What to Wear to a Newborn Photography Session

Every photographer has a unique style, and I guide clients to get the photos that first attracted them to hire me. While I won’t force you to wear a specific outfit, following these strong suggestions will reward you with the best results.

What to wear for your newborn photo session: Choose light neutrals such as beiges, grays, whites, pinks, creams or mild color hues. Grays even lighter than this cardigan work especially well if it jives with your skin tone.

Choose Neutrals

Choose tops or blouses with light neutrals such as beiges, grays, whites, pinks, creams or mild color hues for your newborn session. It’s ok to be casual and pair neutral tops with jeans.

Why neutral tops? As you snuggle up to your newborn, the color of your shirt will reflect on your baby’s skin. Neutrals give you and your baby a natural glow and avoid color reflections that lead to skin discoloration.

And because your newborn is the hero of the photo session, skip the bright colors or busy patterns.

While black is a slimming choice for women, it creates harsher tones, which is ok if your end goal is a black & white (only) album of images. If your home is mostly white, wearing black will feel even more disjointed. The goal is to wear light and airy neutrals that flow with the vibe of your home and create a beautiful, soft feel.

View suggestions for lifestyle newborn session outfits on my Pinterest page.

Choose Outfits Based on Flow & Texture

Avoid clingy fabrics like cotton knits. New moms have bumps and curves they didn’t have before so a maxi dress with fabric that moves and flows is best, especially when choosing ivories and whites for your color choice.

Amazon has great options. If you feel like a thrift run, you can get an outfit for less than $15. Marshall’s and TJ Maxx have easy and affordable finds. A simple color with a textured fabric also distracts viewers from focusing on your body.

Check The Fit Of Your Clothing

While we’re at it, make sure your outfit fits well. Tugging buttons and pulling zippers aren’t fixable.

I prefer swaddled newborns (they love it and cooperate better) but if choosing an outfit in which to document your baby, make sure it fits BEFORE our session and that your baby isn’t enveloped by his/her outfit. Outfit changes can wake peacefully sleeping babes and we want to minimize that.

And please iron your clothing and lint roll all pet hair before the session.

Newborn Lifestyle Session Outfit Ideas

View suggestions for lifestyle newborn session outfits on my Pinterest page.