A guide to your newborn session
Thank you for choosing me to photograph this extraordinary chapter of your lives. It is a real privilege to be invited into your home at such a tender, fleeting moment.
I want you to feel completely at ease. You do not need a perfect home, a tidy home, or anything “ready” for me.
You have just brought a baby into the world. I am not here to inspect your home, and I have no expectations or judgements about how you live. I am here to find the beauty that is already there in you, your baby and the life you are making together.
01 / YOUR HOME
When I arrive, we will have a quiet look around to find the most beautiful natural light. It might be your bedroom and the bed where you have spent hours with your baby, or the sofa beside the patio doors. There is no right room, we will make the space feel comfortable and relaxed.
If you are happy for me to, I may move a cushion, blanket or small object that distracts from a photograph. I will not rearrange your home or move whole pieces of furniture, so please do not spend your morning tidying for me.
I often recommend choosing a small bunch of your favourite flowers or seasonal greenery to have at home. Beyond the beauty they bring to a space, certain flowers can hold memories of loved ones or quietly remind us of someone special. And when the early days of parenthood can feel a little overwhelming, something as simple as fresh flowers can bring a sense of lightness, calm and life into your surroundings.
02 / A BABY-LED PACE
The session is calm and unhurried. Your baby sets the rhythm, not the clock. We will pause whenever they need a feed, a change, a cuddle or simply a little time in your arms.
Some of the most meaningful images happen between moments: a sleepy stretch, a tiny hand, the way you instinctively settle your baby against your chest. Nothing needs to be forced.
03 / MAKE THE MORNING YOURS
If you can, give yourself a slow morning. A bath, washing your hair, doing your make-up, or simply putting on something that makes you feel lovely can make a real difference to how you feel in front of the camera.
You have been giving so much of yourself to your baby. This is a small opportunity to feel like you again, too.
Prepare for the feeling, not the photographs.
A little preparation can help you feel more like yourself, but nothing here is a rule. We will work with whatever the day brings.
04 / CLOTHING & COLOUR
We can talk about clothing before the session, I am very happy to help. I love a quiet, considered palette: warm whites, cream, oatmeal, soft browns, muted greens and gentle neutrals.
Think texture rather than trend: cotton, linen, soft knits and simple layers.
Avoid prominent slogans and very bright colours.
When everyone sits within a similar palette, the photographs feel calm and timeless.
05 / FOR YOUR BABY
A couple of outfit changes are useful, both for variety and in case of a little newborn sick-up. Keep things soft, comfortable and easy to change. Simple wraps or barely dressed portraits can be beautiful, too.
Your baby's tiny details their skin, hair, hands and feet are all part of this chapter.
06 / THE QUIETER PHOTOGRAPHS
Breastfeeding photographs are always an option. I always bring a selection of lace robes, if you would like to create soft, sensual skin-to-skin images while still feeling covered and comfortable.
These photographs can be deeply personal. They do not need to be displayed or shared with anyone. They can simply belong to you, a record of your body, your baby and the extraordinary connection between you.
Above all, please arrive as you are. Tired, emotional, in your dressing gown, wonderfully happy or a little overwhelmed, all of it belongs here.
We are not creating a perfect version of these days. We are preserving the real ones.
Gemma Florence Photography
Women, motherhood & the stories we carry