Children grow up so fast, and having photos of your little ones at their smallest and newest can help you remember years later how tiny they truly were.

 

As you’re preparing to welcome a new addition into your family, consider booking a newborn photo shoot to capture this wonderful moment in your life. And if you’re unsure what a newborn photo session entails, we’ve compiled this list of common questions parents have.

 

What’s the best age for newborn photos?

The ideal age for a newborn session is between five and 12 days. At this stage, babies still spend most of their time sleeping and often still snuggle up in positions that are similar to those they held in the womb. Remember that babies grow fast, and after two weeks, your little one will start stretching their arms and legs more and will be less comfortable with posing—and less likely to stay asleep for most of the session.

 

How early should I book my shoot?

If you want to have a newborn session, try to book it as early as you can. You only have a small window of time in which to take these photos, and you want to make sure your photographer is available.

At our studio I recommend scheduling a Newborn Session when you are 30 weeks. This will give us time to get a really good idea of what you would like to do for your Newborn Session. Plus time for me to order new items should we decide we need to. If you are past this window you can still schedule with me and I will do everything I can to produce beautiful imagery for you and your family.

 

What if my baby arrives later than expected?

Your photographer will understand that babies come when they’re ready and not on any schedule. They’ll hold time around your scheduled session to make sure you’re guaranteed a space when baby arrives.

At our studio we provide you a link to choose a time at booking. Then you are encouraged to reach out once baby has arrived to adjust the session date/time as needed.

 

How long is a typical newborn session?

Most sessions last about three to four hours. If that sounds long, don’t worry—you won’t be taking photos the whole time. A large portion of your session will be spent feeding and comforting your newborn to make sure they’re content for portraits.

Here at our studio I schedule your session for 2-3 hours. I work efficiently and find that 4 hours is not usually necessary for me to capture beautiful portraits. If we have more ideas we want to try and for some reason need more time I schedule my sessions to provide me that flexibility.

 

How should I dress my baby?

The majority of newborn photography involves nude portraits to capture the tininess and softness of your baby, so you’ll want to dress your infant in something that’s easy to put on and remove. If you’d rather your baby dressed in photos, make sure you choose an outfit that fits well as too-large clothes will look messy in photos.

When you book a session at our studio we offer newborn outfit options as well. Outfits that are made from the softest knit fabrics and are super adorable. So you do not have to bring a special outfit when booking with us. Same for the mama. Our collection of Maternity Gowns look beautiful when used in your Newborn Session as well.

What should I bring to my session?

Your whole diaper bag, of course—pacifiers, extra diapers and wipes, and extra formula and bottles, if you formula-feed. You also want to bring a change of clothes for yourself—if you’re going to be in photos with a naked infant, there’s a good chance you’ll get pooped or peed on. And be sure to bring along any props you want included in the photos, like a blanket or a toy that has special meaning to you or your family.

With our studio we recommend bringing a waterbottle and snacks as well. 3 hours is a long time and nursing mamas get hungry too. If you have older children bringing non-messy snacks like gummies work great for encouraging them to cooperate when they are difficult.

 

Be sure to ask your photographer any other questions you may have and don’t be nervous! Your photographer has experience working with newborns and parents and will know just how to pose and photograph your baby and capture those precious memories of this special time in your lives.

Nicole Hollenkamp is a safety certified custom portrait photographer in Milaca, Minnesota specializing in maternity, newborn, birth, and milk bath photography. Serving the Northern Twin Cities area, including (but not limited to) Anoka, Becker, Big Lake, Bock, Clearwater, Elk River, Foley, Foreston, Garrison, Gilman, Glendorado, Isle, Maple Grove, Milaca, Monticello, Oak Park, Ogilvie, Onamia, Otsego, Princeton, Rice, Rogers, Sartell, Sauk Rapids, St Cloud, St. Joseph, Waite Park, Watab, Zimmerman  and More.

www.bynicoleann.com