How to Prepare for a Newborn Shoot
How to prepare for a newborn photoshoot: the best timing in the first two weeks, keeping baby warm and fed, what to bring
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Key takeaways
- Newborn sessions are best in the first two weeks (ideally days 5-14), when babies settle most easily into curled poses.
- Book during pregnancy, around your due date, as the ideal window is short and timed to baby's arrival.
- A warm room and a well-fed baby are the two biggest factors in a calm, successful session.
- Allow 2-3 hours and expect breaks, the unhurried, baby-led pace is the secret to natural photos.
- Bring feeds, spare nappies, and any sentimental items you'd like included.
Newborn sessions are gentle, unhurried and led entirely by your baby. A little preparation makes the day calmer for everyone, and calmer babies make for the most beautiful, peaceful photographs. The two things that matter most are timing, ideally the first two weeks, and a warm, fed, content baby. Here is everything new parents need to know to get ready for a newborn shoot.
A newborn session is a portrait shoot in a baby's first weeks, usually between 5 and 14 days old.
The settling window is the period just after a feed when a newborn sleeps most deeply, and it is when posed images are made.
A posing beanbag is the padded support a newborn is settled into, always with a spotter's hands within reach.
For example, a feed immediately before the session usually buys 40 minutes of deep sleep, which is when the curled poses are made.
When is the best time for a newborn shoot?
The best time for a newborn shoot is the first two weeks of life, ideally days 5 to 14, when babies are sleepiest and most easily settled into those classic curled, peaceful poses. Newborns also sleep a great deal in these early weeks, often 16 or more hours a day according to the NHS, which is exactly what makes the settled newborn look achievable.
| Bring | Why |
|---|---|
| Spare outfits | Accidents happen |
| Extra nappies | More than you think |
| A feed | Settles the baby |
| Dummy | Calms quickly |
Because the window is short and tied to your baby's arrival, newborn sessions are booked during pregnancy, around your due date, and scheduled in soon after birth. That said, there is no hard deadline, we photograph older babies happily too, simply with a more awake, interactive feel.
Book around your due date
Because the ideal window is so brief, the practical step is to book during pregnancy and provisionally pencil a date around two weeks after your due date. Once baby arrives, we confirm the exact day. This is why newborn photographers reserve a flexible slot rather than a fixed appointment.
Booking ahead also means one less thing to organise in the whirlwind of those first days. With the session loosely in the diary, you can simply let us know baby has arrived and we will finalise the timing together.
Keep the room warm
Babies relax and sleep best when they are warm. So we keep the studio toasty, warmer than feels comfortable for the grown-ups. This is one of the biggest factors in a calm, successful session: a warm baby settles, a cool one wakes and frets.
Dress in layers you can shed, and do not worry if the room feels too warm for you, it is exactly right for your baby. We manage all of this, so you simply come prepared to be a little warm yourselves.
Feed just before, and allow plenty of time
A full baby is a sleepy, content baby. So we time feeds carefully and feed just before and during the session as needed. We never rush, so allow two to three hours and expect breaks for feeding, soothing and nappy changes. The unhurried pace is the real secret to natural newborn photographs.
Some babies sleep straight through; others need several pauses. Both are completely normal, and we simply follow baby's lead. Trying to hurry a newborn never works, which is why patience is built into every session.
What to bring
Bring the practical essentials and anything meaningful you would like in the photos. A little preparation means we can focus entirely on baby rather than improvising on the day.
- A feed, plus extra, and a dummy if you use one.
- Spare nappies and wipes, and a change of clothes for baby (and you).
- Sentimental items, a special blanket, a knitted heirloom, a meaningful toy.
- Colour preferences, tell us in advance and we will plan the setups around them.
Relax, baby takes the lead
Above all, relax. Your baby takes their cue from you, and our entire approach is built around patience and calm. There is no such thing as a baby who 'won't cooperate', only a session that needs a little more time, and we always allow for that.
Come ready to take your time, bring everything you need, and let us do the rest. The most peaceful, beautiful newborn photographs come from a relaxed room and an unhurried pace, which is exactly what we create.
A newborn session is one of the most precious you will ever have, and the tiny, fast-fading details it captures disappear almost overnight. Bring everything you need, expect to take your time, and let us create something you will treasure forever.
Related: baby & newborn photography, family photography, newborn photography: when to book, family photography milestones.
Editorial note: the figures and guidance on this page were last checked on 24 August 2026. Sources: NHS: safer sleep for babies and 16 or more hours a day. Written by Kaushik Bathia; more about the author, or contact the studio.
Related reading: when to book newborn photography, our maternity photography guide, newborn and baby sessions.
Good to know
Frequently asked questions
The first two weeks, ideally days 5 to 14, when babies are sleepiest and settle most easily into classic curled poses. Older babies are lovely too, simply with a more awake, interactive feel.
During pregnancy, around your due date. Because the ideal window is short and tied to baby's arrival, we pencil a provisional date about two weeks after your due date and confirm once baby is here.
Babies relax and sleep best when warm, and a settled baby is the key to a successful session. We keep the studio warmer than is comfortable for adults, so dress in layers you can shed.
Allow two to three hours. We never rush, and the time covers feeding, soothing and nappy breaks. This unhurried, baby-led pace is the secret to natural, peaceful newborn photographs.
A feed plus extra, a dummy if used, spare nappies, wipes, a change of clothes, and any sentimental items like a special blanket or heirloom. Tell us any colour preferences and we'll plan around them.
That's completely normal and we plan for it. We take breaks for feeding and cuddles and let baby settle in their own time. There's no such thing as a baby who won't cooperate, only one who needs a little more time.
Based in London
Getting ready for your newborn shoot?
Gentle newborn sessions in a warm Northwood studio, at your baby's pace, with comfort and safety first.