What to Wear to Your Newborn Session - Parents and Sibling Wardrobe Inspiration

So, you scheduled your newborn session and you listened to me say that you don’t need to worry about the baby’s outfits — the studio is stocked with wraps and cute handmade outfits that will be perfect on your little one.

But then a moment of panic sets in….. what are YOU going to wear?!?! What is going to fit one week postpartum? What’s your husband supposed to wear? What looks good on camera?

Sooooooo many questions, and you’re not alone! All new moms and moms-to-be ask me the exact same questions. That’s why I’m here to make it easy for you as you figure out what to wear to your newborn portrait session.

Whether we’re photographing at the studio or in your home, these tips apply to all families. Read on for lots of great ideas!

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Wear a gown from our studio wardrobe, or a maxi-length dress like the one from your baby shower!

Long dresses are super flattering on new moms, and we have tons of them available at the studio. They elongate your body and are very elegant and classic in portraits.

Always stick to white, cream, and other light neutrals on top. AVOID BLACK AT ALL COSTS.

While everyone always says that black is the most slimming color to wear, it’s really the least flattering option when we’re doing newborn portraits. Because you’ll be holding your baby on your chest, a dark color is going to make the baby’s skin appear rough, red, and shadowy. Stick to light colors that bounce lots of light back on the baby to really illuminate their complexion, and yours!

Lace details are gorgeous! So are any other little details on your outfit!

Lace has such a beautiful texture in photographs, and other lightweight fabrics photograph beautifully, too.

Keep in mind the STORYTELLING DETAILS in your portraits. Have a favorite necklace or a ring with sentimental value? Wear those to your session, and you’ll tell your child the story behind the jewelry for many years as they look back at their portraits.

Lightweight cardigans or kimono tops look amazing on new moms with a tank top underneath, plus they’re super comfy! Choose a neutral, or one with a pretty pattern like the floral one below.

What about the dads?

The most popular colors I see for dads are light blue and gray. These go great with your neutral top or dress, and they coordinate beautifully with any colors that might be in the outfits, too.

If your guy likes button down shirts, wear one! Roll the cuffs to be a little more casual.

If he’s a laid back kind of guy, a solid gray t-shirt looks really nice in photos.

What should the kids/siblings wear?

I love helping with outfits for the big brothers and sisters! I always recommend sticking with neutrals like white, cream, gray, blue, beige, blush pink. Clothing can have patterns on it, but nothing too loud and crazy, and definitely no words or characters/cartoon pictures. The most classic portraits are ones where the outfits don’t compete for your attention, but they’re subtle enough that you can focus on the sweet moments between the new siblings.

And barefoot is always my favorite for the kids!

Bringing Home Evelyn - A Lifestyle Newborn Session with Saratoga Springs Newborn Photographer - Saratoga Springs NY Newborn Photographer

I love going into a family's home for their lifestyle newborn session, and visiting sweet Evelyn's family was no exception.  It's always magical to be invited into a family's space to watch those beautiful moments unfold as they get to know their brand new baby.

We spent an hour together with the most alert baby girl who wanted to observe everything that was going on around her.  Most newborns tire out after a short while, especially with so much activity going on around them, but Evelyn was determined to show off her sparkling eyes in all of her newborn portraits.  I'm so glad she did -- look at how beautiful she is!!

One of the things that ALL families worry about before a lifestyle newborn session is -- what if my house is a mess????

Many times before their session, I reassure the new moms and dads that I 100% expect to see laundry, clutter, dozens of baby items, food, and other evidence of their life around the house.  Honestly, that's what life at home with a new baby looks like! 

But I understand that you might not want to always remember the laundry, so I have a few tricks up my sleeve to make every single home look magazine-worthy.

While our lifestyle sessions looks so perfectly clean and organized, you have to remember that just what's in the frame is magazine-worthy.  There are always mountains of laundry, bulky bassinets and diaper genies, and a couple of pairs of shoes in the corner behind me.  And what's in the frame is pure perfection.

You don't need a lot of space or great big windows to capture beautiful lifestyle images at home with your newborn.  All you need is a tidy little corner of your home, a little bit of good light, and an outlet nearby for me to plug in my studio light -- that's all it takes!  As long as you don't mind when we rearrange a couple of things to pull them out of the camera's frame to keep the focus on YOU & YOUR BABY, we're going to have gorgeous images of your little family together.

Want to see my FAVORITE blog post about seeing a home through a photographer's eyes?  Check it out here, and see how a crowded lime green bedroom became a gorgeous neutral space for this family's session.

A Nautical Newborn Session at Home: Saratoga Springs & Boston Newborn Photographer

Oh, hey there, little baby.  Aren't you just the cutest thing ever?

Meet Marcelino Patrick.

This little boy was as sweet as can be for the majority of his in-home lifestyle newborn session, and we captured so many adorable photos together!  I just love these two images above with one of the newest hats that I recently added to my collection.  Marcelino has the most perfect profile with his little button nose, and I loved showcasing that in his photos.

Marcelino's mom & dad are head over heels in love with their little boy.  I loved being able to watch them soak up his newborn smell, fawn over his tiny smiles, and cuddle up with him in the nursery that they created just for their little nautical baby boy.

One of the many things that I love to capture when clients invite me into their homes for a lifestyle newborn session is the nursery.  So much time and love goes into preparing this space for your baby's arrival, and it deserves to be documented!  

You have spent nine (plus!) months preparing for your little one's arrival, and countless hours sitting in the nursery and dreaming of what he'll be like once he is here.  This is the room where you will rock him to sleep, read him endless bedtime stories, and watch him grow into a tiny little human right before your very eyes.  This room will be the setting for so many stories in your family's tapestry -- it's worth capturing that on camera.  Plus, let's be honest here... never again will the baby's room be as clean as it is today!

Congratulations on your sweet little boy's arrival!

Thank you for inviting me to capture these beautiful moments for your family.