What should I bring to my baby’s newborn session?

I get asked this question all the time, and while the easy answer is “Not a thing! Don’t worry, I have everything here that you need!”, the more complicated answer is, “Well, what’s important to your family? Is there anything special you want to incorporate in your baby’s first portraits?”

(By the way, if you’re wondering what to expect in your newborn session, check out this post with all the details here!)

My portrait style tends to lean towards simple, clean, classic images where the baby is the focus without too many props or distractions taking away from this perfect little being that you just welcomed into your family. However, I understand wanting to make your little one’s newborn portraits your own and I encourage finding beautiful and creative ways to incorporate something meaningful into their portraits. Here are a few of my favorite ideas!

Bring a favorite swaddle from home.

These custom name swaddles are very popular right now, and there are literally hundreds of beautiful designs on lightweight muslin swaddles. I’m sure you were gifted a dozen of them for your baby shower! If you have one with colors that you love or colors that match the nursery or your home decor, bring it! I always love incorporating swaddles into our newborn portraits, and we usually do them as a backdrop or layering blanket to be able to see the full design. Plus, every time you use that swaddle in the coming months you’ll think back to your favorite portrait of your little baby!

Here are a few of my favorite images using swaddles that parents brought from home.

baby lays on custom blanket during newborn session - sentimental props to bring to your newborn session shared by NY newborn photographer Nicole Starr Photography

baby sleeps on hand made blanket during newborn photos - sentimental props to bring to your newborn session shared by NY newborn photographer Nicole Starr Photography

baby girl sleeps on pink wrap during newborn photos - sentimental props to bring to your newborn session shared by NY newborn photographer Nicole Starr Photography

baby lays on floral wrap during newborn session in studio - sentimental props to bring to your newborn session shared by NY newborn photographer Nicole Starr Photography

Grandma’s handmade blanket, or another family heirloom.

The beige blanket in the floor of the image below was passed down from the baby’s great grandfather. So was the bonnet! How special that we got to use it in this sweet girl’s first portraits?!

If you have a blanket that has been passed down in the family, or one that a family member knit or crocheted for you and you would like to incorporate it into your session, just let me know!

baby sleeps in peach handknit cap during newborn photos - sentimental props to bring to your newborn session shared by NY newborn photographer Nicole Starr Photography

Jewelry.

There are so many beautiful ways to incorporate a little sparkle into your little one’s portraits! I’ve had families arrive with pearls that were a first Mother’s Day present for mom and baby. Other families with bracelets that mom wore as a baby and now they fit baby. Families with prayer beads that they used during their journey to get pregnant. Families with necklaces passed down from Grandma to the baby, who was given that same grandmother’s name. Whatever meaningful piece that you have, don’t hesitate to incorporate it into your photographs!

mom holds baby girl with pearls during newborn photos - sentimental props to bring to your newborn session shared by NY newborn photographer Nicole Starr Photography

baby sleeps on heirloom lace during newborn photos - sentimental props to bring to your newborn session shared by NY newborn photographer Nicole Starr Photography

baby sleeps wearing mom’s jewelry during newborn photos - sentimental props to bring to your newborn session shared by NY newborn photographer Nicole Starr Photography

baby holds beads during newborn session - sentimental props to bring to your newborn session shared by NY newborn photographer Nicole Starr Photography

A special prop to honor your family’s journey up to this moment.

Rainbow babies. Miracle babies. IVF babies. We’re so lucky to welcome every single baby into the studio for their portraits, and I know that no two journeys to parenthood are the same. Whatever led you here, feel free to honor that story in a special setup for your little one. From ultrasound pictures and photos of embryos, to pineapples to represent their IVF journey, to rainbow hearts and stuffed animals with their angel brother or sister’s heartbeat inside. Your portraits tell your story. Whatever is meaningful to your family should make its way into your portraits.

baby holds sonogram and pineapples during newborn photos - sentimental props to bring to your newborn session shared by NY newborn photographer Nicole Starr Photography

baby holds stuffed dog during newborn session in studio - sentimental props to bring to your newborn session shared by NY newborn photographer Nicole Starr Photography

A nod to a parent’s career, heritage, or hobbies.

This part is so much fun! Think if there is something special that defines your family or that one or both partners like to do. If you’d like to incorporate it into your little one’s photographs, we can! Stethoscopes for doctors during Covid, wedding saris, hiking boots, a hat or badge from a police officer, wooden shoes for a Dutch family, hot air balloons for the family that met at the hot air balloon festival.

There are all things that I have loved incorporating into photographs, and I know there are so many more creative ideas, too! I can’t wait to see what you come up with to make your portraits your own!