Ready to find a knockout outfit for your lifestyle newborn photos in the San Francisco Bay Area?
One of the most asked questions I get as a Lifestyle Newborn Photographer in the Bay Area is what to wear for lifestyle newborn photos. This is a wonderful way to prepare for your lifestyle newborn photo session. Here are a few tips for finding those beautiful and cohesive outfits that are comfortable and flattering as you settle into your life with your new baby. Bringing together the perfect outfits for your lifestyle newborn photos is easy and so rewarding!
Picking outfits is also a lot of fun to do as you wait for your baby. Once baby comes home, especially if you have older children, life can get a little hectic. Pre-planning your attire for newborn photos and making sure everything coordinates will be a little postpartum gift to yourself. Don’t stress, I’ve been doing this for years and can guide you along the way. Not sure if something coordinates? Send me some photos and I can weigh in with a professional’s opinion. Also, be sure to take a look at my Pinterest board for more inspiration on outfits for your lifestyle newborn photos: Newborn Photos What to Wear
First, let’s talk about what happens during your lifestyle newborn photography session. These are typically on location photo shoots that happen in your home. I’ll be arriving a week or two after you give birth ready to lead you through complimentary poses that authentically capture your family. We will focus on older siblings first with their new sibling so they can go play as we settle in for your baby’s closeups. Lifestyle newborn photos are relaxed and not rushed so we have plenty of time to change an outfit, stop for a feeding and change any diapers.
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What’s your Interior Style?
So how do you start pulling the perfect clothes together? What you wear should represent your lifestyle. What is your home design? Is it more bohemian, clean classic or organic modern? Your clothing can compliment your interior design as it will be a backdrop in your newborn photos.
If your interior design is mostly a lighter color palette, reach for those pastels, creams and pale blues for your attire. A darker or brightly colored interior design can be perfect for a more vibrant palette including bold jewel colors, mustards and fun patterns. You will want your lifestyle newborn photos to represent your family and match your decor.
What Makes You Feel Good?
Finding what fits after giving birth can be tricky. So start with the most flattering option, those beautiful flowing dresses that have an elastic waist, empire waist or no waist line. Your clothes should also be something you can move in comfortably from sitting, to laying next to your baby, and holding your new little one up in your arms. I’ll be guiding you into flattering poses, your comfort is important to making beautiful pictures of your growing family.
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Let’s Talk Details!
Have fun pulling everything together, either from something in your closet or shopping for something new! When looking at everything together make sure you coordinate but you are not too matchy. One or two white shirts are good, but not great on every member of the family. I love photographing patterns, but if you are pulling multiple patterns together make sure they are working as a team and not clashing. And don’t forget textures can add so much, finding a linen shirt for dad, cotton dress for sister and a muslin swaddle for baby can be a great way to add dimension to your photos.
Don’t try and fit into your pre-baby dress, find something that flatters you, feels comfortable and moves with you. And give yourself some grace, you just created a human being! Softer colors are always flattering and for makeup, go light with an emphasis on lashes and lips. We might be stopping to nurse your baby, wearing a dress or shirt that is practical for your baby’s needs always makes things go a little smoother.
Outfit Ideas for Dad
Men are so easy. A dress shirt with the sleeves rolled up and a pair of chinos or jeans is perfect. Linen shirts in a pale color or soft pattern can add to the perfect dad-holding-baby closeup photo. If a dress shirt is too dressed up for dad, a polo shirt or short-sleeved button up works great. Only include a t-shirt if it is new and thick material, you also want to avoid anything with logos or graphics. Dads can look so together during lifestyle newborn photos with just a little planning.
Some of my favorite men shirts-
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Outfits Ideas for Baby
Your baby will be smaller than you think and those newborn onesies might be a little loose. My biggest tip for outfits for your lifestyle newborn photos is get one or two preemie sized onesies in a plain light color or pattern. There might be a spit up or blow out, so having an extra one on hand can be helpful. Keep it simple, as your baby grows those adorable outfits will be perfect, but for newborn photos you want your baby’s size to show, something fitted is best.
My favorite baby stores-
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Outfit Ideas for Siblings
Coordination is key to those great family portraits, pick either lighter clothing or darker clothing based off of what Mom is wearing. T-shirts that are new and solid colored will work, but don’t be afraid to add a little texture or print with a toddler’s dress or dress shirt. Comfortable clothes that move with your older child will help as they sit on a bed or chair and hold their new sibling. And don’t worry about shoes, your kids can all be barefoot. A lifestyle newborn photography session can be so much fun for older siblings, it’s a chance for them to show off their new baby sister or brother and watch shower them with pride.
Final Prep for Your Lifestyle Newborn Session
- Make sure to do a final check for wrinkles, pet hair or stains before you photos.
- Keep your home at a comfortable temperature for your clothing choices and declutter toys and laundry for photos.
- Remember your hands (and nails) will be in the closeups!
- Have a few backups in case of a spit-up or toddler spill.
- Lay out all your outfits for your lifestyle newborn photos.
The Perfect Outfits for Your Lifestyle Newborn Session
Still unsure what to wear for your first portraits in the San Francisco Bay Area with your baby? Ask me. Reach out with any questions. These will be some of your most cherished memories and having your lifestyle newborn photos look like your family’s life is important. It’s one of the reasons I love documenting new and growing families in the Bay Area, your photos will be timeless and authentic to who you are at this moment in time. I believe in a newborn session that focuses on bonding with your new baby rather than stressing over perfection. Your outfits are just the icing on the cake that is your beautiful new baby.
If you are planning on growing your family and looking for a newborn photographer in Oakland, Berkeley, San Francisco and Walnut Creek, reach out to start creating those photographic memories for your family! It’s so important to me that during those first few days or weeks after giving birth that inviting a photographer into your home doesn’t feel stressful. Leaning into lifestyle newborn photography session is meant to give you space for creating beautiful pictures in your home with plenty of time to stop and feed your baby and allow older siblings to have all the feels.
Waiting for you baby is the perfect opportunity to reach out, although it seems to take forever, your baby bump will be gone soon and having maternity photos to remember this time is precious. With the many great locations for photography in the San Francisco Bay Area, maternity sessions with your partner and older siblings is a fun experience for all involved. The best time is during your final trimester, preferably at 30-34 weeks. Make sure to find a dress or outfit that celebrates your baby bump. For some more tips on planning your maternity photos check out some tips here!
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Interested in learning more about a Lifestyle Newborn Sessions and Maternity Portraits click here!
