What to wear to your Edmonton newborn photography session
As an Edmonton, Alberta newborn photographer, an important part of my job is helping you look and feel amazing for your newborn photos. One of the biggest stresses of planning family photos is selecting what to wear and how to ensure everyone looks perfect for your images.
I provide a curated closet filled with flattering, timeless pieces for all mothers— expectant and experienced moms alike— so that no matter where you’re at in your motherhood journey, you’ll feel good in the body you’re in. This confidence shines through in your images, and allows us to capture the most beautiful and natural images possible during our time together.
My goal is to create timeless, heartwarming images that will proudly be displayed and passed down for many generations to come. A big part of this is wardrobe— selecting elegant, feminine dresses for mom, and timeless neutrals for baby and the rest of the family to ensure that your images age gracefully.
In addition to providing wardrobe for my mamas, I also have the sweetest collection of wraps and swaddles (and even headbands for baby girls!) that I bring along to all of my Edmonton newborn photography sessions.
When working with me as your Edmonton newborn photographer, we will work closely together to hand-select the perfect outfits for dad and older siblings, so that everyone looks perfectly coordinated but not “matchy”. Often the most challenging part of wardrobe planning is knowing where to begin, and this is why I have a few helpful tips for planning what to wear for your newborn photos.
1. Start with mom
I always recommend that we begin here, as mom can often be the hardest one to dress for a newborn session. Feeling unfamiliar in your body that has grown and changed over the course of nine months— not to mention shopping while very pregnant— can leave a new (or experienced) mom feeling discouraged. It’s my job to make you feel as beautiful as your children see you, and that is why I’ve curated the most flattering gowns for all body types. The majority of our dresses are flowy, provide coverage in just the right places, and emphasize your natural, maternal beauty. With everything from delicate lace to soft florals in a variety of colours and textures, our gowns are a big hit among the mamas. And even if you choose to select something outside of our client closet, we will work closely together to find the perfect pieces to help you feel amazing the day of your session.
2. Go for timeless with soft neutrals
There are several benefits to opting for soft neutrals— they photograph well in all locations, and fit perfectly in all homes when hung on the walls to compliment your home decor. They also age well due to their timeless quality and if you’re a fan of the light and airy style of photography, neutrals help us achieve this perfectly.
Colours to choose: off-white, cream, beige, light grey, dusty blue or pink, pastels
Colours to avoid: neons, dark red, orange, black, navy
While I’m a big fan of black in my everyday life (and yes, it is absolutely classic!), it can be hard to achieve the soft, bright and airy style of photography that you see in my work when wearing deep tones. Not to mention, they can appear faded once edited. Any very bright neons will cast colour onto the skin (aka an orange dress may reflect orange onto baby’s skin— not something we want!) making it appear unnatural. Neutrals help us achieve natural, glowing skin tones, which is very important!
3. Simple is best for baby
Newborn babies can be difficult to dress, as they are often too small for outfits just yet, and many newborn options cover up those sweet itty bitty parts we want to see— their tiny toes, sweet hands and belly, and all the rest! Because of this, I recommend choosing from one of the many wraps and swaddles I bring along to your Edmonton newborn photography session. Not only does this allow us to achieve timeless, tender images of baby, but it also takes the guess-work out of choosing something for baby— yet another thing to ease your stress at a busy time of life.
4. Go barefoot
Most newborn sessions are shot in-home (or in studio, or show home), and because of this, I recommend going barefoot. Believe it or not, socks can be distracting in photos, and bare feet pair perfectly with any outfit. In fact, I often recommend my outdoor sessions go barefoot too, especially in the Summer months when it’s warm. Bare feet will never go out of style!
5. Trust your photographer
Chances are, you chose your newborn photographer for a reason, and because each one has a unique style, it’s always best to chat with him or her to ensure that you’re dressed best for the style of photography that they specialize in. One of the major benefits of our Edmonton luxury photography experience is that I am an endless resource for my clients when it comes to any detail of our planning— and wardrobe is a very big, very important part of the portrait experience. Trust your photographer, but ultimately know that you have to feel good in what you’re wearing (and dressing your family in) so that your confidence and happiness can shine through in your images.
Taking the guess-work out of planning ensures that your photo experience is stress-free, and results in the most beautiful end product. It is my goal as your newborn photographer to make your experience as easy and enjoyable as possible, so that we can focus on what matters most— capturing your unique and magical love story.
I’d love to bring your dream newborn session to life! Come say hello and let’s get planning!
All film scanned by The Canadian Film Lab
Hair and Makeup for mamas by Bethany Earl Makeup and Robyn Scheer Makeup
