If you’re wondering what to wear for your newborn shoot, you’re not alone, this is one of the questions I’m asked most.
And it makes sense. When you’re preparing for one of the most important moments of your life, you want to feel confident. You want to look back at these photos in 10, 20 years and feel proud. Not like you were wearing something that didn’t feel like you.
So let me tell you something: what you wear matters. Not because your baby needs you to be perfect, he already is. But because these photos are for your whole family. They’re a snapshot of who you all are together, in this tender moment, before everything changes.
In this guide, I’ll show you what to wear for your newborn shoot so your photos feel effortless, elegant and completely “you”. You can see how this looks in real sessions on my London newborn photography page.
What to Wear for Your Newborn Shoot: Simple, Timeless Guidelines
In my newborn sessions, I focus on simplicity. On authenticity. On capturing your baby in the most natural poses they held in the womb, but also on documenting you. Your hands. Your face. The way you look at them with all the love your heart can hold.
When parents feel comfortable in what they’re wearing, that comfort shows. It radiates warmth and calm, your baby feels it too. If you’d like more guidance on when to plan your session, read my post about the best age to photograph babies
The Newborn Shoot Outfit Guide: What to Wear for Timeless Photos
My photographic style is all about simplicity and timelessness. You won’t find bowls, baskets, or an abundance of props in my sessions. Instead, I choose to highlight what truly matters: you and your family.
That means your outfit needs to complement the story, not overshadow it.
The General Rule
Stay true to your personal style, but keep it simple. Think of your outfit as a frame for your baby and your love story together.
Avoid:
- Big patterns or logos that pull focus away from your baby and your family
- Busy designs that will date the photos (you want these to feel timeless in 20 years)
- Anything that makes you feel uncomfortable or self-conscious
Choose:
- Neutral, plain tones: creams, whites, greys, blush, oatmeal, and soft blues
- Comfortable fabrics that allow you to move naturally and relax
- Textures over patterns: think soft knits, cotton, linen
- Colours that coordinate beautifully if you have multiple children
The goal isn’t perfection. It’s peace. When you feel at ease in what you’re wearing, you can be present with your baby. And that presence is what makes the photographs breathtaking. You can also check out Pinterest for more inspirations.
👉 Still expecting? You might also find my maternity photoshoot outfit guide helpful as you prepare.
What Mums Should Wear
A simple, loose top works beautifully. Whether it’s plain or softly textured (like a delicate knit or subtle lace), the key is that it feels like you.
Long sleeves are wonderful if that makes you feel more confident. And honestly, so much of a newborn session is captured from above, showing your hands cradling your baby, your face full of wonder as you look down at them. The focus is always on that connection.
If you’re feeling the emotion of those early days, wear what makes you feel held and safe. That shows in the photographs.
What Dads Should Wear
From casual t-shirts and polo shirts to more formal button-ups, cardigans, or knitwear, there’s a lot of room for his personal style here. The key is choosing something that feels like him and coordinates with what mum is wearing.
Soft, neutral tones always work best when deciding what to wear for your newborn shoot. And honestly, some of my favourite photos show dads in simple t-shirts, their whole attention on their baby, their hands gentle and protective.
What Siblings Should Wear
Little girls look beautiful in simple dresses or soft tops in neutral colours. Boys look wonderful in polo shirts, or for younger siblings, sometimes no shirt at all (they’re irresistibly cute that way).
The beauty of siblings in newborn photos is their genuine emotion. A three-year-old meeting their baby brother for the first time doesn’t need to be perfectly styled. They need to feel excited and safe. That’s what makes the images magical. Think harmony over uniform, this is the easiest way to nail what to wear for your newborn shoot as a family.
👉 If you love the look of printed family portraits, here’s why printing your photos makes them even more meaningful.
Creating a Coordinated Palette
If you have multiple children or a larger family, think of your outfits as working together rather than matching perfectly. You might choose:
- Mum in cream, dad in soft blue, big sister in a white dress
- The whole family in varying shades of grey and white
- Neutral tones with one person in a blush or oatmeal accent
When planning what to wear for your newborn shoot, think of the colours as a gentle story, each tone complementing the next. The cohesion comes from the palette, not from everyone wearing the same thing. And that feels more authentic. More like your family.
The Timeless Approach
My main goal in every newborn session is to create images you’ll love for decades. Photos that your child can show their own children one day. Photos that feel as beautiful and true 20 years from now as they do today.
That’s why I encourage simplicity. Neutral tones don’t feel dated. A plain white top is just as beautiful now as it was in 2010, and it will be in 2040. Patterns and logos age quickly. But timelessness? That’s what I’m after.
When you wear simple, comfortable clothes that feel like you, something shifts. You stop thinking about how you look and start being present. And that’s when the real magic happens.
This is why I love guiding families through what to wear for your newborn shoot, to create photographs that remain timeless, effortless, and full of love.
Before Your Session
Think about what makes you feel confident and comfortable. Not what you think you should wear. What actually makes you feel like yourself?
Wear that. Trust that. Because when you feel at ease, your baby feels it. Your partner sees it. And I can photograph it.
And remember: these photos aren’t just for you. They’re for your child one day, when they want to know what it felt like to be loved from the very beginning. When they want to see how their parents looked at them with that first-time wonder. When they want to remember that they mattered from the moment they arrived.
That’s what we’re capturing. Not perfection. But love. In its simplest, most timeless form. Planning ahead helps you feel relaxed and ready and that’s the real secret behind what to wear for your newborn shoot.
Ready to Book Your Newborn Session?
If you’re expecting and want to capture those fleeting early days with your family, I’d love to chat with you about your newborn photoshoot.
The best way to get started is to fill out my contact form with your due date and any questions you have. I’ll get back to you as soon as I can.
Looking forward to documenting your beautiful beginning.
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