One of the questions I get asked most often by people booking an in-home newborn photography session is: "What should we wear?" The good news is that you don't need to buy a whole new wardrobe or dress your family in matching outfits. My best advice is to wear something you feel comfortable and beautiful in.
Because newborn photography at home is relaxed and natural, I want your clothes to feel like you. The aim is simply to choose outfits that work well together and don't distract from the people and connections in the photographs. Here are my tips for choosing what to wear for your newborn photoshoot.
Choose colours that work well together
For a timeless look, I recommend coordinating outfits in neutral colours combined with earthy or softer tones. Neutral colours such as cream, white, ivory, beige, caramel, tan, brown and grey work beautifully, as do earthy or muted shades such as khaki green, rust, mustard, dusty pink, dusty blue and burgundy. Pastel shades such as pale pink, blue and lilac can also work well.
Our eyes are naturally drawn to bright colours, so keeping your clothing relatively muted helps keep the focus on your faces and the connection between you. I'd avoid very bright or neon colours as these can reflect colour onto your skin, particularly when we're working with natural light. I'm also not a huge fan of everyone wearing black from head to toe. This can make photographs feel quite dark, particularly in a home where there isn't a huge amount of natural light.
The beige and cream work well not only together but with the room decor too
The khaki shirt goes nicely with the baby's cream and dusty pink outfit and also with the bed sheets
Coordinate rather than match
There's no need for everyone to wear the same colour - in fact, I generally recommend that you don't. Think about choosing a small palette of complementary colours rather than trying to match everyone exactly. You might have one or two feature colours alongside a few neutral tones. For example, a rust-coloured jumper could work beautifully alongside cream, beige and denim. Or a dusty pink dress could be paired with soft blue, grey and neutral tones.
What I'd avoid is the classic matching family uniform of blue jeans and white T-shirts for everyone. It can look very "90s family portrait" and isn't really the relaxed, natural style I'm going for with my photography.
Don't be afraid of patterns
You don't have to avoid patterns completely. A floral dress, subtle check shirt or patterned top can look lovely, particularly if everyone else is wearing relatively plain clothing. The trick is to avoid too many competing patterns. If everyone in the family is wearing something patterned, the overall image can start to feel visually too busy.
I'd also avoid prominent logos, words, characters or pictures on clothing. These tend to draw attention away from faces and can make photographs look more dated over time.
The mother's patterned dress works well here as other outfits are plain
The father's checked shirt adds character but doesn't make the photo too busy as other clothing is plain
Add different textures
If you're choosing mostly plain colours, adding different textures can make the photographs much more interesting. Think about linen, denim, corduroy, lace, wool and chunky knits.
This is particularly lovely for an in-home session because the textures of your clothes work naturally alongside the textures already found in your home - blankets, wooden furniture, bedding and other everyday details.
What should mum wear?
The most important thing is to choose something you feel good in. A floaty midi or maxi dress works beautifully for photographs, as does a nice blouse, casual shirt or knitwear paired with jeans or leggings. And if you're recently postpartum, your maternity jeans may still be the most comfortable option - that's absolutely fine! I'd recommend avoiding very short dresses or skirts because you'll spend quite a lot of the session sitting down, and shorter clothing tends to ride up.
Don't feel that you have to dress up more than you normally would. You're at home with your new baby, so something relaxed and comfortable often looks much more natural than something overly dressy.
A floaty maxi dress is a comfortable option for mum especially during the warmer months
Cosy knits and jeans also work well for mum
What should dad wear?
Men often have it a little easier! Jeans or chinos paired with a casual shirt, plain T-shirt or knitted jumper can all work really well. Again, I'd generally avoid anything too formal. A suit or very smart outfit can feel very out of place when the photo shoot is taking place in your own home and we're aiming for a relaxed, natural feel. Equally, I wouldn't recommend sports clothing that make it look like you're about to hit the gym.
A casual shirt can look great on dad
A nice jumper is always a safe option if in doubt
What should the baby wear?
For newborns, I like clothing that fits properly and allows us to see just how tiny they are. A plain, neutral-coloured short-sleeved vest is ideal for some of the photographs because it allows me to capture those tiny hands, feet and legs without lots of bulky clothing getting in the way. You can also have a second outfit ready if you'd like some variety. There is absolutely nothing wrong with photographing your baby in just a nappy or even naked for some shots, particularly if your home is warm enough.
I'd avoid anything very thick, oversized or bulky. Newborn clothes can be adorable, but if they're much too big for your baby they can overwhelm them in photographs.
This baby was wearing a plain but knitted style vest
A simple white vest always works well on baby
What should siblings wear?
For older brothers and sisters, comfort is key! Choose something they feel happy wearing and can move around in easily, and aim for outfits that coordinate with the rest of the family without matching exactly. Bare feet look lovely in relaxed, at-home photographs, so there's no need to worry about finding a matching pair of socks! It's also a good idea to have a spare outfit ready, particularly for toddlers, just in case of spills or little accidents.
If you've bought or been gifted a little and big brother/sister jumper these can be a nice addition for a couple of photographs, but I'd definitely recommend having a different outfit for the rest of the session so that the images feel more timeless. Also you often cannot read the writing on the jumpers very clearly unless both children are lying flat on a bed or floor.
For toddler girls, I'd avoid very short dresses, as they'll spend quite a bit of time sitting down or being cuddled, and you don't want to spend the session constantly adjusting their dress to keep their nappy or knickers covered!
Dungrarees can look very cute on a toddler
A simple top and comfortable jeans can be a sensible option for a lively toddler
Don't forget the little details
There are a couple of things that are easy to overlook but can make a surprising difference in photographs. Take off your watches and hair bands before the session. I know you may feel slightly lost without your watch, but I often photograph hands, arms and close-up details, and a large shiny watch can become quite distracting. Hair bands around your wrists can also leave red marks on your skin. It's also worth taking phones, wallets and keys out of your pockets before we start. You don't necessarily notice them in everyday life, but they can create awkward shapes in photographs.
You don't have to follow these rules
These are suggestions rather than rules. If you have a particular personal style, religious or cultural clothing that you'd like to wear, please do. Your photographs should look like your family, not like you've dressed yourselves according to someone else's checklist. The most important thing is that you feel comfortable and like yourself. If you're unsure, you're always welcome to send me photographs of a couple of outfit options before your session and I can help you decide what will work best together.
DO:
- Be comfortable!
- Coordinate your outfits rather than matching
- Choose neutral, earthy or pastel colours
- Mix different textures
- Keep patterns relatively subtle
- Choose clothes that feel like your personal style
- For baby, choose a well-fitting, plain neutral vest
DON'T:
- Wear lots of clashing patterns
- Choose large logos, words, characters or pictures
- Dress everyone in identical outfits
- Wear neon or very bright colours
- Dress everyone in black
- Choose very short dresses or skirts
- Put baby in bulky or oversized clothing
- Leave a large shiny watch or hair band on your wrist
And finally, after saying all this, please don't spend too much time worrying about getting it perfect. I'll guide you through the session and, because we're photographing you at home, there will be plenty of opportunities to change outfits or remove layers if something isn't working. The photographs are ultimately about your new baby and your family together, not whether everyone chose the "perfect" colour palette.
Interested in booking a newborn session?
If you're expecting a baby or have recently given birth and would love relaxed, natural newborn photographs at home in London, I'd love to hear from you. To find out more, check out my newborn photography portfolio, download my pricing guide and get in touch to enquire about booking.
Pauliina is a London-based lifestyle newborn & family photographer and a mum to two boys. Find out more at https://www.prootsphotography.co.uk/ or follow @prootsphotography on Instagram.