What happens during a newborn session? | Suffolk Newborn Photographer

When you come into the studio for your newborn portraits, you'll probably notice two things immediately: the first is the steady, gentle rainy noise which makes babies and adults alike feel sleepy and calm; the second is how warm the session room is - this ensures that your baby is still comfortable even when down to just a nappy. Although it can feel a little warm for everyone else, I have a nice strong fan to keep you cool, as well as plenty of water available.

I like to start with family portraits while everyone is still looking their best (before the aforementioned heat effects hair and make up).

If you've brought older children, we'll start with sibling photos and then move onto family and parents. This means that we have plenty of time for your hildren to get used to the idea of having photos, and once all sibling combinations are done, older children can pop out of the studio room or go home with a grandparent, if you'd prefer. You can read more about bringing siblings to sessions here.

After family photos, I invite you to rest, have some of the provided snacks and drinks and do whatever it is you've been looking forward to doing while someone else is holding your newborn!

I do ask that one parent stays in the room at all times, but if a second parent would like to take the opportunity to go for a stroll or even close your eyes for a few minutes, you are more than welcome to. Equally, if you want to chat about all things baby, I am always up for that. You're also very welcome to document your newborn session if you'd like and if you get any photos with me in them, I'd love to see them.

During this time, I will start with baby wrapped and posed on a backdrop, and then (if you've opted for a full or extended session) carefully unwrap them for a few varied, simple poses.

If you'd prefer for your baby not to be photographed without a nappy, please just let me know and I will use one of my gorgeous handmade outfits for this section instead (more information on this can be found here)

The next portion is for props, which you will have chosen in your styling preferences form. Baby is photographed either wrapped or in an outfit, comfortably positioned within these props with layers of carefully selected fabrics to style them and make sure they're soft under baby's skin. Each prop is weighted to ensure it is entirely stable. If you've brought older siblings along, and they would like to, we can try some photos with baby in a prop and their sibling included.

Once prop photos are done, we'll finish with any of the included family extras you may have ticked on your form, should time allow (which 99% of the time, it does)

You may notice that I use alcohol gel between each set up to ensure my hands are scrupulously clean while handling your baby. I am also still wearing a face mask throughout newborn sessions, though I will remove it while at a safe distance from your newborn if working with young siblings so they don't think I'm a mouth-less monster! All fabrics and props are also disinfected before they come into contact with your little one.

If you have any particular photos in mind, do let me know before the session - however I will always check at the end if there were any other photos you were hoping to capture (just in case you've forgotten all about including that special blanket you'd packed)

The other thing I always check is whether you are comfortable with me sharing your photos on social media and advertising, so you can rest assured that your photos stay private if you'd like them to.

That's the general order of things with a newborn session, but of course there are usually pauses in between while baby is fed, older siblings need a snack or fabrics switched out for anything that may have happened in the time where baby wasn't wearing a nappy. I always factor in plenty of time for these things and promise I've seen it all before, so please don't stress.