed baby is a happy baby and a happy baby sleeps! Other tricks are providing a contact nap just before the photographer arrives, cranking the heat in the house (or plug in a space heater in whichever room you are planning to use), and changing baby’s diaper to a clean one. If you use a sound machine, have it on and playing in the room during the session. All of these tricks have helped keep baby soundly asleep throughout almost all of my sessions as a photographer.

What Should the Baby Wear?

This one is entirely preferential. However, I will always suggest muted colors, neutrals, and/or soft patterns above all else. The purpose of the photos is to capture your little one in this stage. Every little feature about them- their fingers, their toes, their tiny, little ears. The last thing you want is to put the baby in an outfit that competes for attention. When you show off your photos, you want everyone’s eyes on your newest little babe, not on their outfit. So choose something soft on the eyes.

Check out some of my family sessions on my website: Kait Jensen Photography and be sure to follow along on IG at both @kait_ejensen and @kaitjensenphotography