Six Must-Have Newborn Photos from a Virginia Newborn Photographer

As both a Virginia newborn photographer and mama of four, I know how quickly those first days with your sweet baby go by. It’s a blur of tiny feet, feeding schedules, snuggles, diaper changes, and the highest of highs along with some tough moments too. Before you even have time to wrap your head around it, the little newborn you brought home has grown and changed and you can hardly remember what he or she looked or felt like just a few weeks earlier.

THIS is why I am so passionate about newborn photography. It’s a way to capture those first days with your new baby so you can have them documented forever. I promise booking a session to photograph the newborn season is a choice you will never regret because even though it’s impossible to turn back time and live it again, you can have real, tangible photos that you can look back on for years to come.

My newborn sessions are lifestyle, which means that they are focused on capturing natural moments and genuine interactions. Throughout my experiences capturing newborns, I have found six images that are important to capturing in each of my lifestyle newborn sessions. My hope is that through this blog post, you can get an idea of what a session with me would look like and what kind of final images you would receive in the gallery after your session!

Are you looking for image suggestions from a Virginia newborn photographer?

Sharing six below:

The classic baby portrait:

Of course, every newborn session will have the “classic” baby portrait. This is a solo shot of your new, precious baby and will capture all of his or her tiny features. I try to include a variety of these in each newborn gallery, from different angles and environments so we really capture it all. As a Virginia newborn photographer, my lifestyle newborn sessions are not designed to use a lot of props or extreme poses – so these images will be simple and classic, perfect for you to look back on for years to come!

Detail shots:

I love detail shots for all my sessions, but capturing them during a newborn session might just be my favorite. Tiny feet, fingers, and fuzzy little hair on top of baby’s head are some of my go-to’s and these always end up being some of the images I am drawn to most in my newborn galleries.

The Family image:

Mom, dad and family are welcome (and encouraged!) to join into the newborn session, furry family members included – and even though I focus a lot of my sessions towards more candid, interactive moments where the subjects are not looking at the camera, I always capture at least a few “smiling at the camera” shots. When big sisters or brothers are a part of the session, I try to do these at the beginning when they are still pretty focused and willing! 😉

Romantic moments:

Welcoming a new baby is part of your love story, and as Virginia newborn photographer, I always aim to capture you and your partner snuggling and soaking in this new chapter for your family. These sweet shots are ones that you may not think of before your session, but often become the favorites because it truly all starts with the two of you!

Motherhood:

Whether it’s your first baby or your fifth, motherhood is SO beautiful (and absolutely one of my favorite things to photograph!). I will always get a variety of shots of mama cuddling her new baby and these are always easy to photograph because they just feel so natural. I know first hand that you don’t always feel like yourself or your best postpartum, but these are images that you will be so thankful to have one day.

Dad and baby:

It’s also just as important to document dad and baby, with some posed and snuggling shots! I love to capture shots with dad that really show off how small baby is.

In addition to these six go-to images, if kids (or pets!) are a part of the family, of course an big sister or brother shot is always important to capture! I remember LOVING these as a mom each time we added a new baby to the family and these images really are so special.

By capturing these images (and more!), your newborn session will document this special season so that you can remember it forever. If you have been thinking about a newborn session, I would love to chat! You can inquire here or email me at ashleybricknerphoto@gmail.com.

If you loved this post, you might be interested in these below:

When to Schedule Your Newborn Session

What to Wear for Your Newborn Session