Preparing for Your Newborn Session - Hayley Blair Photography

I’m so excited to come to you and document this special season for your family.

Because I bring the studio directly to your home, your session can be relaxed, comfortable, and completely free from the stress of travelling with little ones.

This guide will walk you through a few simple things you can do before I arrive. But most importantly, please don’t feel like everything needs to be perfect. Your home doesn’t need to be spotless, your baby doesn’t need to be perfectly sleepy, and you don’t need to know how to pose.

I’ll take care of the rest.

before i arrive

a few simple things that can help your session start smoothly.

● If possible, try to keep baby awake for a little while before I arrive.

● Give baby a nice full feed shortly before the session.

● Have a clean diaper on baby when we begin.

● Dress baby in something easy to remove, such as a simple sleeper or loose-fitting outfit.

● Keep a soother nearby if baby uses one.

● Have a few extra diapers and wipes within reach.

Please don’t worry if your baby doesn’t follow any of this perfectly. Babies set the pace of their sessions, and we’ll simply work with whatever they need.

preparing your home

you do not need to clean your house for me.

Really...

I know how easy it is to look around your home and notice everything that needs tidying, especially with little ones. But I promise, I’m not coming to inspect your home. I’m coming to photograph your family. I’ll only need a small amount of space for my setup, and I’ll guide you through where everything will go when I arrive.

If you’d like to do a little preparation, simply:

● Clear a small area where we’ll set up the studio

● Move any fragile or especially valuable items out of the immediate area

● Put away anything you’d rather not have photographed

● Make sure the room is comfortably warm for newborn sessions

That’s it.

You don’t need a perfect home. You just need to be in it.

what should we wear?

think soft, simple, and timeless.

I love neutral tones, soft textures, and pieces that allow your family to be the focus.

A few things to keep in mind:

● Choose coordinating colours rather than everyone wearing the exact same thing.

● Soft neutrals, creams, whites, beiges, muted tones, and gentle earthy colours photograph beautifully.

● Avoid large logos, bold graphics, and very busy patterns.

● Texture adds beautiful dimension—think knits, linen, cotton, and soft layers.

● Choose something you feel comfortable and beautiful in.

Most importantly, choose something that feels like you.

*Important Note* - For newborn sessions, baby will be photographed in the wraps, outfits, and styling pieces I bring, so you don’t need to worry about putting together a complicated wardrobe for them. If you happen to have a special outfit you'd like to dress them in, please let me know in the questionnaire at the end of this guide.

what to expect

let baby lead the way.

Newborn sessions are intentionally slow and unhurried. Your baby may need to be fed, changed, cuddled, rocked, or simply held throughout our time together—and that’s completely okay.

There is no expectation for your baby to sleep through the entire session.

I am patient, and I will never rush your little one.

Your job is simply to love on your baby, enjoy the experience, and let me guide you through the rest.

I will handle the posing and styling while keeping baby’s comfort and safety at the heart of every image.

including siblings

let littles be littles.

If we’re including older siblings, don’t worry about making them behave perfectly for the camera.

They’re little—and little personalities are part of what makes your family yours.

It can help to let them know ahead of time that we’re going to take some special pictures of the new baby and that they’ll have an important part to play.

Having a small snack, favourite toy, or comfort item nearby can also be helpful.

And if they need a break? We’ll take one.

during your session

you don't need to know how to pose.

I’ll gently guide you through everything.

I’ll help with positioning, posing, hands, where to look, and all those little details that can make an image feel natural and beautiful.

You don’t have to perform for the camera.

Just interact with your family, love on your little one, and let me capture what happens naturally in between.

the travelling studio

i'll bring the studio. you bring your family.

One of the most special parts of this experience is that you don’t have to go anywhere.

I’ll arrive with the equipment, lighting, backdrops, wraps, props, and styling pieces needed for your session.

You don’t need to pack up your baby, load the car, navigate a new space, or worry about remembering everything.

I’ll take care of the details.

You simply open your door, settle in, and enjoy your experience.

now onto the fun stuff

let's pick your props + wraps.

I will be bringing everything with me that is needed for your session, however I will only bring props and wraps we plan to use.

Please scroll through the options and answer the questionnaire at the bottom. Please note that each created setup will compliment the props and wraps you choose and I will add any accessories (layers, pillows, bonnets, tiebacks, sleepy caps, etc) that I see fit. *Colours may appear differently in final edited images*