Sutherland Shire Family Photographer
Cronulla Photographer
Sutherland Shire Newborn Photographer
Cronulla Newborn Photographer
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Newborn Session Guide
Welcoming Your Baby to the World in Photos
Those first weeks with your newborn are a blur of midnight feeds, endless nappy changes, hormones, exhaustion, joy, overwhelm, and love. It's chaotic and beautiful and you're probably running on very little sleep.
In the middle of all that, we're going to pause and capture your brand-new baby. And you as a new parent. And that fresh, just-arrived-in-the-world energy that's so fleeting you'll barely remember it by month two.
These photos are for you to remember. For your baby to see someday and understand how loved they were from the very beginning. For your family to treasure forever.
When to Schedule Your Session
The Sweet Spot: First 2-3 Weeks
Ideally, newborn sessions happen in that first 2-3 week window when your baby is still sleepy, curly, and that precious "just arrived" vibe is still so strong. This is the time for those gentle sleeping shots and new parent moments.
But Here's the Truth: Newborn photos are beautiful at any point in those early weeks. If your baby is two days old, that's perfect. If your baby is three weeks old, that's perfect too. If life got in the way and you're at week four or five, we can absolutely still capture beautiful new parent moments they'll just look slightly different (baby will be more awake and alert, which is also beautiful).
Timing Within the Session:
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Morning Sessions: Often ideal (babies tend to be sleepier, lighting is gorgeous)
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After Feeds: A full, fed baby is a sleepy baby
What to Wear
You're a new parent. You're probably in pyjamas. That's absolutely perfect.
Your Options
Comfortable Layers Soft, loose-fitting clothes that make you feel comfortable and allow easy access for nursing.
Unbuttoned shirt, cozy cardigan, soft leggings whatever feels good.
Skin-to-Skin Vibes For some shots, minimal clothing works beautifully (tank top or nursing bra with a soft blanket draped over). These intimate skin-to-skin photos are absolutely stunning and so meaningful.
Pyjamas & Comfy Clothes Seriously, if you're in the pyjamas you've been wearing for three days, that's perfect. Real new parent life is beautiful.
Slightly More Put-Together If you want to feel a bit fresher, a nice soft top or dress works beautifully. But only if it makes you feel good not because you think you should.
Color Palette
Neutral, Soft Tones (Our Personal Favourite) Cream, soft grey, soft white, warm beige, soft blue these let your baby be the star and create a calm, peaceful feeling.
Warm Earth Tones Terracotta, rust, warm cream, soft gold — beautiful and complementary.
Avoid:
❌ Anything too bright or bold (we want focus on baby)
❌ Busy patterns (distracting)
❌ Anything you're worried about getting baby spit-up on (because it will happen!)
Partner & Siblings
Partner:
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Whatever makes him feel comfortable (he's probably sleep-deprived too!)
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Soft, neutral tones work beautifully
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Comfortable and easy to move in
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If he's nervous about photos, that's okay we'll make him feel great
Older Siblings:
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Comfortable clothes they like wearing
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Coordinate with the colour palette but let them be themselves
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A backup outfit (sibling + new baby = potential for spills)
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Bring snacks to keep them happy between photos
What to Expect on the Day
Before Your Session
Prepare Your Space:
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Tidy up a bit (but don't stress real new parent homes are perfect as they are)
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Have a comfortable place for you to sit/feed/hold baby (couch, bed, chair)
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Gather any meaningful items you want included (hospital bracelets, tiny shoes, ultrasound photos, etc.)
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Let in natural light open curtains and let that soft light in
Prepare Yourself:
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Don't stress about how you look. You just had a baby. You're glowing.
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Wear something comfortable that makes you feel good
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Have snacks and water ready (feeding baby = you need to eat too!)
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Have nursing pads nearby if needed
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Use the bathroom before we start (because newborns)
Prepare Your Baby:
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Feed baby before we start (a full baby is a sleepy baby)
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Have clean nappies and wipes easily accessible
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Bring a change of clothes (spit-up happens!)
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If your baby sleeps better in certain conditions (white noise, specific swaddle), have that ready
During Your Session
What We'll Do:
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Start gently and follow your baby's lead completely
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Sleeping shots (baby swaddled, baby on mama, baby curled up)
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Feeding moments (breastfeeding, bottle feeding, however you're feeding your baby)
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New parent moments (you holding baby, partner holding baby, both of you together)
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Sibling introductions (if you have older kids)
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Close-ups of tiny details (fingers, toes, baby's face)
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Family moments (the four or five of you together)
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Whatever captures this special first phase
How Long Does It Take? Usually 1-2 hours, depending on how your baby is feeling, feeding needs, and how many outfit changes you want. We work completely around your baby's rhythm if baby needs to eat, we pause. If baby needs to be comforted, we pause. This is baby-led, always.
The Vibe:
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Calm, gentle, peaceful
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Your home, your space, your comfort
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I'll guide you but your baby is the priority
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No pressure to perform we're just capturing real moments
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Real, sleepy, peaceful babies are the most beautiful babies
Real Talk About Newborns:
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Newborns cry, poo, spit up, and feed constantly. That's all perfect.
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Your baby might not cooperate or sleep the whole time. That's also perfect.
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The best photos often happen in the quiet moments between all that.
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Sometimes the most meaningful shots are you comforting your crying baby or feeding in the middle of the session.
After Your Session
Sneak Peek: A few beautiful photos within 48 hours so you can start celebrating your arrival.
Full Gallery: Your complete edited gallery delivered within 3 weeks.
Prints & Keepsakes: Want to print these memories? Create a canvas, a photo book, a small print for your nursery? I can help you create beautiful keepsakes from these early days.
Preparing for Your Session
Physically
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Rest as Much as You Can: New parent sleep is a joke, but try to get rest when you can. You'll feel better and look more radiant.
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Stay Hydrated: Drink so much water. It helps your body recover and you'll feel and look better.
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Eat Nourishing Food: You're probably not sleeping much, so nourish yourself with good food.
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Gentle Movement: If you feel up to it, gentle walks or stretching help you feel grounded.
Emotionally
Being a new parent is vulnerable. You might feel overwhelmed, emotional, exhausted, or all of the above. You might feel insecure about your body or how you look. You might feel like you don't have time for photos when you're just trying to survive.
Here's what I know: These photos matter. Your baby will treasure them. You will treasure them. And in this session, I want you to feel held, celebrated, and honoured for what you're doing bringing new life into the world and showing up as a parent.
You look beautiful. Even tired, even in pyjamas, even with unbrushed hair you look absolutely radiant.
Location Choosing
Your Home All newborn sessions happen in your home. It's where you're comfortable, where your baby is most settled, and where the most authentic moments happen. Your bedroom, your nursery, your living room, your couch wherever feels right.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will my baby sleep through the whole session? Maybe! Some newborns sleep beautifully through photos. Some newborns cry, feed, and need comfort the whole time. Both are perfect. We capture whatever happens the sleeping moments, the feeding moments, the awake and alert moments, the crying moments. It's all real, and it's all beautiful.
What if I feel self-conscious about my body? You just grew and birthed a human. Your body is absolutely incredible. And I promise you, the photos are going to make you see yourself the way I see you strong, radiant, and so, so beautiful.
What if I'm struggling emotionally? New parent emotions are real and valid. If you're having a hard day, let me know. We can keep the session short, focus on gentle moments, or reschedule if you need to. Your wellbeing comes first, always.
What if my baby is sick or not doing well? We reschedule. No questions asked. Your baby's health and your peace of mind are the priority.
What about older siblings? Will they cooperate? Maybe! Older siblings sometimes love being in photos with their new baby, and sometimes they're completely uninterested. Both are fine. We capture what happens naturally whether that's beautiful sibling connection or a toddler completely ignoring the camera.
Can we do multiple outfit changes? Absolutely, if you want! Some families love having variety in their gallery. Just know that we work completely around your baby's needs if baby needs to eat or be comforted, outfit changes pause while we take care of baby first.
What if I want specific props or themes? Let me know! We can incorporate meaningful items, particular colours, or specific themes. Just keep in mind that newborn sessions are mostly about capturing real moments, so props are secondary to the connection.
The Day-Of Checklist
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✓ Fed your baby before we start (full baby = sleepy baby)
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✓ You in comfortable clothes that make you feel good
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✓ Partner in comfortable clothes (if joining)
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✓ Clean nappies and wipes nearby
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✓ Burp cloths and change of clothes for baby (spit-up happens!)
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✓ Nursing pads if you need them
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✓ Snacks and water for you (you need to eat too!)
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✓ Meaningful items you want included (hospital bracelets, first outfit, etc.)
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✓ White noise machine or whatever helps baby sleep (if needed)
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✓ Open heart and gentle energy
After Your Session
Your sneak peek arrives in 48 hours. Your full gallery in 3 weeks. And then? You have these beautiful, tangible photos of your baby's arrival, proof that they were here, that they were loved from the very beginning, that you were all together in this precious early phase.
Years from now, you'll look back at these photos and remember exactly how it felt to meet your baby. How small they were. How much you loved them. How fast it all went.