How to Prepare Your Baby for a Newborn Photo Session — Everything You Need to Know
- Imagine That Photography
- Jun 19
- 7 min read
A well-prepared baby makes for a smooth, beautiful session. Here is exactly what to do in the days and hours leading up to your appointment.
You have booked your newborn session at Imagine That Photography. Your date is confirmed, your design consultation is done, and the nursery is ready. Now comes a question that almost every new parent asks me in the days leading up to their session:
"Is there anything I should do to prepare my baby?"
Yes — and I promise it is simpler than it sounds. A little thoughtful preparation makes an enormous difference to how smoothly and beautifully your session unfolds. A well-fed, warm, comfortable baby settles into deep sleep quickly and stays there — which is exactly what creates those breathtaking, peaceful newborn portraits that families treasure forever.
Here is everything you need to know.
——————————————————————————
The Most Important Thing — Feeding
——————————————————————————
A well-fed baby is a sleepy baby. And a sleepy baby is the foundation of a beautiful newborn session.
In the hour or two before you leave for the studio, feed your baby as you normally would — whether you are breastfeeding or bottle feeding. A full, satisfied baby settles into deep sleep much more easily and stays settled much longer, which gives us the time and flexibility to work through multiple setups without long interruptions.
Do not rush the feeding in order to arrive on time. A slightly late arrival with a well-fed, sleeping baby is infinitely better than an on-time arrival with a hungry, unsettled one. I always build buffer time into sessions for exactly this reason — there is no rush, and we will never make you feel like you need to hurry your baby.
During the session itself, please feed your baby whenever they need it. There is no such thing as interrupting a newborn session for a feeding — it is simply part of the rhythm. We pause, you feed, baby settles back into sleep, and we continue. This is completely normal and expected, and it is one of the reasons our sessions run three to four hours rather than rushing through in ninety minutes.
——————————————————————————
Keeping Baby Awake Before You Arrive
——————————————————————————
This tip surprises many parents but makes a significant difference: try to keep your baby awake for approximately one hour before you leave for the studio.
A baby who has been awake for an hour before the session will be naturally ready for a deep, long sleep once we begin — the kind of sleep that allows us to gently move and pose them without waking. A baby who falls asleep in the car on the way to the studio and arrives mid-nap may be in a lighter sleep cycle that is easily disturbed.
I know keeping a newborn awake feels counterintuitive — every instinct tells you to let them sleep whenever they want. But this one adjustment, just for the hour before you leave, makes a genuine difference to how smoothly the session flows.
A gentle way to do it: keep baby slightly underdressed, engage with them, talk to them, do a feeding during that awake window. Nothing stressful — just gently preventing the deep sleep until you arrive.
——————————————————————————
What to Dress Your Baby In for the Journey
——————————————————————————
For the drive to the studio, dress your baby in a loose, easy-to-remove outfit. This is more important than it might seem.
Tight waistbands, elasticated sleeves, ribbed socks, and fitted onesies all leave imprint marks on newborn skin — and those marks can take 20 to 30 minutes to fade. Since much of your session will feature your baby's bare skin or minimal wrapping, arriving with imprint-free skin means we can start right away rather than waiting for marks to disappear.
The best choice is a simple, loose sleepsuit or a soft swaddle wrap. Easy to remove, no tight edges, no marks.
Also avoid mittens if possible. Your baby's hands are featured in so many newborn images — tiny fingers, little fists, the size of them against yours — and mitten marks around the wrists, while small, are noticeable in close-up shots.
——————————————————————————
The Studio Temperature — What to Expect
——————————————————————————
When you walk into our studio for your newborn session, the first thing you will notice is that it is warm. Warmer than you probably expected — closer to what you might think of as uncomfortably warm for an adult.
This is completely intentional, and it is one of the most important safety and comfort measures we take for your baby.
Newborns cannot regulate their own body temperature the way older babies and adults can. They settle most deeply and sleep most soundly when they are warm and cozy — similar to the warmth of the womb they so recently left. A warm studio environment means babies stay settled longer, require less resettling between setups, and sleep through the gentle movements of posing more reliably.
I recommend dressing yourselves in comfortable, lightweight layers that you can remove if needed. Bring a light cardigan or layer for yourself so you have options. The warmth that is perfect for your baby may feel quite toasty for you — and that is completely normal.
What to Bring to Your Session — Honestly, Not Much
Here is something I tell every family before their session, and it always brings a little sigh of relief: you don't need to pack like you're leaving for the airport.
The studio is fully stocked for your baby. Diapers, wipes, a changing table, and a bottle warmer are all here and ready to use. If you forget something or simply run out — I've got you covered. That said, if you feel more comfortable bringing your own diapers or your preferred brand of wipes, absolutely bring them. This is your session and your baby, and whatever makes you feel most at ease is the right choice.
For feeding: if you are bottle feeding, bring your prepared bottles as usual. The bottle warmer is ready to go the moment you need it. If you are breastfeeding, you don't need to bring anything extra — just yourself.
A pacifier if your baby uses one is always worth throwing in the bag. Even if we don't photograph with it, it can be a wonderful settling tool between setups.
Any comfort item that helps your baby feel secure — a specific swaddle, a familiar scent — is always welcome.
For yourself: sessions run three to four hours, and you are a brand new parent running on very little sleep. Please eat. Please hydrate. I always have snacks and water at the studio — and I almost always order bagels for session days, because honestly, everyone deserves a bagel. You are welcome to bring your own snacks too if you have something specific you love or need.
Your session wardrobe pieces if you are bringing any personal items — anything we discussed at your design consultation, clean and ready to go.
Comfortable, easy clothing for yourself — you will be moving, sitting, feeding, and settling your baby throughout the session. Comfort is everything.
And that is genuinely it. Everything that touches your baby's skin at the studio — every wrap, every prop fabric, every blanket — has been freshly laundered specifically for your session. You do not need to bring any of that. Just bring your baby, and let me take care of the rest.
A Note for the Days Before Your Session
In the days leading up to your session, the most important thing you can do is simply take care of yourself and your baby without adding any additional stress.
If your baby has a pediatrician appointment before the session, try to schedule it for after rather than before — occasionally vaccinations can cause mild fussiness or fever in the days following, which can affect your baby's comfort and settleability during the session.
If your baby has been experiencing any skin conditions — baby acne, milk rash, cradle cap — do not worry. These are extremely common in newborns, are not harmful, and can be addressed beautifully in retouching. Do not apply any new products to your baby's skin in the days before the session without consulting your pediatrician first.
And if your baby decides to arrive on a completely different schedule than planned — that is perfectly fine. Newborns are wonderfully unpredictable, and I have built every part of this session to accommodate that. There is no scenario in which we cannot work together to create something beautiful.
You Don't Need to Have It All Together
One last thing — and I mean this sincerely:
You do not need to arrive at this session with a perfectly settled baby, a fully healed body, or any kind of composure. You are days postpartum, running on almost no sleep, and in the middle of one of the most profound transitions of your life.
My studio is a calm, warm, unhurried space. There is no judgment here. There is no timeline pressure. If your baby needs twenty minutes of feeding and settling before we can even begin — that is completely fine. If you need to sit down, have some water, and breathe for a few minutes when you arrive — that is completely fine too.
You brought a whole new person into the world. That deserves some grace — including from yourself.
Come as you are. We will take care of the rest.
Ready to Book Your Newborn Session?
Imagine That Photography serves families across Long Island — Dix Hills, Huntington, Melville, Syosset, Plainview, and beyond. Reach out today and let's start planning something beautiful for your family.
I can't wait to meet your little one.
Previous post: How Old Should My Baby Be for Newborn Photos?
Next in this series: What Should Parents and Siblings Wear to a Newborn Session?
Back to the complete guide: Everything You Need to Know Before Booking a Newborn Session
Imagine That Photography by Tatiana Bogdan is a luxury maternity, newborn, baby, and family portrait studio located at 5 Etna Ln, Dix Hills, NY 11746. Proudly serving families across Long Island including Huntington, Melville, Syosset, Plainview, Roslyn, Old Westbury, Cold Spring Harbor, Greenlawn, and surrounding communities. Call us at (516) 510-9250.
Comments