You’ve booked your newborn session. You’re excited. And then approximately 48 hours before your shoot, you open your wardrobe, stare into the abyss and think… what on earth do I actually wear?

Don’t panic.…

This is genuinely one of the questions I get asked most, and I’ve GOT YOU.

Here’s everything you need to know about dressing yourself, your partner, your toddler, and your brand new human for their first ever photoshoot.

First things first….

Before we get into specifics – the most important thing to remember is this: you are not the subject of these photos. Your baby is.

Your job is to complement the images, not compete with them.

That means stepping away from bold prints, busy patterns and anything with a large logo on it.

The goal is for someone to look at your photos in twenty years and see your family, not your outfit.

Neutrals, soft tones and simple textures are your best friends.

Think creams, taupes, dusty blues, sage greens, warm whites and soft greys.

Colours that sit quietly in a frame and let the joy on your faces do the talking.

What to wear as Mum

Let’s start with you, because you matter in these photos too (more on that in a separate blog post, but just.. yes. You do.)

A few things to keep in mind.

You’ve just had a baby.

Your body has done something extraordinary and it may not look or feel exactly the way you’d like it to right now.

Choose something that makes you feel like yourself, not something you’re squeezing into because you think you should, and not something so oversized you feel lost in it.

Flowing midi dresses and wrap styles are enduringly popular because they’re comfortable, they photograph beautifully, and they’re easy to feed in if you’re breastfeeding. Soft knits and linen work really well too.

Avoid anything stiff, structured or that requires you to hold your breath. ESPECIALLY jeans. Just don’t do it.

Colours wise – cream, white, blush, sage and warm neutrals all work beautifully in the studio.

If you have a favourite colour that falls outside of this, bring it anyway and we can see how it looks, sometimes a soft terracotta or burnt orange works fab!

One practical note: if you’re planning to breastfeed during the session, think about accessibility. A wrap dress, a button front top, a cardigan or anything you can easily feed in means less faffing and more flow. If you have nothing, don’t fret, I have plenty.

Dad or partner

Simple. Always simple.

A well-fitted pair of dark or neutral trousers, chinos or jeans paired with a plain shirt, soft knit or simple t-shirt is all you need. Avoid bold checks, stripes or anything with graphics. Navy, grey, cream, tan and white all photograph brilliantly.

The main thing is that your outfit coordinates with mum’s without being matchy-matchy.

You don’t need to be wearing the same colour – you just need to be in the same family of tones. If mum is in cream and blush, a soft grey or warm white works perfectly for you.

Think about your socks – we don’t wear shoes so white or cream are great.. bare feet are even better so groom those nails!

Older siblings

Toddlers and children are a law unto themselves and we all know it.

So here’s my practical advice: choose their outfit last, based on what you and your partner are wearing, and keep it simple.

Soft neutral tones work just as well for little ones as they do for adults.

A simple linen romper, a plain dress, a soft knit jumper with simple trousers – all gorgeous.

Avoid anything scratchy or uncomfortable because a toddler who is itchy is a toddler who will not cooperate, and we have enough variables to manage already.

Don’t stress too much about the sibling outfit. In my experience, the photos where older siblings are a little bit feral and chaotic are often the ones parents love most.

Authenticity always wins!

What about baby?

To be quite honest, it’s very little.

Some of the most beautiful newborn images are babies wrapped simply in a soft cloth or photographed in just a nappy.

The focus is entirely on their tiny features, their curled up little body, the way their fingers fold over your hand – and clothing can distract from all of that.

PLEASE don’t come in anything with buttons – and if you come in a single zip up sleepsuit, you get bonus points! If they fall asleep on route and we then wake them up undoing buttons.. it’s not ideal.

I have a full studio wardrobe of carefully chosen wraps, bonnets, knit sets and props in neutral tones for you to use, so you don’t need to bring anything for your baby unless you have something sentimental you’d love to include.. a special blanket, a knitted outfit from a grandparent, something that means something to your family. Those details always add something beautiful.

If you do want to bring your own outfits for baby, stick to soft natural fabrics in neutral tones and size up slightly – newborns are tiny but they are also surprisingly wriggly and a too-tight outfit makes posing much harder.

Don’t worry!

I send a full welcome guide to every family when you book, which includes a detailed style guide with specific outfit inspiration and examples.

So by the time your session arrives, you’ll have everything you need and absolutely nothing to panic about.

And if you’re still staring into the abyss – just message me, I love chatting about outfits!

Feel free to explore my website for more information and to see some of the photography I’ve captured. Have questions? Send me a little message here!

Best wishes,

Lucy xx