Curious about the 5 must-have photos for your newborn session?

Welcoming a new baby into the world is one of life’s most fleeting and beautiful seasons. Newborn sessions are about preserving those tiny details and the love surrounding your growing family. To make sure you walk away with timeless, heartwarming keepsakes you’ll treasure forever, here are the 5 Must-Have Photos for Your Newborn Session.

Baby Alone: All the Little Details

At every newborn session, I capture solo photos of baby that you can one day cherish as they grow. These images aim to capture the fleeting details that change faster than you expect-

My favourite images to include:

• Tiny fingers and toes
• Profile, lips, and button noses
• Curled-up poses that show how small they really are
• Simple, timeless poses with neutral tones

These images become heirlooms. Years from now, you won’t remember how small your sweet baby was — but these photos will help remind you. Keeping our images focused on simplicity and genuine moments allows the focus to stay on your new baby, your love and your beautiful connection, creating timeless images that never feel dated.

5 Must-Have Photos for Your Newborn Session: Mom and Dad with Baby

Photos of parents with their newborn are deeply emotional — and often the ones parents didn’t realize they needed most. These are often my favourites to capture, as I ask you to authentically interact with baby. This leads to natural, candid images that truly capture the essence of your connection, and often, this looks different for moms versus dads.

These images capture:

• The way a baby fits perfectly into a parent’s arms
• Tender moments, skin-to-skin contact, and quiet connection
• The overwhelming love of those early days

These images truly become priceless as the years pass, because they show not just what your baby looked like, but how loved they were from the very start.

I encourage relaxed, natural poses that feel authentic to you. No twisted limbs or unnecessary props. Just you, your sweet new baby, and your love.

Family with Baby

Family photos bring everyone together and tell the story of this new chapter. To me, these are the most precious images of all, and truly where our focus lies. These family images are the most commonly printed and enjoyed through heirloom artwork, especially custom frames that adorn the family’s walls. Whether your family is finally complete, or just getting started, this is an important milestone in your family’s history, and it deserves to be remembered.

I find that family images are captured beautifully when:

• Parents and baby are photographed close together- hands touching, baby held gently and mom and dad admiring their greatest creation(s)
• Soft, neutral clothing keeps the focus on connection, not distractions
• Poses feel natural and relaxed, rather than staged and stiff

Family images are the heart and soul of our newborn sessions, and are my favourite to help tell the beautiful story of your love and your growing family.

Want to read about why it’s so important to hang your family images? Check out this blog post here.

5 Must-Have Photos for Your Newborn Session: Siblings with Baby

Sibling photos are full of personality, emotion, and sometimes a little chaos— and that’s exactly what makes them special, because it truly encapsulates this season of life.

A few of my favourite ideas for sibling images include:

• Older siblings sitting or lying next to the baby
• Gentle kisses, hugs, or holding hands
• Candid interactions instead of stiff poses

These images highlight the beginning of a beautiful, lifelong relationship. Even if cooperation is short-lived, those few authentic moments are more than enough to create heartfelt photographs. We often begin our session with family images, and then move right into sibling poses. That way, your toddler or older child doesn’t run out of steam, and can quietly play, snack or simply step away and take a little break without worrying about not getting the images you truly want.

Patience and flexibility are key here— and the results are always worth it.

*Images from a different newborn session, where baby was a younger sibling:

Pets with Baby

If pets are part of the family, including them in your newborn session adds another layer of meaning, especially if your pet was like your first “baby”.

Pet photos work best when:

• Safety is prioritized at all times
• Pets are calm, well-trained, and closely supervised
• We keep things natural and simple

Whether it’s a dog resting nearby or a cat curiously peeking in, these images show your baby entering a family that was already full of love.

Not every pet needs to interact directly — sometimes presence alone tells the story beautifully.

Final Thoughts

A successful newborn session isn’t about complicated poses or trendy props— it’s about capturing connection, love, and fleeting details. Moments that you’ll long to remember, once your baby has grown. Moments that you’ll frame and hang on your walls, so that you can walk past them each and every day.

By including these 5 must-have photos for your newborn session:

• Baby alone
• Mom/Dad with baby
• Family with baby
• Siblings with baby
• Pets with baby

you ensure a well-rounded gallery that tells your family’s story completely and authentically.

Expecting in 2026? I’d love to capture your family’s unique love story. Let’s chat and begin planning your dream session.

Mom’s hair and makeup in first session by Luxe.
Mom’s hair and makeup in second session by Robyn Scheer.