Nothing ruins the excitement of lifestyle newborn photos more than figuring out what to wear for the entire family ????! Don’t worry I’ve got you covered! I’ve put together some tips and real inspiration photos of past clients to help you figure out how to make your family look stylish and put together for your session.
Plus if you are a client of mine you will get access to my Client Dashboard with even more tips, advice and suggestions on places to shop! Be sure to check out my Pinterest board Newborn Photoshoot What to Wear for more examples!
Table of Contents
Style
When it comes to what to wear for lifestyle newborn photos think about yourself and your family and what your overall style is. What are you most comfortable in outside of yoga pants :)? If you are a jeans and t-shirt girl maybe this isn’t the time to jump on rent the runway and get a ball gown.
Not to mention it takes awhile for your post partum body to heal. You are not dressing your normal body and if seeing your belly still swollen in a form fitting dress is going to make you hate photos with you in them don’t do it. If you can run a mile in 5 inch heels and love to dress to the nines then embrace it and go for it! Embrace YOUR style!
Color Palette
Let’s tackle color palette next, my go to suggestion is always to stick with neutral and pastel colors. We want the focus to be on baby and not the brightest color in the photos. I recommend light pinks, blues, aqua, white, cream and gray. Avoid hot pink, neon green and bright orange as these can cast unflattering colors onto your skin and baby’s skin.
What to Wear Outfit Tips & Inspiration
Mom Outfits
Dressing your post partum body is tough, I’ve had 3 kids so I definitely know what that feels like. I’ve had clients wear everything from long flowy dresses to jeans for their session. The most important thing when it comes to what to wear for lifestyle newborn photos is that you feel comfortable! I’ve rounded up some photos of real mom clients of mine so you can be inspired when picking out what you want to wear.
Dad Outfits
Let’s be honest here, keep it simple for dads! Be sure to pick out their outfit for them well ahead of time and lay it out so they know exactly what to wear. I can’t tell you how many times I hear dad’s say I thought you meant this blue shirt before they go change into the right one :). So make it easy on them!
Typically my dad clients wear khaki shorts or pants or jeans for our sessions and a button down. I love how a crisp long sleeve button down with the sleeves rolled up can dress up a pair of jeans for dad! Check out some of my past dads to see what to wear for lifestyle newborn photos.
Sibling Outfits
Definitely keep the tones for sibling outfits to neutrals and pastels. Avoid busy patterns and bright graphic elements. Nothing dates a photo more than a Paw Patrol or Minecraft shirt. If mom is wearing a solid dress you can put a sibling in a subtle delicate pattern dress or shirt but if mom is wearing a pattern stick to solids for the kiddos.
Baby Outfits
I recommend to all my clients to start baby off in a white onesie. It keeps the focus on baby’s face and their features. Then we typically will swaddle them for the second half of photos for another look. If you have a special heirloom outfit you want photos in we can do that at the end of the session!
I hope you enjoyed this post on What to Wear for Lifestyle Newborn Photos. If you are in the Charlottesville, Richmond or Central Virginia area and having a baby I’d love to chat with you about booking a lifestyle newborn session! Clients typically book in their second trimester so if that is you click the button below!
What to Wear for Lifestyle Newborn Photos
Melissa Arlena is an award winning Richmond & Charlottesville Virginia Master newborn & maternity photographer. She offers maternity, lifestyle newborn, and family photography in her relaxed, natural, and joyful style. Her clients love that not only do they get digital files from their session but artwork to display in their home. She is happy to design custom wall art galleries to show off your favorite photos! Be sure to check out the Nov 21 issue of Inspired magazine to see a feature on Melissa and her work!
Melissa serves Charlottesville, Richmond, Staunton, Fredericksburg, Harrisonburg, Waynesboro, Culpeper, Gordonsville and beyond.
Melissa Arlena is an award winning lifestyle newborn photographer in Charlottesville and Richmond, Virginia who has earned her Master Photographer Certification from NAPCP in maternity, newborn and family photography. Her natural and simple work has been featured in magazines and online blogs worldwide. She has been named Best Maternity and Newborn Photographer in Richmond and Charlottesville, VA in 2023.
