How To Prepare For Your Newborn Session

Before you arrive at your newborn photography session it is important to follow the prep guide that MHB Photography has sent you on your email before your photoshoot. The prep guide helps ensure a successful newborn session with your precious new baby.

About 45 mins to an hour before you leave your house, try to keep baby awake and alert as best you can via stimulation & playtime (baths work great). This way we spend more time photographing the baby and less time getting the baby to fall asleep during the newborn photoshoot. Let your baby fall asleep in the car on the way to the studio. Should baby still be awake when you arrive then we will get you to give him/her a top-up should they need it. Ensure baby has a VERY full belly for the session. It is advised to try to feed baby about 20 – 30 mins before you leave the house so that we don’t have to spend time feeding when you arrive.

If you are bottle feeding, please bring extra bottles of formula and/or pumped breast milk to help fill up baby faster and get them into a sound sleep. If breast feeding, please try to avoid eating the following foods 24 hours prior to the session as it may upset baby’s tummy: Spicy or gassy food (such as broccoli, beans etc), heavy dairy, caffeine & chocolate. If your baby has a tendency to be gassy and this will unsettle them for a long time please be aware that some poses might not be possible especially if those poses require putting them on their tummies.

Dress baby in ONLY a button or zip up sleeper (no onesies underneath) so that it is easier to undress them without disturbing them from sleep. Avoid putting outfits on them that require pulling them over their heads.

It is advised to bring the following to your newborn session: Extra bottles, wipes and a dummy, even if your baby hasn’t taken a dummy yet, it is still a good idea to bring one as this could make or break your session. The goal is to help keep baby happy and calm during your session and is only used if assistance is needed to capture certain poses and won’t create any habit forming behaviour.

We know this may be a lot to ask of you to do before the session but in order to ensure your baby stays asleep and calm during the session it is best to follow the prep guide as best you can. If you ever have any questions about how to prepare for your newborn session don’t hesitate to contact MHB Photography Studio Derby.