What to Expect at Your Newborn Photography Session
With Moments In Bloom Photography Sydney
If you've never had professional newborn photographs taken before, it's completely normal to wonder what actually happens during a session. Will your baby sleep? What if they need feeding the whole time? Will your toddler cooperate? What should you bring? Will it feel awkward? These are some of the most common questions I hear from expecting parents.
The good news is that newborn photography is one of the few types of photography where nothing is expected to go perfectly. Babies cry. They feed. Toddlers need breaks. Parents are often running on very little sleep.
Rather than working against those realities, my sessions are designed around them. The goal isn't to create a perfectly choreographed photoshoot. It's to create a calm, welcoming space where your family can slow down, be together, and leave with photographs that feel genuine.
Before Your Session
Your newborn session actually begins long before you arrive. Once you've decided to book, you'll secure your session with a booking deposit. Rather than booking a fixed date months in advance, I reserve flexible availability within approximately two weeks of your due date. Once your baby arrives, we'll simply confirm the exact session date. This gives us the flexibility to work around early or late arrivals without unnecessary stress.
As part of your booking, you'll complete a short questionnaire so I can get to know your family, understand your preferences and learn a little about the style of photographs you're hoping to create. You'll also have the opportunity to browse my online Client Closet, where you can reserve dresses for mums and selected clothing for children before your session.
If you're unsure what photographs beautifully, I've also created a detailed Family Photography Style Guide to help make choosing outfits simple and stress-free.
If you've chosen an in-home newborn session, I'll also ask you to send through a few photos or a short video of your home beforehand. This isn't about judging your home. It's simply so I can see how the light falls through your rooms, decide where we'll photograph, and determine whether I need to bring any additional styling pieces.
Arriving at Your Session
Whether your session takes place in my newborn studio or a newborn session in your own home, my aim is for everything to feel relaxed from the moment you arrive.
If you're visiting the studio, you'll find a calm, family-friendly space with toys for siblings, comfortable seating, a kitchenette, bathroom facilities and somewhere to change outfits if needed. There are no bright flashing lights or rushed time limits—just a quiet environment where everyone can settle in naturally.
To protect the photography backdrops and maintain hygiene for little ones who may crawl on the floor, I will request shoes to be removed at the door.
If I'm coming to your home, I'll usually spend the first 10–15 minutes looking at the available light, opening curtains, moving a chair or two if needed, and choosing the best spaces to photograph. Sometimes that might involve a little light decluttering, but please don't feel any pressure to have a picture-perfect home. Most of the time we only need one or two well-lit areas—a family bed, a couch, or a bright wall near a window—to create beautiful, timeless photographs.If outfit changes are planned, we'll usually organise those before we begin.
We Begin with Family Photographs
I almost always begin with family photographs, and there's a very practical reason for this. Young children are generally happiest and most engaged at the beginning of a session. Rather than asking toddlers to wait patiently while we photograph baby for an hour, I prefer to capture those family connections while everyone is fresh and relaxed.
We'll usually begin with photographs of the whole family, followed by mum and baby, dad and baby, siblings together, and a few different combinations if time allows. From there, we'll move into relaxed lifestyle photographs of your baby before photographing your little one on their own.
Gentle Guidance, Never Forced Posing
Many parents tell me they love natural photographs. So do I. However, "natural" doesn't necessarily mean completely unposed.
When we're creating close-up newborn portraits, even a small adjustment to the way someone is standing or holding their baby can make a significant difference to the final image.
Throughout your session I'll gently guide you into flattering light and comfortable positions. Sometimes that simply means turning slightly towards a window. Sometimes it means lifting baby just a little higher or asking you to move your hands slightly.
The emotion is always real. My guidance simply helps present it beautifully. You never need to worry about remembering poses or wondering what to do next. That's my job.
Feeding Breaks Are Part of the Session
Once we've finished the first part of your gallery, we'll usually pause for a feeding break. Some mothers also request to have breastfeeding photos at this time, which can be captured from discrete angles if you wish. Many babies naturally become sleepy after a full feed, making this a lovely time to transition into wrapped newborn portraits.
There is absolutely no rush. If your baby needs feeding twice, that's perfectly normal. If they need cuddles, changing or simply a few quiet minutes, we simply allow the time.
Feeding your baby is never an interruption to the session. It's part of it.
Sleepy Baby Portraits
After a feed, many babies settle beautifully into a deeper sleep. This is when we'll usually move into individual newborn portraits.
Depending on how your baby is feeling, we'll generally photograph between one and three carefully selected props, keeping everything simple, timeless and focused on your baby rather than elaborate styling. Sometimes your little one is wonderfully sleepy. Sometimes they're awake and curious.
Sometimes we return for one last family photograph while baby is beautifully wrapped and settled.
Every session unfolds a little differently, and that's perfectly okay. Rather than following a rigid shot list, I follow your baby.
It's Not Two Hours of Constant Posing
People are often surprised when I say a newborn session usually lasts around two hours. It sounds like a long time.
In reality, much of that time is spent slowly settling, feeding, cuddling and gently positioning your baby.
Children are free to play for much of the session. Parents can relax on the couch, enjoy a cup of tea or coffee, chat, or simply take a breath between photographs.
The pace is intentionally slow. The session isn't about fitting as many photographs as possible into two hours.
It's about giving your family the time and space to settle naturally without feeling rushed.
Natural Approach to Light and Styling
The style of your photographs is shaped just as much by what I choose not to use as what I do.
Almost all of my newborn sessions are photographed using beautiful natural light - providing a soft, soulful dimensional quality. On the occasional dark winter's day, I may introduce a softly diffused continuous light in the corner of the studio to gently supplement the available daylight, but I never use flash during newborn sessions. Not only does this create the soft, timeless look that defines my work, it also keeps the environment calm and sensory-friendly for your baby.
When it comes to styling, my approach is intentionally simple and inspired by the warmth of home. I naturally gravitate towards neutral colours, tactile textures and subtle nature-inspired elements that complement your baby rather than compete for attention. Having said that, I have access to a huge store room of props so I can accommodate Pinterest inspired requests.
While I do incorporate colour, it tends to sit within a warm, earthy palette—think soft creams, oatmeal, warm browns, sage, terracotta, muted rusts and other gentle autumnal tones that age beautifully over time.
The props themselves are chosen with the same philosophy. Rather than elaborate themed sets or novelty props, I prefer styling that feels like it could naturally belong in a family home. A soft cheesecloth wrap, a beautifully knitted heirloom blanket, a handcrafted wooden bowl or a woven basket all add warmth and texture without distracting from what matters most—your baby and the people who love them.
My hope is that when you look back at your photographs years from now, they won't feel tied to a particular trend or moment in time. They'll simply feel timeless.
A Note About Toddlers and Young Children
One of the biggest worries parents have is whether their older child will cooperate. Please don't feel like you need to spend the morning reminding them to smile, sit still or "be good." In fact, my preferred approach is often the opposite.
I work best when parents are as hands-off as possible once we begin photographing. That might sound surprising, but children naturally respond differently when they have one clear person guiding them. When I'm gently directing the session, they quickly learn that I'm the one giving instructions. Their attention naturally stays on me—and therefore towards the camera—rather than constantly shifting between different adults around the room.
Just as importantly, it allows me to get to know their personality. Children rarely create their most genuine expressions because they're being asked to smile. They do it when they're relaxed, curious and engaged in what's happening around them. I spend a lot of time watching for those little moments of excitement, wonder and connection that happen naturally. Often it's those brief, unscripted moments that become the photographs families treasure most.
As parents, it's completely understandable to want to step in and help. But one of the greatest gifts you can give your child during the session is the freedom to simply enjoy the experience while trusting me to guide them. I usually only need a second or two of genuine connection to create a photograph you'll treasure for years.
You Don't Need to Smile at the Camera Either!
There is one more expectation I'd love to gently take away before your session. Many people imagine a professional photoshoot involves smiling directly at the camera in every photograph. While we'll absolutely create a few beautiful portraits where everyone is looking towards the camera, those images usually make up only a small portion of your final gallery—around ten percent.
Why? Because those are the photographs you expect to receive. They're perfect for grandparents, Christmas cards and framing on the wall. But they're rarely the photographs that stay with you emotionally.
The images families tell me they treasure most are usually the quieter ones. The way you instinctively look down at your baby's tiny face. The smile that appears when they wrap their fingers around yours. The way you gently breathe in that unmistakable newborn smell. Your partner watching you become a mother. A toddler leaning in for an unexpected cuddle.
Those are the photographs that transport you straight back to this season of life.
That's why I won't spend the entire session asking you to "look here and smile." Instead, I'll gently guide you into beautiful light and flattering positions, then encourage you to simply be present with your baby. The connection is real; my direction simply helps preserve it beautifully.
The same philosophy applies to children. They don't need to be coached to smile either. When children feel relaxed, safe and present, their personalities naturally shine through. A curious look, a spontaneous laugh or a quiet cuddle often tells a much richer story than asking them to say "cheese."
My hope is that when you look back at these photographs in ten, twenty or even thirty years' time, you won't simply remember what everyone looked like. You'll remember exactly how it felt to hold your newborn in those first precious weeks. How their siblings looked at them with wonder, love and awe.
Before You Leave
By the end of your session we'll have created a gallery that tells the story of this fleeting season in your family's life.
Over the following two to four weeks, I'll carefully edit your images in my signature style before delivering your online proof gallery. From there, you'll have the opportunity to select your favourite photographs for final digital delivery.
If you choose, you can also explore professionally printed albums, framed artwork and fine art prints directly through your online gallery store. There's absolutely no pressure to purchase artwork, but it's available whenever you're ready if you'd like to enjoy your photographs beyond the screen.
More Than Just a Photoshoot
One of the most common things parents say as they're leaving is: "That was much more relaxing than I expected."
That is exactly how I hope every family feels.
Those first weeks with a newborn are full of change. There is enough pressure already. Your photography session shouldn't feel like another thing to get right.
It should feel like permission to slow down, be present with your family, and preserve this extraordinary chapter exactly as it is.
If you're expecting a baby and would like to learn more about my calm, baby-led approach, you can explore my Sydney Newborn Photoshoot packages here.
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