What to Wear for Parent Photos During Your Newborn Session
One of the most common questions we hear from new parents is, “What should we wear for our newborn photos?” And honestly — it’s a great question. These images aren’t just about your baby. They’re about connection, comfort, and preserving a season that passes far too quickly.
Our goal is always to create timeless images that feel soft, natural, and emotionally rich — not trendy or distracting. What you wear plays a huge role in that.
Start with Neutrals
We love neutral tones because they photograph beautifully and keep the focus where it belongs — on your family. Think:
Soft creams
Warm beiges
Taupe
Muted browns
Soft grays
Sage or olive tones
We typically recommend avoiding bright colors, busy patterns, logos, and graphics. We also suggest staying away from pure white and solid black. White can pull too much attention and lose detail in bright spaces, while black can feel heavy and distract from the softness of a newborn session. Instead, aim for soft, earthy tones that complement skin tones and layer well together.
Comfort Comes First — Especially for Mom
If there is ever a time in life when comfort matters, this is it. You’ve just done something incredible, and your body is still healing. You should never feel squeezed, restricted, or self-conscious during your session.
Flowy dresses, soft fabrics, and relaxed silhouettes photograph beautifully and allow you to move, sit, and hold your baby comfortably. We encourage moms to choose pieces that feel forgiving and gentle, not structured or tight.
The most beautiful images come when you feel at ease — not when you’re worried about how something fits.
Our Client Closet: One Less Thing to Worry About
To make things even easier, we offer a small client closet with a curated selection of boho-inspired dresses for moms. These pieces were chosen specifically for newborn sessions — soft, flattering, neutral, and timeless.
If getting dressed feels overwhelming (and it often does in those first weeks), you’re welcome to use one of our dresses. Many moms tell us this takes a huge weight off their shoulders and allows them to simply show up and be present.
Styling for Our Two Newborn Spaces
We photograph newborn sessions in two distinct areas, and your wardrobe can complement both beautifully:
Boho Lifestyle Space
This space feels warm, organic, and relaxed. Natural textures, movement, and layered neutrals work perfectly here. Flowy dresses, linen shirts, soft knits, and barefoot moments all fit effortlessly.
White Room / Minimalist Space
This area is light, clean, and timeless. Soft neutrals with subtle texture photograph best here — think gentle contrast rather than stark tones. The goal is simplicity without feeling sterile.
You don’t need to overthink this — neutral, comfortable clothing works beautifully in both spaces.
Mom’s Clothing
- Soft, flowy dresses
- Ribbed, pleated, or subtly textured fabrics
- Long sleeves or flutter sleeves photograph beautifully
- Dresses that skim the body — not tight, not stiff
These silhouettes are forgiving, comfortable, and timeless — especially important in the newborn season.
Dad’s Clothing
- Neutral sweaters, henleys, or simple pullovers
- Soft button-downs in cream, beige, or light taupe
- Clean denim or neutral pants
- No logos, graphics, or bold patterns
Classic, understated, and supportive — never distracting.
Simple Is Always Best
When in doubt, keep it simple. You don’t need to match perfectly, and you don’t need anything elaborate. Coordinated neutrals, soft fabrics, and pieces that feel like you are more than enough.
These images aren’t about perfection. They’re about how it felt to hold your baby when they were this small.
And years from now, when you look back at these photos, you won’t remember what you were worried about wearing — you’ll remember the weight of them in your arms.
If you ever need help choosing outfits, we’re always happy to guide you. You don’t have to figure this out alone 🤍
