Arranging a portrait session for your baby was not as easy as you thought it would be. If you live a metropolitan area, you were likely overwhelmed by the sheer number of photographers who specialize in newborn or family photography. There are so many styles to choose from: photojournalism, portraiture, traditional, fashion.
By the time you have gone through the process of finding a photographer, you may have forgotten one little detail: what is your baby going to wear? The answer may surprise you.
5 Tips for Dressing Your Baby for a Photoshoot
photo credit: Hucklebones London
1. Newborns are different.
A newborn photoshoot differs from a baby, toddler, or child shoot in its purpose. The purpose of a newborn shoot is to capture your newborn and all their incredibly tiny features. It’s challenging for a photographer to shoot your newborn’s tiny feet when they’re buried beneath layers of tulle. That impossibly small, delicate onesie will highlight just how tiny and delicate your child is during those first days.
2. Comfort first.
Keep it simple. Don’t bring an entire wardrobe! Frequent costume changes will stress a baby, so it’s best to opt for one outfit and a couple backups in the event of a mishap. Keeping the baby calm and happy so the photographer can capture their sweet smiling faces should be the priority.
photo credit: Sonia Rykiel Enfant
3. Avoid bold prints.
For a professional photoshoot, avoid bold prints on babies. Various prints tend to go in and out of style. If you’d like to maintain a timeless look for your child’s portraits, opt instead for solid, neutral colors or delicate classic prints. If you’d like to add variety, consider different textures. A knit sweater, a dress with lace details. Bold prints will also distract from your child’s face.
photo credit: Baby Graziella
4. Stick with neutral tones.
Focus on neutral colors such as whites, creams, and grays. Both bright and dark colors create color casts on the skin. Color casts occur when colors bounce off of neutral surfaces. If the baby is wearing green or laying on a bright green blanket, the color will reflect onto the baby’s skin to make it appear slightly green in the photo.
5. Add flourishes with accessories.
If you’d like to incorporate some flourish and feel limited by eliminating bold prints and bright colors, a few well-placed accessories can satisfy your need. Girls can done delicate headbands and bows, just be sure they fit properly and are comfortable for the baby. Baby boys can wear playful socks as a pop of color peeking out beneath their neutral toned outfits. For newborns, consider a muted delicately patterned swaddle for some of the pictures — also handy if your baby gets fussy during the shoot.
6. Forget the shoes.
For photo shoots featuring babies who don’t walk or stand, shoes are just as unnecessary as they would be outside of a photographer’s studio. A general rule of thumb: if it’s not something they would normally wear, a photo shoot — where you’re paying for a photographer’s time — is not the place to introduce it. Your baby may be curious or distracted by the shoes, will take them off, or they may repeatedly come off during the shoot, forcing a costume readjustment every ten minutes. All of this will lead to a fussy baby.
We hope you find these tips for dressing your baby for their first professional portraits helpful! If you’re searching for outfits for your little one’s big debut, take a peek at the season’s latest trends in design baby fashion.
For more ideas for fun and fashion for your little ones, visit Angelibebe at https://www.angelibebe.com/blog.
