What Actually Happens During a Newborn Photography Session? A loose session timeline from a Phoenix Newborn Photographer
If you've never had a newborn photography session before, you might be looking at that three-hour session time and thinking...
Three hours?! What on earth are we doing for three hours?
I promise I'm not going to make you stare at my camera for three straight hours. And your baby definitely isn't going to be posing for three straight hours.
In fact, a newborn photography session looks a lot less like a perfectly timed photo shoot and a lot more like... life with a newborn.
There will be feeding.
There will probably be a diaper change (or three).
Someone may poop.
A couple people will almost certainly need a snack.
And there is a very good chance your baby will decide to do something completely different than what we had planned.
And that's completely fine.
One of the reasons I schedule plenty of time for my Arizona in-home newborn photography sessions is because babies don't care about our timeline. And honestly, I don't want them to.
My goal isn't to rush through as many poses as possible. It's to give your baby the time they need while we create beautiful images along the way.
So, if you're wondering what actually happens during a newborn photography session, here's a little behind-the-scenes look at what those three hours might look like.
And I say "might" very intentionally.
Every baby is different, so these times are more of a general guide than an actual schedule.
9:00 AM — We Start With a Feeding
When I first arrive to your Phoenix area home, we're not immediately taking pictures.
Baby gets a chance to eat. This is especially helpful if they didn't finish a full feeding before I arrived or if they've decided that the second I walk through the door is the perfect time to suddenly become starving.
And that's okay.
I would much rather start with a happy, full baby than try to convince a hungry newborn that they're totally fine with whatever we're doing.
While baby is eating, I'll get everything set up and ready to go.
And because this is an in-home newborn photography session, you don't have to worry about packing everyone into the car and getting to a studio on time.
I bring the studio to you.
Lights? Check.
Props? Check.
Wraps? Check.
Everything we need? Already in my car.
Your job is mostly to take care of yourself and your baby.
9:20 AM — Snuggles, Soothing & Getting Comfortable
Once baby is finished eating, we give them a little time to settle.
This is usually where the snuggles happen. Maybe we swaddle them. Maybe they need to be held for a few minutes. Maybe they're already completely passed out. Or maybe they're wide awake and staring at me like they're trying to figure out exactly who this woman is and why she brought a giant camera into their house.
All normal.
There isn't a magic switch that makes every newborn fall asleep the second we start the session. And there doesn't need to be. I follow your baby's cues throughout the session, which means our newborn photography timeline is more of a loose guide than a strict schedule.
9:35 AM — Somebody Needs a Diaper Change
And by somebody, I mean the baby.
Although, depending on how the morning is going, I make no promises about the rest of us. Diaper changes are just part of newborn photography. So are spit-up, hiccups, sneezes, crying and the occasional projectile bodily fluid situation.
It happens.
I have photographed enough newborns to know that none of this is unusual, and absolutely none of it is something you need to apologize for.
Your baby is being a baby.
That's what babies do.
9:45 AM — We Start With the Big Kids
This is one of the first things we do, and there's a very good reason for it.
If you have older children, I don't want you spending the entire session trying to keep them clean, entertained and photo-ready while we photograph the baby. So we get those sibling and family photos done first.
That means your toddler can go eat a snack.
Your preschooler can change into something more comfortable.
Someone can spill something.
Someone can decide they are officially finished with pictures for the day.
And we're already done with their part.
I know parents sometimes worry that their older kiddos won't cooperate, and honestly, that's okay. I don't expect a three-year-old to sit perfectly still and smile on command just because there's a camera pointed at them.
We'll play. We'll talk. We'll make it quick when we need to.
Sometimes the best sibling photos happen in the 30 seconds before a toddler decides they're done.
But here are a few tricks to help make this portion of the session a little smoother!
10:00 AM — Mom & Dad Get Their Turn
Once the older kids are finished, I usually move into parent and family images.
And before you start panicking...
No, you do not have to know how to pose. I'll guide you through it. I also know that most moms are not walking into their newborn session feeling like a supermodel.
You're tired.
Your body just did something pretty incredible.
You may have a baby attached to you approximately 23 hours a day.
You don't need to feel perfectly put together.
You just need to show up.
I'll take care of the rest.
And because we're doing these images early in the session, you don't have to spend the next two hours wondering if your toddler is going to wipe yogurt on their shirt before we get the family pictures.
That's a win.
10:30 AM — Baby Takes Center Stage
Once baby is happy, fed and settled, we'll start working through some of the posed images.
This is where you'll start seeing all of the things you probably pictured when you booked your newborn session.
Wrapped images.
Sweet little details.
Those tiny fingers and toes.
Baby's eyelashes.
Some of the props and setups I've brought with me.
But here's something important:
I don't rush through these.
If baby needs a break, we take a break.
If baby wakes up, we settle them.
If baby needs to eat again, we feed them.
The goal isn't to force your baby into a schedule so I can get through a shot list.
The goal is to photograph your baby safely and comfortably while giving us plenty of opportunities for beautiful images.
11:05 AM — Feeding Break... Because Apparently Lunch Is Important
Or maybe 10:55.
Or 11:15.
Remember that thing I said about babies being in charge?
Yep.
If baby is hungry, we stop and feed them.
There is no prize for getting through the session without a feeding break.
Sometimes baby needs a full meal. Sometimes they just need a little snack and some cuddling. Either way, we take the break.
This is one of the reasons I schedule plenty of time for newborn sessions. We're not watching the clock every five minutes wondering how we're going to squeeze everything in.
If baby needs you, baby gets you. You can sit on the couch, feed your baby, scroll your phone, drink some water, or just enjoy a few quiet minutes.
You don't have to entertain me.
11:25 AM — Back to Sleepy Baby Photos
Once baby is happy and sleepy again, we can get back to photographing.
We'll work through different poses, wraps, props and setups depending on what baby is comfortable with.
And if baby decides they don't like a particular pose?
We move on.
There is no forcing a baby into a pose just because it looked cute on Pinterest.
Baby's comfort and safety always come first.
Sometimes we get through several setups quickly. Sometimes one setup takes much longer because baby needs a little extra soothing.
Both are completely normal.
11:45 AM — The Inevitable Diaper Explosion
Okay, maybe this isn't actually scheduled for 11:45.
But it is coming.
At some point during your newborn session, there will probably be another diaper change.
There may be spit-up.
There may be pee.
There may be poop.
And yes, there is a very good chance some of it will land on something that was just photographed.
This is newborn photography.
I have been peed on before. I will probably be peed on again. Nobody needs to apologize. We clean it up, change baby, laugh about it, and keep going.
11:50 AM — A Few More Baby Details
By now we're usually getting toward the end of the session, so I'll grab any remaining images we need.
This might be a few more wrapped images, some close-up details, or one of those sweet sleepy poses that we just couldn't get earlier.
And sometimes...
Baby decides they're completely done. That's okay, too. We've already gotten so much.
The goal was never to get through a checklist at all costs. It's to document this little stage of your baby while they are still this tiny.
12:00 PM — I Pack Everything Up
And this is one of my favorite parts of doing newborn photography in your home.
I pack up my lights.
I pack up the props.
I pack up the wraps.
I pack up everything I brought with me.
And you don't have to put a newborn into a car seat, load up a diaper bag, drive across town or wake a sleeping baby because it's time to go home.
You're already home.
You can put your pajamas back on.
Go make lunch.
Take a nap.
Whatever sounds good.
So... What If Our Session Doesn't Look Exactly Like This?
It probably won't. And that's the point.
Your baby might need three feedings.
Your toddler might need five snacks.
We might spend 20 minutes soothing instead of 5.
Your baby might sleep the entire time.
Or they might decide they're absolutely fascinated by everything happening around them and stay awake for half the session.
There is no perfect newborn photography session timeline.
There is just your baby.
And my job is to work around them.
That's why I leave plenty of time for an in-home newborn photography session. I don't want you watching the clock and wondering if we're "behind."
We're not behind.
We're just doing newborn things.
Why in-home newborn photography makes things easier.
You don't have to leave your house.
You don't have to get everyone dressed, pack the diaper bag, load the car, drive across town and hope your baby doesn't fall asleep five minutes before you arrive.
Instead, I bring the studio to you.
You get to stay in your own space, with everything your baby needs close by.
And if we need to stop for a feeding, a diaper change, a snack break or just a few minutes of snuggling?
We do.
Because three hours isn't really three hours of taking pictures. It's three hours of giving your family the time and space to just be your family while I document it. And honestly?
Thinking About Booking a Newborn Session?
If you're planning newborn photos and want to know more about what an in-home newborn session with me looks like, you can learn more about my newborn photography experience or get in touch to start planning your session.
And if you're still wondering whether your house is "clean enough" for newborn photos...
It is.
I promise.
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