Five to fourteen days old: that is the window our posed newborn sessions are built around, and at that age the answer to what to wear for newborn photos is mostly soft wraps and textured layers, with very few props. Parents and siblings do best in solid, neutral colors without logos.
Below are the common questions about a newborn’s wardrobe, answered with what we do in the studio and with photos from newborn sessions published on our site.
What does a newborn wear for posed photos?
In a posed studio session the baby usually wears a wrap rather than clothes. Wraps, textured layers and a limited palette of soft, neutral colors keep the baby as the focus of every frame, and a wrap also keeps a sleepy newborn snug while being moved.
In this frame from Juliette’s newborn session, the outfit is a dusty pink wrap, a matching bow headband and a small crocheted bear. Nothing else is needed: the skin, the tiny hands and the folded legs carry the picture.
If the family has a special outfit, such as a christening gown or a knit set from a grandmother, bring it with the other things you want included and mention it when you book.
Should the baby arrive in a special outfit?
No. Dress the baby in loose clothing that is easy to remove, ideally something that opens fully in front, so changing into a wrap does not wake a baby who has just fallen asleep.
The American Academy of Pediatrics notes that babies don’t like the rush of air against their skin or being pushed and pulled through garments, and suggests taking sleeves off one at a time while supporting the back and head (HealthyChildren.org, Dressing Your Newborn). The fewer pullovers, the calmer the start.
Will the baby be cold with so little on?
The studio room is kept warm for newborn sessions, precisely because the baby wears so little. At home, the AAP’s rule of thumb is to dress a baby in one more layer than you would wear to be comfortable in the same place; in hot weather, above 75°F, a single layer is usually enough.
For the drive in, follow that same rule, and bring a light blanket for the car and the walk from the parking lot.
Which colors and textures work best for the baby?
Soft, neutral and muted colors: cream, white, oatmeal, sage, dusty pink, pale blue. Strong colors can reflect onto delicate newborn skin and pull the eye away from the face. Texture adds interest without adding color: knit, gauze, a fuzzy wrap, a basket.
In José Bernardo’s session the palette was sage green and brown: a knit wrap, a matching sleepy hat with a pom-pom and a woven basket. The color repeats in every frame of the set, which is what makes the gallery look like one story.
Are bows, hats and bonnets a good idea?
Small, soft ones, yes. A bow headband, a knit sleepy hat or a lace bonnet changes the look of a set without changing the wrap. Large or stiff pieces pull attention from the face, and anything scratchy is better left at home.
Rafaela’s session used a cream wrap and a white knit bonnet with a lace trim, with a small felt heart in her hands. Cream on cream keeps everything soft, and the bonnet frames her face without hiding it.
Can we bring a family blanket or keepsake?
Please do. We ask families to bring anything they would like remembered: a blanket a grandmother knitted, a family keepsake, something that says where the family comes from. In the sage green set above, a small crocheted piece with a dove and a cross shows how a personal item can sit in a set without taking it over.
Tell us about it when you book, so it can be planned into a set rather than added at the last minute.
What should mom wear for newborn photos?
Something comfortable, in a solid, neutral color, that you can sit, hold and nurse in. A few days after a birth, comfort matters more than anything else on the list.
- A fitted top or a simple dress in cream, white, beige, gray or a soft muted color.
- Fabric that is soft against the baby’s skin, since most parent frames are close holds.
- Sleeves and necklines that let the baby rest on your chest without bunching.
- Small jewelry, if any. Long necklaces swing into the baby’s face.
What should dad or a partner wear?
The same palette as mom, in a simple cut: a plain tee, a henley or a button-down in a solid neutral. Avoid printed graphics and large logos, which become the brightest thing in a close frame.
In this parent frame both parents wear white, and the only color in the picture is the baby’s sage wrap. That is the effect to aim for: parents who frame the baby instead of competing with it.
What should older siblings wear?
Simple, comfortable clothing in the family palette. We photograph siblings early in the session, while their patience lasts, so dress them ready to go and keep a change of clothes in the bag. For children under four, one or two good frames together with the baby count as a success.
What should nobody in the family wear?
- Large logos, slogans and cartoon prints.
- Neon and very saturated colors that reflect onto the baby’s skin.
- Busy patterns, especially small stripes and checks.
- Scratchy fabrics, chunky watches and bracelets that rub against the baby.
Does any of this change for a session at home?
A lifestyle session at home documents your nursery, your window light and your own clothes, so the palette starts with the room.
If the nursery is mostly white and wood, neutrals look natural; if it has a strong accent color, pick clothes that sit quietly next to it. The baby can wear the same soft outfits or wraps as in the studio.
The way babies are handled and supported does not change between the studio and the home. How we keep sessions safe is covered in the article on how the studio keeps newborn sessions safe.
What age is best for newborn pictures?
For the curled, deeply asleep posed look, five to fourteen days. At three to six weeks the setups become more wrapped and cradled, with more time awake and more of the parents in frame. Either way, the wardrobe advice above stays the same.
To see how our sessions run in the studio in Summerville or in your home across the Charleston area, read about newborn photography in Summerville and Charleston, and when your due date is set, plan your newborn session with us.
