Six Tips for Keeping Baby Calm During your Newborn Photography Shoot

The last thing you need on the day of your newborn photography shoot is a cranky baby! But newborns are notorious for being moody. (Who can blame them?) Don’t worry, Mom. With a little swaddling and a few tips to get your newborn ready for their first photo shoot, your baby will be calm and “pretty as a picture” on the BIG DAY!

Before Your Shoot

• Chill! The day before your shoot, relax in the nursery with Baby and do your best to stick to a schedule (if you’ve got one) when it comes to eating, burping, changing, and napping. This will help YOU stay calm—which, in turn, helps Baby be calmer.
• Use a noise machine if you have one to block out the sound of car alarms or barking dogs and create a sound bubble that will soothe your newborn. I have a sound machine in the studio, so we can recreate Baby’s soothing sounds when we’re ready to take pictures.
• Avoid eating anything overly spicy on the night before your newborn photography shoot if you’re breastfeeding. Spicy foods can make breastfed babies colicky, and nobody wants photos of a colicky baby!
• Soothe your newborn with a warm sponge-bath, running the washcloth between each little finger and toe and paying special attention to Baby’s neck and ears. Not only will Baby be squeaky-clean, but he’ll also feel good. When Baby feels good, we all feel good.
• Pre-shoot Prep—Baby’s sleep cycle revolves around mealtime, so it’s a great idea to feed, burp, and change your little one just before you leave the house for your infant photography shoot. With any luck, Baby will keep sleeping in the portable car-seat when you bring her into the studio. We can set up the sleeping baby shot and just plop her (gently) into place without waking her. Don’t forget to loosen Baby’s diaper about a half-hour or so before arriving at the studio. He will be more comfortable and doing so will prevent tiny, unphotogenic red marks on his skin.
• Pack the essentials—a baby hairbrush, extra diapers, wipes, a bottle, formula (if you aren’t breastfeeding) and anything you might need for your first big outing with Baby.

In the Studio

This is Baby’s time to shine, so guess what that means? It’s Mama’s time to sleep! Seriously—feel free to curl up on the sofa and take a nap. You’ve earned it! Or, if you prefer, hang out on the sidelines while Baby and I do the work. If she wakes up, I’ll let you know. Most importantly, be happy. You’ve created this gorgeous little being, and it’s time to show her off to the world!

South Florida Maternity Photography Studio

We specialize in fine-art maternity and newborn photography. For more South Florida maternity photography and pregnancy portraits, please visit our maternity gallery. For bookings and information on maternity, newborn, and baby photography sessions, contact us, or call directly at 754-581-2133.