Five Things I Wish Every Parent Knew Before Their Newborn Session

After doing this for a while, I have noticed the same things catch parents off guard every time. So here they are, upfront, so you can walk in prepared.

1. Feed directly before you arrive

A full baby is a sleepy baby, and a sleepy baby is what makes newborn sessions work. Try to time the feed so baby has just finished when you arrive. It makes an enormous difference to how the session goes.

2. Bring them in soft pyjamas, not their session outfit

Clothing marks and sock lines on a newborn's skin take time to fade. If baby arrives already dressed up, we may spend the first part of the session waiting for those marks to disappear. Soft pyjamas for the drive over, and we will sort the rest when you get here.

3. The session will probably take longer than you expect

Plan for around two hours. Some sessions wrap up sooner, some run longer, and that is completely normal. There are feeds, settling periods, nappy changes, and in-between moments: all of which are part of it. Do not book anything important straight after.

4. You do not need to whisper

This one surprises people. Newborns are actually used to noise: they have spent nine months listening to the inside of your body, which is louder than you might think. Normal voices are absolutely fine. You do not need to tiptoe around.

5. The best photos are often the ones nobody planned

Here is something I have noticed. Parents almost never frame the image they thought they wanted. They frame the one that made them catch their breath when the gallery arrived. The detail shot. The candid. The one that happened by accident. So my job is not just to get the shots you came in for, it is to be watching for the ones you did not know you needed.