Welcome to your newborn session resource hub, and congratulations on your (maybe still not quite here yet) new arrival!
This page is your step-by-step guide to preparing for your photo shoot—from having just booked right through to gallery delivery. I know life with a new baby can feel like a blur, so I’ve kept things simple and easy to follow. You’ll find answers to common questions, practical advice for the day, and links to helpful extras. And of course, if there’s anything else you need, I’m always just a message away.
Just Booked…
Thank you so much for booking your newborn session with me—I’m really looking forward to welcoming you to the studio and meeting your newest little family member.
Getting a Date in the Diary
I usually photograph babies in the first two weeks after birth, but given that only 5% of babies actually make an appearance on their due date, if they’ve not already arrived then there’s a good chance that we just have a provisional date in the calendar right now.
So we’ll be staying in touch to keep an eye on whether that’s still going to be a good date for you to come and visit. Obviously if they arrive early, just make sure I’m on the list of people you drop an email to and we can look at bringing your session forward. I’ll be in touch with you about a week before our currently scheduled date to see how you’re getting on and if they’re not in your arms by this point, we’ll put a pin in your session and you can just let me know when they make their entrance. When babies are more than a week or so late, it is even more important to get them in the studio within that two week window if you really want those tucked up sleepy shots (they might well be alert to the world more quickly) so, again, just add me to the list of people you email when they’re born, and we’ll get you back in the calendar as soon as we can.
As a general rule, I don’t like to photograph babies under five days old. In those early days, babies are still finding their rhythm with feeding, and often still adjusting to life on the outside—including clearing out a little bit of congestion=. Waiting just a little longer helps make the session more comfortable for your baby and gives us the best chance of a calm and settled experience.
That said, life with a newborn can be unpredictable and extended hospital stays or other issues might mean that we miss the 14 day window. Whether we can still create a traditional, fast asleep newborn session depends a little on how far outside of it we are but don’t worry, there’s no time limit on capturing beautiful images of your new arrival even if they’re already wide awake and bushy tailed.
Around two weeks before your session, I’ll send you a short “what to expect” email with helpful info and reminders.
The day before your shoot, you’ll get an options form where you can share any colour preferences or personal touches you’d like to include along with any props from my collection.
And of course, you can browse the studio collections at any time if you’d like to get inspired or see what’s available.
Of course I have a range of newborn outfits that you’re welcome to borrow for your session, but if you’re planning on ordering your own from companies like Shein or Temu, they do have some lovely options but they will quite often take a few weeks to get to you so you might want to start with that.
All of that being said, there’s no pressure to plan every detail — your session is designed to create beautiful images of your newborn and your family and I’m here to guide you every step of the way.
Planning Inspiration on my Dedicated Client Pinterest Boards
If you love a bit of visual planning,I’ve created a dedicated Pinterest board to help you plan your newborn session with ease. It’s packed with real session examples, styling ideas, prop suggestions, and answers to common questions—all designed to help you feel prepared and inspired.
You can use the board in whatever way works best for you:
Pin your favourites to your own board to build a personal moodboard.
Invite me to your board if you’d like to collaborate on ideas.
Or simply show me your saved pins when you arrive at the studio so I know what’s caught your eye.
There’s no pressure to have everything figured out ahead of time—but if you enjoy planning, this is a great place to start.
Two Weeks Before…
Your newborn session is just around the corner, and I know you’ve got plenty to think about right now—so I’ve kept this part simple.
You don’t need to bring much, and there’s no pressure to have anything perfectly planned. I’ll be sending you an options form the day before your shoot so you can let me know your favourite colours, props, digital backdrops and anything else you’d like to include. If you’ve spotted something on my Instagram or website that you love, feel free to mention it and if it’s easier to screenshot and send it to me in advance so you don’t need to remember on the day, then my Inbox is always open!
Things to Bring Along
There’s no need to bring along anything other than yourselves and your usual baby bag but of course you’re welcome to bring along anything that you’d like to include – favourite toys, gifts, blankets, personalised items and even items that reflect your hobbies or favourite teams are all popular options. Now’s a great time to start popping these in one place so they’re ready to grab and bring with you on the day.
With newborns, obviously I’ll work to give you everything that you want but outfit changes are tricky in terms of getting them in and out of clothes while keep them asleep and settled. We tend to work with naked, wraps or swaddles so I don’t recommend bringing too many outfit changes to include. If you have a real favourite, then pop them in it before you come and we’ll start with this.
Including Sibling in Photos
Of course all family members are welcome to get in the photos and I’d love to have you all but I’m going to be honest, a newborn session in my studio is a really, really boring place for a two or three year old. They’re likely to get very restless and there’s not anywhere for them to play. This tends to mean that they aren’t necessarily feeling like cooperating when it comes to be in pictures with the new arrival. I do find things tend to go a bit better if you get dropped off with your baby and another adult takes the older child somewhere else for an hour. That way they can arrive fresh to everything and we have a much better chance of getting sibling pictures. It’s not a recipe for 100% success – if you’ve met a 2 year old, you’ll know why – but it does tend to work best that way. Now’s a good time to see if you can get a local grandparent to step up or whether a partner can drop you off and then pop over to soft play or a local garden centre for a little bit. If any age of sibling is staying for the whole session, you should know that the mobile phone signal at my studio is woeful and so if you’re planning any digital entertainment, download what you need before you come. I’m also really happy for them to have snacks and drinks in the studio if it helps things to keep running smoothly – and you should feel free to bring along your own snacks so you can enjoy them in peace while you watch your images being created!
Got Questions? Just get in touch and I’m happy to help!
The Day Before…
This is when you’ll receive the options form for your session via email and you can let me know anything you’ve already got planned, make your selections of props, colours and any digital backdrops you’d like to include. You are also welcome to send me over any screenshots or Pinterest links if you want to create something specific if that’s your vibe. The only note of caution I have there is that all newborn photographers work with slightly different styles and obviously prop collections so if the images aren’t mine, I’ll do my best to give you a flavour of what you’ve asked for but it probably won’t be an exact copy. Don’t feel like you have to though – I’m more than happy to take you through everything on the day and we can just create beautiful images in a more spontaneous way.
When you see your options form, the first thing you’ll be asked to do is choose whether you’d like a more traditional, posed newborn session or a natural lifestyle approach when you fill out your options form. If you’re not sure which one is right for you, this guide might help…
Traditional Vs Lifestyle Shoots
You might want to just double check that you’ve got everything you need in one spot including any personal items you’d like me to include, and clothes and accessories for yourself if you’re getting in photos, along with any outfits for partners or children so you’re not rushing on the day. I want you to be able to turn up to your session as relaxed as it’s possible to be when you’re in the newborn bubble!
You don’t need to bring outfits for your baby unless there’s something personal you’d like to include—most newborns are photographed in wraps or simply without clothing, and I’ve got everything we need here in the studio.
Babies don’t need to be asleep for their photos but it is preferable and in any case, we do aim for a cosy, settled session. I recommend feeding your baby just before you leave home or once you arrive at the studio. There’s always time for breaks and cuddles—we work entirely on baby’s schedule and it really is my job to make sure your little one stays as comfortable, relaxed and sleepy as possible so we can create those dreamy images and I have lots of experience and tricks for doing just this. You’re under no pressure to provide me with a completely soothed infant – it’s a rare session where babies don’t get unsettled at some point, it’s just the nature of the (tiny) beast and it’s nothing to worry about.
Don’t worry if your baby is experiencing flaky skin, baby acne or a touch of jaundice—these are all incredibly common and I’ll gently edit images by hand to make sure your baby looks just as you remember them at their perfect best. If they’ve still got their cord clamp attached, it’s not a problem. I’ll be asking you at the start of your session so I know to be mindful of it but it doesn’t make any difference to your photos in terms of posing.
If parents or siblings are joining in, have a quick look through the What to Wear guide for relaxed, timeless styling ideas. It’s also worth keeping hands in mind, as they often feature in newborn photos—so a quick nail tidy can help your hands feel camera ready.
When you arrive, it’s best to leave your baby in their car seat (if they’ve drifted off to sleep in the car and they’re happy there) and just bring them up to the studio in rather than taking them out and potentially alerting them to a change in their environment. I mention this first as sometimes, if your car seat is new, it can take a few goes when it comes to getting it out easily. I don’t want to sound like your mum but maybe, if you’re not sure about it, just have a quick practice today so you know what button to press when you get here. Tasks like that get so much harder when you’re trying to do them in a hurry and with someone else watching – it’s a little thing but it can make a big difference.
And finally, don’t stress. There’s nothing you must do to get ready—this is a calm, quiet space and we go entirely at your baby’s pace. I’ll be ready with a warm studio, a comfy sofa, and all the patience in the world.
On the Day…
Getting to the Studio
For a lot of new parents, the visit to my studio is their first time leaving the house since they’ve got home from the hospital and I want to minimise any stress that this might bring with it so, if it is your first time visiting me, then definitely take a look at the directions before you come. It’s not easy to find if you just head to Turners Hill Road and hope to come across it as the postcode will take you to a neighbouring farm (postcodes are very wide ranging here). The best thing to do is go to Google Maps and put in Sarah Fisher Photography but if you don’t use that, then like I say, just take a peek at the directions. When you arrive, you’ll be parking on a driveway – there’s an A-Frame sign to show you the best place to put your car. You don’t need to go too close to the hedge though – leave yourself plenty of room for you (and your car seat) to get out!
It’s best to arrive at the start time for your session, you don’t need to arrive early to feed your baby. If they need it, we can do it in the studio and it is much more comfy there than doing it in your car on the driveway. Plus I might not be around to make sure the gate is open for you if you turn up too early. Life with a newborn can be challenging in terms of sticking to a schedule so just let me know if you’re running a few minutes late! If you could avoid putting them in too many layers when you are getting ready for them to come, that would be helpful for me – of course they need to be warm but a single layer and lots of blankets on top can work and it does make things a bit easier for me when I’m settling them if I don’t have to fiddle around with their clothes too much.
Nappies & Creams
Naturally you won’t be travelling anywhere without your baby bag but just give it a double check that you’ve got a few extra nappies in there. Also, if we’re planning on any naked photos, if you could avoid using any nappy creams before you come unless it’s a real emergency – they’re super sticky, I can’t get them off in the session and they make a big white / yellow mark.
Starting your Session
When you arrive, I’ll come down to meet you on the driveway and I’ll take you straight up to the studio to get you settled in. As I’ve mentioned, it’s best to take your newborn up to the studio in their car seat if they’re happy in there as it disturbs them the least and also, as with so many things in life, there is a little bit of admin we need to do on your arrival. It’s easier to do that if they’re still happily snoozing away – I’ll also have some questions about them such as whether they have their cord clamp still, any issues with hips or shoulders and a few other bits and pieces I like to check before we begin. Then we’ll run through what I’ve got set up for you and also this is the time when you’ll give me anything you’d like to include so I can have it on hand.
I do keep the studio quite toasty for these sessions as that’s how newborns like it so it might be worth dressing in layers so you don’t get too hot. There’s a toilet and changing facilities at the studio so you can turn up in your PJs as far as I’m concerned with zero judgement from me and then get ready for photos when you’re here if you’d rather. Whatever works for you works for me!
For the session, you’ll be just a few feet away on my supremely well padded chaise so you can watch everything happening whilst staying comfortable – there’s never any pressure for you to rush about or perform any baby related tasks (apart from breast feeding obvs!), I’m going to take care of everything while you’re here and I’ll be keeping you informed the whole time of what’s going on and what the next step in the plan is. That said, photographer’s make plans and newborns laugh so we’ll be keeping things loose and flexible to make sure we get you the best gallery of images possible.
If siblings or parents are joining in, we’ll work around everyone’s energy levels—there’s always time for a few family photos and some solo moments too. I’ll guide you gently through everything, so you don’t need to worry about what to do or how to pose. If you kind of want to be in photos but don’t feel entirely camera ready, I’ve got some great silhouetted options we can look and also you can just get your hands in the photos so you’re in the pictures with no pressure!
Packing Checklist
You might like to bring along some of the following to make sure your session goes without a hitch and you can get exactly the images you want.
- Outfits (for you and anyone else you’re including)
- Nappies & wipes (obvs)
- Spare vest (just in case)
- Muslin
- Feeding pillow if you’re using one
- Formula if you’re using it
- Dummy if you’re using it
- Water & snacks for you
- Personal props you’d like to include
- Hairbrush and make up if that’s your vibe and you want to get camera ready at the last minute
Two Weeks After…
Your gallery will normally be ready for you to view about two weeks after your session and so this is a great time to keep an eye on your email (or indeed your Spam folder!) to see I’ve sent you through the info. When it turns up, it’s as simple as clicking on the link, popping in your password and you’ll be heading straight to your gallery. Of course, this information will only be coming to you at the email address that you booked with but you’re free to share it with friends and family if you’d like to.
Newborn sessions include your choice of your favourite three images from your gallery made available to you as print quality, digital downloads and the instructions on how to let me know your selections will be in the email with your image link and password but we can talk about it here as well – you simply add the images you’d like to your Favourites list (the website will just ask you to enter your email address to create it) and then when you’ve finalised your choice, click on the paper plane image and choose to ‘Share with Photographer’. That sends them through to me and I will then get them ready for you to download. When they’re online for you, you’ll get another email that looks just like your Gallery link except that this will allow you to download the images direct to your PC or device.
If you’d like to order more images from your session, all you need to do is click on the shopping bag in the corner of the image (or at the top right of the screen if you’re looking in thumbnail view) and you’ll bring up all the prices and packages so you can add whatever you’d like to your cart. It should all feel pretty intuitive if you’re anything like me and shop online all the time but if you have any questions at all, I’m always here so you can just give me a shout.
If you ever need to access your gallery directly, you can head to my gallery homepage at and enter your personal password.
Useful Articles…
If you’re the kind of person who likes to read more, then here’s a list of some of my main blog content that might be helpful to you when you’re looking ahead to your newborn photo shoot.
Useful Videos…
If you prefer your content in a video format, then check out my YouTube channel…
Recent Blog Posts
Newborn Photography with my Mini Dark Wood Bed
A beautifully simple image of a newborn cradled in my miniature dark wood bed—a studio favourite for timeless portraits.
Newborn Photography – Creating your Birth Announcement
Use your newborn session to create a personalised birth announcement image with this custom-designed prop set.
Jaundice in Newborn Photos: Why It’s Normal (and Easily Fixed)
Worried about jaundice in your newborn photos? Here’s why it’s totally normal—and how I fix it in every edit.
A Little Bit of Digital Magic
I love creating special digital composites, and this teddy bear shelf is such a sweet setting for a tiny new arrival.