A Step-by-Step Guide to Your Newborn Photoshoot
If you’ve never had a newborn photography session before, you might be wondering what the day actually looks like. How long will it take? What happens when you walk in the door? What if the baby isn’t cooperative? After nearly 25 years of photographing newborns throughout Indianapolis and Carmel, I’ve seen every possible scenario. This guide walks you through exactly what to expect from the moment you arrive to the moment you leave with a happy baby and a full memory card.
In This Guide
When You Arrive at the Studio
The first thing I want every family to know is this: there’s no need to rush. When you arrive, we take our time getting settled. Everyone gets comfortable. Baby gear, diaper bags, car seats, extra outfits — I’m always happy to help carry things up from the car. There’s no clock pressure from the moment you walk in.
Once everyone is settled, I take a few minutes to assess the baby. How sleepy are they? How alert? Have they eaten recently? Those first few minutes of observation shape the entire plan for the photoshoot. A well-fed, drowsy baby and a wide-awake, hungry one call for completely different approaches, and adjusting to the baby’s needs from the very start is what makes the session run smoothly.
If there are older siblings joining the photoshoot, I’ll also discuss their nap schedule right away. Timing sibling shots around a toddler’s nap window is one of the most important logistical decisions we make at the beginning of every family session. Getting that right makes everything easier for everyone.
Before you arrive, it helps to think about what to bring and how to prepare. My post on how to prepare for your newborn photography session covers everything you need to know before the day of your photoshoot.
How the Newborn Photoshoot Flows from Start to Finish
Every photoshoot follows a general sequence, though I always adapt it based on the baby and the family. Here’s how a typical session unfolds.
Step 1 — Family and Sibling Portraits First (When Needed)
If there are older siblings in the session and we’re working around a nap window, I start with family and sibling portraits right away. Getting those shots done while siblings are still fresh, cooperative, and happy is always the priority. Once siblings have had their time in front of the camera, they can rest or play while I focus on the baby.
If there are no siblings or nap timing isn’t a concern, I typically start differently. When the baby is very sleepy, I’ll begin with some of the more technically challenging newborn poses first. Deep sleep is the ideal condition for those poses, and taking advantage of it early in the session produces the best results.
Step 2 — Family Portraits with Baby
From there, we move into the family portraits. Mom and baby. Dad and baby. Both parents together with baby. These are some of the most treasured images from any newborn photoshoot because they capture the connection between your family in those very first days. I guide everyone through poses that feel natural rather than stiff, and the results almost always surprise people with how genuine and tender they look.
Step 3 — Naked and Clothed Baby Poses
Next comes the solo baby work. I complete all the naked and clothed poses before moving into wrapped poses. This is an intentional sequence. Once a baby is swaddled and wrapped, they typically settle into a deep, comfortable sleep. That’s exactly what we want for the wrapped poses. However, once the swaddle comes off, the baby usually wakes up and is often not very happy about it. So by completing the naked and clothed work first, we preserve that deep sleep for the end of the session when we need it most.
Step 4 — Wrapped and Swaddled Poses
Finally, we move into the wrapped and swaddled poses. This is where the magic happens. A deeply sleeping baby wrapped in a soft, warm swaddle is one of the most beautiful subjects in all of photography. The poses in this part of the session — the curled up, tucked-in, perfectly peaceful images that everyone loves — require a baby who is genuinely relaxed and deeply asleep. By this point in our sequence, that’s exactly what we have.
Additionally, wrapping and swaddling has a naturally soothing effect on most newborns. The warmth and snugness mimics the womb environment, which is why babies tend to settle so beautifully once they’re wrapped. It’s one of the reasons I save this part of the photoshoot for last.
The Studio Temperature and Why It Matters
One thing that surprises almost every family when they arrive is how warm the studio is. For naked baby poses, I keep the studio at 75 degrees. That’s warm enough to keep a bare newborn completely comfortable throughout the photoshoot. For the baby, it’s perfect. For everyone else in the room, it can feel like a lot.
I always dress very lightly for newborn photoshoots, even in the middle of winter, because of the studio temperature. I’d encourage families to dress in light layers they can easily remove. Once we move into the wrapped and swaddled portion of the photoshoot and the baby is fully covered, I’ll cool the studio down so everyone else can be more comfortable. But in those early phases of the session, the temperature is set for the baby first and everyone else second.
Understanding what to wear to stay comfortable during the photoshoot is part of the bigger question of what the whole family should wear. My post on what to wear for a newborn photoshoot has outfit guidance for every member of the family.
How Long Does a Newborn Photoshoot Take?
Honestly, it depends on the baby. A full newborn photography session typically runs anywhere from 90 minutes to three hours. Most sessions land right around 90 minutes. Some go longer.
The biggest variable is how frequently we need to stop for feedings, diaper changes, and soothing. Newborns run their own schedule and I always follow their lead. If a baby needs to eat three times during the session, we stop three times. There’s no rushing and no frustration. This is how newborn photography works, and every experienced photographer knows it.
What Slows a Newborn Photoshoot Down
Frequent feeding breaks are the most common reason a session runs long. Beyond that, a baby who is gassy or uncomfortable can take time to settle between poses. Similarly, a baby who wakes easily between position changes requires more patience and more time to resettle. None of these things are problems. They’re just the reality of working with a newborn, and they’re all completely normal.
What Speeds a Newborn Photoshoot Up
A well-fed, well-rested baby who arrives sleepy is the ideal scenario. If you can time your arrival so that your baby has just been fed and is starting to drift off, that’s the best possible condition for a smooth, efficient photoshoot. Beyond that, having siblings’ nap timing worked out in advance and arriving with everything you need already packed and organized makes the settling-in process faster and smoother for everyone.
What Happens After Your Newborn Photoshoot
Once your photoshoot is complete, the editing process begins. Every selected image goes through careful, thorough retouching before delivery. Skin tones are perfected. Any temporary newborn blemishes or skin issues are addressed. The lighting is refined. The goal is always a set of images that looks polished and timeless without looking over-edited or artificial.
About two weeks after your photoshoot, you’ll receive a link to your private online gallery. From there, you can download your digital images, share the gallery with family and friends, and order professional prints and products directly. Every package includes full reprint rights, which means you can print and share your images as many times as you like without any additional fees or permissions needed.
If you’re still deciding which package is right for your family, my post on newborn photography costs and packages in Indianapolis breaks down every option with full pricing so you can make a confident decision.
Your Newborn Photoshoot Questions Answered
Should I feed my baby right before the photoshoot?
Yes, but with a small caveat. A fully fed baby who is just starting to get drowsy is the ideal arrival condition. Try to time a feeding so that it finishes about 20 to 30 minutes before your scheduled start time. That gives the baby time to settle into sleepiness by the time we start shooting. A baby who is too hungry or too wide awake takes longer to settle into the poses we need.
What should I bring to the newborn photoshoot?
Your baby, your family, and whatever you normally need for a few hours out of the house with a newborn. Diapers, wipes, an extra outfit or two for baby, a pacifier if your baby uses one, and a swaddle or comfort item if they have one. Everything else, including all props, wraps, backdrops, and baby outfits, is provided at the studio.
What if my baby cries the entire time?
This almost never happens. When a newborn is crying, it’s almost always hunger, a dirty diaper, or gas, all of which are easy to address. I allow plenty of time in every photoshoot for feeding and soothing breaks. On the rare occasion that a baby truly cannot settle no matter what we try, we simply reschedule. It happens maybe once a year and it’s never a problem.
Can grandparents or other family members come to the photoshoot?
I’d encourage you to keep it to the immediate family for the photoshoot itself. Extra people in the studio can overstimulate a newborn and make it harder for the baby to settle. Additionally, more people in the space means more noise and more movement, which can disrupt the calm environment that newborn photography requires.
What if my baby arrives early or late?
All newborn photoshoot dates go on the calendar in pencil. Due dates are estimates, and I know that. When your baby arrives, just let me know, and we’ll adjust the date based on the actual arrival. There’s no stress and no penalty. We simply work around when your baby actually gets here.
Ready to Book Your Newborn Photography Session in Indianapolis?
Now that you know exactly what to expect, the next step is getting your date on the calendar. Those first two weeks are a window that closes faster than any parent anticipates. Reach out through my Indianapolis newborn photography page or call the studio directly at 317-867-3723. I’d love to help you capture this chapter of your family’s story.
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