Newborn Client Guide
HOW TO PREPARE FOR YOUR SESSION
Newborn sessions are generally held in home, especially if bub is under 6 months old and/or it’s during the colder months. In home newborn session take place mid-morning, usually around 10am, and go for around 1.5 hours.
I recommend making a few key rooms ‘photo ready’, which involves de-clutter and light cleaning, but please don’t feel like you need to spend days preparing or scrub the whole house clean!
And please don't apologise for "the mess" - you should see my house! If required, I will help you with additional tidying once I arrive.
When I arrive, I will do a quick walk through of your home and select a couple of rooms with good natural light to work in. This usually ends up being the living room, 1 - 2 bedrooms and / or the baby's nursery. We can also head outside to the backyard for a few shots if the weather is nice.
Ahead of our shoot, I may ask you to send me through a few photos of key rooms so I can access the lighting ahead of our session.
I suggest using a relatively plain/neutral doona cover and removing items from coffee and bedside tables. Read my blog article 5 tips for preparing for an in-home newborn photoshoot to learn more.
I recommend having bub stripped down to just a nappy and then wrapped in a nice warm blanket, ready for us to dress when I arrive.
Just before I arrive, I also recommend giving bub a nice big feed and keeping them upright if possible to reduce the risk of gas/reflux. If you don't have time, that's ok, we can do it once I arrive!
Please ensure your home/the rooms we'll be shooting in are nice and warm as this will help to settle bub - a good rule of thumb is to aim for t-shirt heat.
During our session, your main priority is to relax and enjoy this time with your new baby. There’s no need to worry about ‘creating the perfect shot’ or apologise if the house isn't perfect or bub is a bit unsettled, none of that will matter when you look back on these photos in years to come.
These photos are a celebration of the ‘now’, the first few weeks or months with your beautiful new baby, so don’t be afraid to embrace it!
If siblings are involved, we’ll start with photographs including them and move on to shots with mum, dad and bub. Siblings can then go a play for a while.
I talk about this more in my Style Guide Section, but I think it’s particularly important for you to feel comfortable and beautiful during your newborn shoot. This means selecting an outfit that is comfortable on your post-partum body and minimises the areas you may feel a bit self-conscious about (for me, that’s my upper arms and thighs).
I have built a Client Closet for this very reason because I know finding an outfit can sometimes be challenging and the last thing you want to do!
STYLE GUIDE
I have a confession to make... I used to underestimate the importance of choosing the right outfit for photoshoots.
Now don't get me wrong, I will capture beautiful photos regardless of what you're wearing, But I've come to realise that the right outfit choice can really enhance the overall look and feel of your images.
I want your outfit choices to be as timeless as possible. But knowing what to wear isn't always easy, so I've created style guide to give you a little inspiration and help you select the right outfits for you and your family.
If you need a new outfit, but don’t necessarily want to buy something that you may not wear again? Mama Rentals is an amazing Australian outfit hire option for photoshoots. I’m very proud to offer my clients a 15% discount with Mama Rentals, simply use the code “meeganwilmotphotography” at checkout.
They have a wide range of pregnancy and post-natal outfits that you can hire specifically for photoshoots, events or baby showers. My favourite pieces for newborn sessions include the Hazel & Folk Melody Maxi, the Co & Ry Audrey Dress, the Girl And The Sun Paros Maxi Dress or the Petal and Pup Bambina Knit Dress.
Alternatively, you’re welcome to use items from my Client Closet and build your family’s outfit around them.
I'm also always here to help, so if you're a little unsure, please reach out via email or text message.
ALLOW CONNECTION TO SHINE THROUGH
In my opinion, neutrals (think white, cream and beige) and classic styles work best for newborn shoots. These tones limit any distraction in your images and allow connection to shine through. But don’t be afraid to include some soft / muted colours if you wish.
WHAT ABOUT BABY AND DAD?
I have to admit, dads have it pretty easy when it comes to outfits. Tan or beige chino pants/shorts, paired with a plain white/neutral tee or shirt makes for a timeless choice.
There are two choices when it comes to bubs outfits, you can either provide your own or use one of my Client Closet outfits. Whichever option you decide to go with, it’s bests to apply the above principles.
I also have a selection of heirloom blankets to choose from.
CONSIDER YOUR HOME
It's also important to remember that these photos will be displayed in your home for many years to come, so keep that in mind when selecting outfit choices and colours.
AVOID LOGOS, STRIPES, & BRIGHT COLOURS
Now I'm a fan of a good Country Road t-shirt as much as the next person, but I encourage you to avoid t-shirts or jumpers with logos, text or characters on them... Fellas, I'm looking at you!
Logos, text and characters on the front or back of t-shirts and jumpers can draw the eye and be very distracting in photos. It's best to avoid them all together and opt for plain choices instead.
I would also recommend avoiding overly bright or dark colours (think bright pink, orange, yellow, red or black) and clothing with thin stripes or pinstripes as this can create a pattern called ‘moire’ in digitals files (and can be hard to remove in editing).
HAIR & MAKEUP
I recommend wearing your hair out or at least partially out during the session, straight or soft curls often work best.
You will often be posed looking down at bub with your hair falling past your cheek. For this reason, I also recommend freshly washed hair (I know this can be a challenge in the early postpartum days) as un-washed hair can be very noticeable and difficult to edit.
Tidy fingernails are also a must, for you and your partner as we’ll capture some close ups of hands on your baby.
Like clothing, makeup is also best kept fairly natural and neutral. Read my blog article 5 camera-friendly makeup tips for more suggestions.
Please mindful that fake tans and some foundations can throw orange tones. On the topic of tan lines, it's common to naturally develop tan lines over the warmer months, so it's best to keep that in mind when selecting outfit choices.
