One thing I’m particularly bad at is remembering to take some footage before a shoot, and that then means that parents and would-be clients don’t necessarily know what to expect when they book a newborn baby photo shoot with us. This blog aims to give a bit more of an insight into what a typical session looks like, if indeed there is such a thing!

Studio Space – Kettering Newborn Baby Photographer

The one thing I always emphasise to people is just how little space we have to work with. In total, the room measures about 6m x 3m (slightly wider in a couple of alcoves).

We have three “hard board” stations, each with reversible floor and wall panels, plus three additional rustic chalk board painted panels that we may or may not make use of, depending on the vibe you’re looking for. These stations are almost exclusively used with props.

We also have a beanbag set up with a frame that allows fabric to be clipped to it, meaning we can easily change background colours for non-prop-based images.

For parent & baby pictures where everybody is visible in front of the camera, we make use of a blue sofa for seated shots and the white wall for standing.

There’s a guide to newborn baby and parent ideas here.

The limited space just means we have to work harder between setups, with lots of stuff getting moved around. Experience has taught us to take advantage of natural breaks to do this, so when Baby is having a feed or a bum change, we’ll use that time to be setting up the next scenes.

Newborn Baby Photo Shoot Flow – Kettering Newborn Baby Photographer

Arrival

So how does a newborn baby photo shoot usually flow? Well, we do always listen to Baby and take our cues from them. Most babies have been fed before they leave their homes, but, with parents often traveling for 30 minutes or more to us, it might not be too long before they are thinking about a feed again.

As most parents will attest, Baby + driving around in the car usually = sleepy Baby. Some babies do wake up in the process of being removed from their car seats, but we can usually get a few shots on the bean bag of them either dozing or in a happy, eyes open state.

Bean Bag

Some parents specifically want pictures of Baby in the outfits they arrive in, while others do not. If they do, we obviously get them at this stage.

From there, we might go for an outfit change, or maybe covered with a wrap.

A baby boy in his arrival babygrow. His daddy’s a chef – A Typical Newborn Photo Shoot

It’s also a good opportunity to get pictures of hand holding, making heart shapes around feet etc plus some of those gorgeous close-up detail shots of little noses, lips, ears and eyelashes, in particular, for those who want them. We will probably also use the opportunity to get a feel for the positions Baby is most comfortable in, specifically how they respond to being on their side and front.

Amazing baby boy eyelashes – A Typical Newborn Photo Shoot

Teeny tiny ears are always surprisingly hairy when viewed up close – A Typical Newborn Photo Shoot

His mummy loves him with all her heart – A Typical Newborn Photo Shoot

Holding his daddy’s hand – A Typical Newborn Photo Shoot

Posed Parent & Baby Shots

If Baby is awake, we might look to do the parent and Baby shots at this point – IF YOU WANT THEM. Not everybody is comfortable in front of the camera, let alone shortly after giving birth. Usually, this means some seated and some standing in front of the white wall.

So much happiness. Proud as punch new parents – A Typical Newborn Photo Shoot

As you might have seen, although we’re shooting it against a white wall, you do get a black wall black and white edit for the standing shots.

Black background edit of a shot taken against a white wall – A Typical Newborn Photo Shoot

Again, for those who want them, we can turn the light around and capture some more silhouetted shots.

Props – Kettering Newborn Baby Photographer

At this point, we generally start to think about moving on to some of the props. As I mentioned further up the page, we essentially have three ‘prop stations’, and these will all be set up and ready to go based upon the answers you provide on the questionnaire.

Check out the directory of Newborn Baby Photography Props, Fabrics & Backgrounds available for you to make use of while you’re here.

You’re also very welcome to bring anything of your own with you that is personal and of sentimental value. We just ask that you let us know in advance, please 🙂

We worked in this little boy’s late-grandfather’s nautical memorabilia into this shot – A Typical Newborn Photo Shoot

Care & Maintenance

How far we get with these before Baby decides they want a feed and a bum change possibly depends upon how many outfit changes we need to squeeze in for those three props.

Sleepy night nights time – A Typical Newborn Photo Shoot

Sleepy bedtime scene – A Typical Newborn Photo Shoot

Feet hanging out of the bed is always a super cute shot – A Typical Newborn Photo Shoot

Because we allocate three hours for the session, that’s really not a problem at all – and we can even fit in further “top ups”, too. We are always taking our cues from Baby and go at their pace – to try to do anything else just wouldn’t work.

Over The Shoulder Baby / Parent(s) Shot

If we get the first batch of props rattled off, we often take the opportunity to get the parents involved again. The over-the-shoulder shot is always really popular.

Getting Mum and Dad to look at one another – even though they’re out of focus – is always a lovely shot – A Typical Newborn Photo Shoot

There are a few really nice ways to do the over-the-shoulder shot – A Typical Newborn Photo Shoot

Props – Round 2

Depending on how far we got with the props, we might need to return to some of them. If it all went well, we’ll have already checked with the parents to see what else might have caught their eye while they’ve been in the studio, and while Baby was being tended to, we’ll have set up any additional items.

Easter was approaching when this session took place – A Typical Newborn Photo Shoot

Fast asleep in his armchair – A Typical Newborn Photo Shoot

Crashed out on the sofa – A Typical Newborn Photo Shoot

We have a wide range of sofa props – A Typical Newborn Photo Shoot

We love the little mousey outfit – A Typical Newborn Photo Shoot

This newborn baby boy’s nursery is kitted out with a jungle theme, so the lion outfit was a must – A Typical Newborn Photo Shoot

Wrapping – Kettering Newborn Baby Photographer

It’s usually around now that we start to think about wrapping Baby. They are probably starting to get a bit tired and possibly a bit grumpy, and wrapping definitely helps to put them back into sleepy mode. Most wrapped shots are also conducted in the props.

The culinary theme was strong with this one – A Typical Newborn Photo Shoot

The Swing

The final prop shot we usually do is the swing, again, for those who want it.

The Swing is usually a popular choice among newborn parents – A Typical Newborn Photo Shoot

Bean Bag – Round 2

And to close, more often than not, we’ll end up back on the bean bag for any woollen outfit shots we’ve not managed to incorporate into prop setups, as well as the cushion animals, if they’re on your list.

A baby boy snuggled up on the swan animal cushion – A Typical Newborn Photo Shoot

Obviously, every baby is different, and regrettably we can’t force them to do everything that you want. What we will do, though, is offer experience-based thoughts on possible work-arounds/compromises to situations where Baby’s not fully co-operating. We will always try to get as much from the session for you as we can.