The thought that your newborn baby might not sleep at their photo shoot is quite a common worry. As is the idea that they might cry or want feeding during your time at the studio.
I hate the idea that you have any kind of worries about your photo shoot as it really should be a fun and relaxing experience for you so I’m going to be honest. There have been a few babies over the years – maybe two or three over the hundreds that I’ve photographed – and they haven’t slept at any point in their photo shoot. So it’s possible, I won’t deny that. However, it isn’t very likely that they will be awake throughout. What is likely is that they will wake up at some point during the session. I think that about 2% of babies arrive asleep and leave that way with no changes in between – I wish that number was higher, it really would save me a lot of time and rocking but it is what it is. Newborn photography isn’t a thing that you can predict with any great certainty. So yeah, they’re going to wake up – probably want a feed and quite likely have a cry too.
The question really is how does that impact your photos – well not a lot really. Obviously if they are in the rare category of a wide awake throughout baby, that’s not to say that they are unhappy about it. In fact, on the occasions when I’ve had a fully paid up member of the wide awake club, they’ve been perfectly content to lie down and get photographed while they take everything in. It does limit some poses as an awake baby won’t get posed on their tummy but other than that, there’s still plenty of beautiful shots that you can create. When they’re awake, because they don’t have any motor control at this point, we tend to work with them at least partially swaddled which keeps them immobile so they don’t have arms and legs flying around and getting in front of their faces while I’m trying to take their picture. The good news about working with them like this is that they tend to be very relaxed in a swaddle so we can do lots with them.
If your baby is in the largest category of newborns who sleep for a bit, wake up for a bit, repeat – then it doesn’t make any difference to your photos. These sessions are scheduled for two hours in the studio to allow for exactly this – even if they were hard asleep, we wouldn’t be taking pictures for two hours. The extra time is to allow for them to have feed and settling time. Generally speaking, once they start getting hungry, we top them up with food and then soothe them until they’re happy to go back to the Land of Nod and then we simply carry on.
So my best piece of advice for you, if you’re feeling worried about your newborn waking up at your photo shoot is don’t. Great advice right? Seriously though, I’ve been doing this for a really long time and it would be super weird if I was in the slightest bit concerned about a baby crying, feeding or just generally being awake during their session. It’s probably going to happen and I’m pretty well versed in baby soothing techniques, posing and making the most of all the opportunities that they give us to ensure that we can create beautiful images of those early newborn days.
PS. They’re pretty likely to pee, poo or vomit during their session too and if they’re not wearing a nappy, yep it will go everywhere. Don’t sweat it. Everything is washable in the studio, including me 🙂
Everything You Need to Know About Newborn Photography
Welcoming a newborn is one of life’s most incredible moments, and capturing those early days with professional photography ensures you have beautiful memories to cherish forever. Whether you’re wondering when to book, how to prepare, or what to expect at your session, I’ve created a collection of helpful guides and resources to answer all your questions.
From safety in newborn photography to including siblings or pets, explore these expert articles to help you plan the perfect newborn photo shoot. Click below to find out more! If you don’t find the answers to your question here, of course I’m always happy to help so just get in touch
Newborn Photography in East Grinstead
Newborn photo shoots are best when your baby is between 5 and 10 days old—this is when they’re at their sleepiest and curliest, perfect for capturing those beautifully serene images. To ensure you don’t miss out, I recommend booking while you’re still pregnant—we’ll set a provisional date for a week after your due date and adjust if needed once your baby arrives.
Your session takes place in my warm and cosy studio in Crawley Down, designed for your baby’s comfort. The shoot is relaxed, unrushed, and includes three digital images of your choice, all for £95. There’s no sales session—just a private online gallery where you can view and select your favourites at your own pace.
