When you welcome a newborn into your family, you may want to schedule a professional photography session to document your new arrival. While you may be concerned about selecting the perfect outfit for your photo shoot or getting the perfect pose for your birth announcements, these are things that your photographer can and should assist you with. Instead, you should concentrate on the following three simple things you can do to help capture the perfect memories of your newborn. 

Set Aside Plenty of Time for Your Session 

Unlike an adult or even a child, newborns cannot be coaxed into interacting with the camera. For this reason, you may want to schedule an extra long photography session. A two or three hour session will give you time to feed your baby if they are cranky or allow them to sleep without disturbing them and still get a number of pictures while they are awake. This extra time can also help any adults or older children get more comfortable with the camera if they will also be in the photos.  

Get Plenty of Rest the Night Before Your Session 

As a new parent, it is likely that you are up several times during the night to feed, change, and comfort your baby. If possible, you should ask for help from another care giver the night before your photo session so you can get adequate rest. If you feel rested, it is more likely that your newborn will be in a calm, cooperative mood. Additionally, if you are in any photos, you will look better as well. 

Consider Including Other Close Family Members 

While the main point of the photo session may be your newborn, you should consider including other close family members in the session. The mother, father, other close caregivers such as grandparents, and siblings could all be integrated into the session. This will not only showcase your newborn, but show how they are accepted into your growing family. 

A newborn photography session should not only give you great photo memories of your family, but it should also be a fun memory in and of itself. In order to get the most out of your session, taking care of yourself and your baby before and during the session is critical. By choosing a photographer you trust, you will not have to worry about the more technical aspects such as positioning and style.