The Perfect Outfits for Your Bergen County Lifestyle Newborn Session

The number one question I get asked as a Bergen County Newborn Photographer is what should we wear for our session? I’m going to break it down for you today! So let’s chat about the perfect outfits for your Bergen County lifestyle newborn session.

Choosing the right outfit is important, to make sure that everyone feels comfortable and confident during our session. However, it can be overwhelming to find the perfect outfit for yourself, let alone your whole family. Then, making sure that everything coordinates and will look good in photos is enough to drive a person crazy. Don’t stress, I’ve been doing this for years and can guide you along the way. We have a client prep guide and Pinterest boards that give you visual examples of what to shop for. If you’re not sure if something coordinates, don’t worry! Send me a photo, and I’d be more than happy to help you decide.

What is Lifestyle Newborn Photography?

Lifestyle newborn sessions typically take place in-home, within the first two weeks after baby arrives. These sessions are relaxed, and focus on documenting your new family life at home. We’ll start with a formal “everyone look at the camera” photo, and then move on to more candid poses. We’ll end our session with plenty of portraits of baby by him or herself. Documenting those sweet newborn details is one of my top priorities!

Tips for Dressing the Family

Tip 1 – Choose Mom’s Outfit First. As a Bergen County Newborn Photographer, my number one tip for dressing your family is to choose mom’s outfit first, and go from there! I love a long, flowy dress for new moms, since they photograph beautifully and are comfortable postpartum.

Tip 2 – Stick to Soft, Lighter Colors. If you want your lifestyle newborn photos to be “light and airy,” I suggest wearing light and airy colors. Creams, light gray, blush, and soft blues and greens all photograph beautifully. Avoid wearing bright red, neons, bold patterns or clothing with logos. We want the focus to remain on you and your sweet family, not your clothing!

Tip 3 – Dressing Your Toddler(s). If there’s a big brother or sister participating, it’s important that they have a special outfit as well! Since toddlers move around a lot (they are so busy!), the most important thing when it comes to a toddler’s outfit is that it fits well. We don’t want to constantly be tucking in shirts or pulling down collars. And, for toddler girls, if they are planning to wear a dress, I suggest bloomers, diaper covers, or tights, since dresses tend to ride up a lot.

Tip 4 – Dressing Your Newborn. There are a couple of options when it comes to dressing your new baby: we can swaddle, or opt for an outfit. If you choose an outfit, stick to snug fitting, soft outfits. As your Bergen County Newborn Photographer, I’ll bring a moses basket and a selection of neutral colored swaddles with me, so it’s always an option to swaddle your new baby.

Local Children’s Clothing Shops

If you’re looking for some local clothing shops to browse in person, check out: Over the Moon, in Montclair, NJ, Hazel Baby & Kids, in Jersey City, NJ, and Baby Crossing, in Morristown, NJ.

Final Newborn Session Prep

Since life with children is unpredictable, I always suggest having a backup outfit for your little ones (just in case!). The night before our session, lay out everyone’s outfits, remove all tags, and steam out any wrinkles – this helps relieve some stress the morning of our session. Make sure everyone is fed before our session begins (adults and children alike!), as this helps put everyone in a good mood :). If an older sibling will be joining us, talk our session up to them – let them know that your friend Christina will be coming over to play and take some photos! Don’t stress that they will have to look at the camera or say cheese, as this can upset some toddlers.

Finally, focus on the joy of spending time with your new family, rather than stressing over choosing the “perfect” outfit. Although beautiful clothing is nice, the love that you have for your family is truly the most important ingredient in taking beautiful photos!

If you’re interested in booking an in-home newborn session, reach out by emailing christina@christinaclairephoto.com or filling out the contact form here. I can’t wait to hear from you!

To keep browsing the blog, check out these recent posts:

How To Prepare Toddlers for In-Home Newborn Sessions

How to Prepare for Your Hoboken Maternity Session

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