It is normal to be a little nervous about a Tulsa newborn photo session, especially if it’s your first baby OR you have other little ones at home. Those first weeks postpartum are a fragile and tender time for everyone, especially while mom is still healing and siblings are adjusting to a new family member. Not to mention, there’s typically visitors or meal trains to coordinate, much needed rest time, and a lot of burp rags, diapers, and changes of clothes!

As a Tulsa newborn photographer, this is exactly why I aim to keep newborn sessions simple. If you’re a mom to a new little one, all I want you to be thinking about is feeding and snuggling your baby. (And maybe how you’d like to enjoy these photos in 15, 20 years when your little one isn’t so little anymore! Keepsakes and preserving your family story are an essential part of this experience!)

So to even make a newborn guide feels like it goes against my philosophy on this because I want you to worry about very little! That said, I also know there are moms out there like me who like to know how to best prepare and want to make it as easy as possible for everyone involved.

So…take these newborn session tips with a grain of salt! While these are my typical recommendations that can be helpful to prepare or consider ahead of time, none of them are required!

Top Newborn Photo Session Tips from a Tulsa Newborn Photographer:

1. Keep baby’s outfit simple – a gown is perfect (these are my favorite). I’ll work with you to craft outfits for the rest of the family a month or two ahead of your due date.
2. A neutral or light colored blanket for baby.
3. Consider a sunrise on-location session in the warmer months – these are underestimated! Being in an beautiful open field with soft golden light adds a softness and evergreen feel to your images. On-location is timeless!
4. If your bedding is white, cream, or a light colored neutral, we may utilize it as a backdrop for individual photos of baby!
5. I love having a space heater going to keep baby warm and snuggly.
6. If you have toddlers or older children: their favorite books and toys in a basket nearby are handy.
7. For in-home Tulsa newborn photo sessions, we’ll focus most of our time in the room with the most natural light or biggest windows
8. If you’d like rocking chair shots, have your chair moved into your master ahead of time
9. Remove any clutter from our main area
10. Consider a wall in your home you might enjoy custom framed fine art prints of your little ones first weeks. Most families start with 1-2 pieces at an easy size and add on to their collection as their family grows. We’ll take time to chat through all these details throughout our experience together!

The way I approach my Tulsa newborn photos is laid back, at baby’s pace, with plenty of room for feeding, snuggles, and diaper changes.

I’m just as tuned in to siblings, leaning into their curiosity and energy so you don’t have to wrangle or direct anyone. This is also why I ask in our planning call about your children’s interests, favorite songs, and toys!

We’ll capture the tiny details that disappear overnight, and we’ll also focus on your full family and the new dynamic with this beautiful little one.

Thanks for reading! If we haven’t met yet, I’m Melanie Foster, a Tulsa Family Photographer serving families who desire their photos to be more than pretty pictures, but lasting monuments of God’s faithfulness and their family’s legacy. Interested in a more satisfying family photography experience? Learn more here!