How to Prepare for a Newborn Session in Arlington Heights

Welcoming a baby into the world is unbelievably exciting! And a photo session is the perfect way to celebrate, and to document these once in a lifetime moments. As a newborn photographer in Arlington Heights, I’m ready to capture these memories for you! To help you feel comfortable and ready for newborn photos, this guide is all about how to prepare for a newborn session in Arlington Heights.

Baby on orange background in orange outfit- newborn photographers near me

Where to Take Newborn Photos in Arlington Heights

Luckily, finding the perfect location for your newborn session in Arlington Heights is easy – I have a studio ready to go! Located in the heart of town, the studio has plenty of space, and different options for lighting and backdrops to make the shoot your own. Big windows let in lots of natural light, creating an ideal environment for photos.

A studio is the perfect place for newborn photos – it’s a safe, clean environment that’s ideal for a baby. It’s also private, since you and the photographer (me!) will be the only ones there, and set up to have perfect lighting no matter the weather.

Baby with mouth open on orange background in orange outfit- newborn photographers near me

When to Take Newborn Photos in Arlington Heights

Newborn photos document the first few weeks of your baby’s life, so it’s important to schedule them pretty early! You don’t want to go straight from the hospital to the studio, so give you and your baby a few days to recover (you’ve both just done something pretty incredible, and pretty tiring). 

About 5 days after they’re born is a good time to take newborn photos, up to about a month old. But, the earlier part of this range is much better! Somewhere between 5-14 days old is the best time for newborn photos. 

During this time, you and the baby have figured each other out a little, they’re on a more consistent feeding schedule, and they sleep a lot. Sleeping a lot is actually good for photos! Babies usually sleep through being moved around for poses and are much more likely to be calm and happy during the session. Young babies are also more flexible – the older your baby gets, the more “stretched out” they will be, which means they might not curl up into those newborn poses.

After about 14 days, babies spend more time awake, so while this can be good if you want photos of their eyes, they’re likely to be more fussy during the session. Parents also tend to feel a little more tired at this stage, as they’re been running on little sleep for two weeks!

So, I recommend taking your newborn photos 5-14 days after the baby is born. Keep in mind that you need to schedule your session in advance, so make sure to reach out to a photographer a few weeks or even months before your due date. 

Baby photoshoot in Arlington Heights photo studio
Baby photo session in Arlington Heights photo studio

Tips for Your Newborn Session in Arlington Heights

To help you prepare for your session, here are some tips and some things to do to get you and your baby ready for photos!

What to Bring for Newborn Photos

One of the advantages of having your newborn photos taken in a studio is that I have lots of props for us to use during the session. After you book your session, we’ll chat about what’s available for you and what you’ll need. But, there are a few things that you can bring to elevate your photos, and the experience. 

First, it’s always nice to bring a sentimental item for the shoot. These photos are documenting your baby and their first few days in the world, so have something meaningful in the photo with them! Examples of this can include a blanket or a stuffed animal – these things are unique and special to you, so bring them along to include them in the photos! 

You can also pick an outfit for your baby to wear – a lot of parents like to get a cute onesie especially for the photo shoot. There are plenty of adorable, unique outfits available on Etsy, Amazon, and other retailers.

Closeup of new born family photos with parents looking at baby

Get the Rest of the Family in the Photos!

One really important tip that I have for your newborn photos in Arlington Heights is to make sure you get some photos of you, and of any other family members. Parents often want photos of their kids, but shy away from being on camera themselves. This is such a bummer!! Trust me – in a few years, you’ll love having photos of you holding your newborn baby, and you’ll treasure those memories with your kids. Plus, your kids will want photos of you, too. When they’re older, they’ll be so unbelievably happy to have photos of you with them.

So, during your session, we’ll get plenty of just the baby, but I’ll also make sure that you’re in a few of them too. If you have other kids, they should be in some photos too!

New born family photos with parents looking at baby

What Happens if the Baby is Fussy?

A lot of parents worry about newborn photos because they worry that their baby will be fussy, will cry, won’t want to sleep, or otherwise won’t be cooperative. But don’t stress! No matter what happens, we’ll get beautiful photos.

There are definitely a few things that will help things go smoothly. First, refer back to those tips about when to take newborn photos. 5-14 days after baby is born is usually ideal, as they’ll be sleeping a ton. 

It’s also best to feed the baby right before the session, since even adults can get cranky if they’re feeling hungry.

Doing the session in a studio means the temperature is regulated, there aren’t any distractions or loud noises to bother the baby, and it’s a perfect environment.

Most of the time, things are totally fine and even if babies fuss for a little bit, they settle down quickly. But, in the absolute worst case scenario, even if your baby won’t relax the whole time, you can rest assured that we’ll still get amazing photos. Since I specialize in newborn photography, I’ve got plenty of experience with little ones! 

Arlington Heights photo studio, baby in small bed in brown tones

Hire a Professional for Your Newborn Session in Arlington Heights

Newborn photography requires experience with newborns, as the photographer has to be able to safely pose the baby! And of course, you want beautiful, high quality photos – so when you hire a photographer, make sure to book someone who’s experienced and specializes in newborn photos.

If you’re ready to book your newborn session in Arlington Heights, contact me!

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