What to Bring to a Newborn Session | Katie Ballantine Photography | New Market Newborn Photographer

“What Should We Bring?”

One of the number one questions I get before a newborn session is “what should we bring?”, so today I am going to go over all the helpful things you may want to bring along for your session.

Since newborn portraits are typically done when your baby is just a few days old, this could be one of the first trips out of the house with your new baby. So, in order to make the experience less overwhelming, let’s talk a little about what you DON’T need to bring!

What you DON’T Need to Bring

My home studio is full of helpful items for your use, which will hopefully make things that much easier for you.

1. a fancy outfit for your newborn
   • You do NOT need to bring a fancy outfit for your newborn. Outfits (even in premie size) are often a little baggy and awkward on brand new babies, so I recommend not bringing along any dresses, tutus, pants, costumes, etc… Instead, you will have beautiful, soft fabrics to choose from as wraps for your baby’s portraits.
2. wraps
   • You do NOT need to buy and bring along any wraps for your baby. I have shopped numerous newborn shops, and over the years, I have found some beautiful and stretchy wraps for the sessions. They are mostly in neutral colors so that your images will be timeless, but I also have some different pink tones.
3. headbands
   • You do NOT need to bring along any headbands for the session. My studio has a variety of beautiful and delicate headbands for your use. Of course if you have a special headband at home that you want to use for the pictures, you are more then welcome to bring it along.
4. props
   • You do NOT need to bring props along. My photography style is natural and focuses on your baby, instead of on elaborate props. I do have a few crates and cradles that I can place your baby in, but the props are not the focus of the newborn session.

Items to Bring to the Newborn Session

Although I do have most of what you’ll need for your baby’s session, there are a few items that will make things go smoothly.

1. Please BRING food for your newborn if you are not breastfeeding. Newborns often eat at least once during the session, and I always allow time for this.
2. Please BRING diapers and wipes for when your baby needs a change. The sessions last at least a hour, and your baby will most definitely need at least one diaper change while in the studio.
3. Please BRING your baby dressed in an outfit that doesn’t need to come off over the head.
   • A button down, snap down, or zipper down outfit is always easier to take off of a sleeping baby than one that has to come up over the head. This will help me try to keep your baby asleep as I get them out of the carseat and take off their travel outfit.
4. Please BRING a pacifier if you are ok with them using one during the session. Even if they never use one again, a pacifier can help soothe them a few minutes at a time during the session.

Ready to book your newborn session? Reach out here!