Newborn Photos Feel High Pressure

There’s a reason that newborn photo sessions feel so high pressure! It’s the time sensitivity. I mean, if this isn’t your first, you know EXACTLY how fast those chubby cheeks stay chubby, and how long you get of the “classic sleepy newborn” phase, before it’s… well… we’ll just call it different. Because your newborn photos should really be scheduled in the first few weeks of your baby’s life so that we can capture the magic as stress-free as possible (for everyone involved!!) the window you’ve got to use can make it feel really make-or-break.

Choosing What to Bring Feels High Pressure, Too!

But timing isn’t the only high-pressure part of scheduling your newborn photos! Now, that being said, if you’ve scheduled your session ahead (based on your due date) then you should have plenty of time to think about this part, which makes life easier! The “thing” I’m referring to, is what you’re going to bring with you.

Lucky for you, I have a full guide on how to prepare for your newborn session, but it doesn’t go through selecting props in super crazy detail… so today, we’re gonna break it down!

When You’re Choosing Props, Think About:

I want to be clear here before we get into it, you do NOT have to bring props to your Minneapolis newborn session. They are NOT required. If you want to show up with yourself, baby, and a few bits (like extra diapers and whatever the little one is eating – basically your baby-bag) then that is 100% fine with me.

But some families have things they absolutely want to capture, and those include having some props with them! And that is 100% okay too.

1 – Are there sentimental photos you want to capture?

The first thing to consider is whether there are sentimental photos you want to capture, that require props. The thing that comes to mind here is images of your little one with family photos, heirlooms, or posed with meaningful items from YOUR childhood. There are all kinds of ways that this can be done elegantly, creating gorgeous heirlooms that your family will cherish for years to come – but… remember, your photos will ALREADY be heirloom quality without having these components included! It’s not a requirement that you come up with an extra meaningful pose or set for your newborn photo session, because they’re going to be magical and meaningful all on their own.

So when you’re thinking about whether you want to bring meaningful props, consider whether there’s a photo from YOUR newborn photos, or your little one’s sibling’s newborn photos that you want to recreate. But if nothing comes to mind, don’t worry!

2 – What does your photographer have available in-studio?

Second on our list of things to think about, is whether your photographer is going to have props already available in the studio. The answer to this is probably “yes” – most photographers who work with newborns have a selection of classic/popular props that they bring out to make sure your images are engaging, and gorgeous! So the answer to your prop related questions, might just be “everything you possibly want to have included is already in studio!”

3 – Is your session taking place in your home?

This wouldn’t be a complete list without thinking about the opposite situation, because not all newborn sessions take place in the studio! Tons of photographers (myself included!) offer Lifestyle Newborn Photography sessions, because bringing your newborn out into the world for their photo session isn’t always possible, and also isn’t always preferential. I totally understand!

But when it comes to thinking about props and whether you’re going to “bring” them… this makes that kinda… irrelevant, right? I mean if there are things that are currently in the possession of other family members (think that aged, sepia-toned photo of your great-great-grandma) then you have the work of collecting those from whoever they’re with, to make sure they’re in your home for the day of your session. But if the props you wanted to include are already in your possession, then all you’ve got to do is make sure they’re accessible, and you’ll be good to go for using them on your session day!

For Lifestyle Newborn Sessions, you can also keep in mind that we’re going to take photos of you and your little one in a more natural way, with less strict posing – so for things like “family photos” and “heirlooms” we can even keep them where they are in your home, sometimes, and simply pose you with your family’s newest addition in the area those things usually live to begin with! It’s a win-win, and makes working those “props” in feel REALLY natural.

4 – Are there items your family would love seeing in images with your new baby?

Okay so this one is kind of sort of optional, but it’s good to think about anyway. Your newborn session is about you, and about your partner, and about your children, and… about your new baby. But it can also be a meaningful opportunity to create gorgeous gifts for your family, too, if that’s the kind of thing your family does! Now, I don’t mean like, “appeasing family members who’ve been pressuring you for specific photos” or anything like that, I just mean if there’s a specific pose that all of the other babies in your family have been photographed in with a specific prop like a basket, or teddy, and your Mom has them all framed on the wall in her livingroom… how cool would it be to make sure that pose is included?

So without adding pressure for yourself… think whether there are situations like this that you should include in your session plan, and if so, make sure the props for it are either available from your photographer, or you bring them with you!

Bringing props is a big decision – but if it feels right… DO IT!

Like I’ve said, not every Minneapolis newborn photo session needs props. It’s a totally personal decision whether you’re going to bring them with you – but hopefully what we’ve walked through today makes you feel a little more prepared to decide yay or nay! And of course, if you need to talk about whether you’d like to bring certain props with you before your session, my inbox is always open. That also counts for getting your session on the schedule, if you’re not booked yet!