5 Must-Have Photos for Your Newborn Session

Wondering which moments you can’t miss during your newborn session?

Bringing your new baby home is a whirlwind of love, late nights, and so many little moments that you just want to freeze in time. Those early days fly by, and before you know it, your tiny newborn is already growing and changing. Newborn photography is a beautiful way to capture this fleeting chapter, so you can look back years from now and remember every precious detail.

Here are 5 Must-Have Photos for Your Newborn Session that capture all the love, sweetness, and joy of welcoming your little one.

Baby Alone

There’s nothing like a solo shot of your baby to remind you just how little they once were. Those tiny fingers, squishy toes, soft cheeks—it’s almost impossible not to fall in love with every little detail! I love to get a variety of these photos so we capture every inch.

A few years from now, you’ll look at these photos and feel like you’re right back in that moment, missing how small and precious they were. Baby fever is real so be careful or your little one might find themselves getting a sibling! I like to do these shots in the crib or on the parent’s bed.

Mom/Dad with Baby

Those first few weeks snuggling your baby are just the best. You’ve been waiting what feels like forever and now here they are sleeping on your chest. That magical feeling lights you up and I see it in your portraits. I love to capture a new dad with his tiny baby in his hands just looking down in amazement. Or a new mom cuddled up with her baby experiencing a love she’s never felt before.

I always deliver several variations of these must-have newborn session photos. I like to get mom in her element rocking with baby in the chair in the nursery or swaying baby to sleep in front of the crib.

Family with Baby

There are so many emotions that come flooding in when you finally hold that much-anticipated baby in your arms—relief, awe, love, and joy all wrapped into one incredible moment. It’s the beginning of a new chapter, where sleepless nights are softened by baby snuggles and your definition of “family” expands in the most beautiful way. These first days together are tender, raw, and fleeting—which is why capturing them is so meaningful. The quiet glances, tiny fingers curled around yours, and the way you instinctively cradle your baby close—these are the moments you’ll want to remember forever.

For ideas on what to wear for you newborn session, visit my Pinterest Inspiration Board

Newborn Photoshoot What to Wear

Siblings with Baby

Anyone who has a sibling probably has seen the photo of the first time they held them many times over their life. Mine was on my grandparents couch with my grandfathers white dress shirt covering my arms and body because I had the chicken pox when my little sister was born. That photo is burned into my brain!

Pets with Baby

They were your first babies—also known as fur babies in our family and, I’m sure, in many others. Your pets have been there for the big moments: the engagement, the wedding, the late-night snack runs during pregnancy—and now, they’re meeting the newest (and tiniest) member of the family. Including pets in your newborn session isn’t just adorable; it’s meaningful. It captures the bond between your loyal companion and your growing family. Whether they’re gently sniffing the baby’s toes, lounging protectively nearby, or curiously peeking into the crib, these moments are priceless. Pets bring warmth, personality, and a sense of “home” to your photos—and they absolutely deserve a spot in the frame.

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