What to Wear for Your Newborn Lifestyle Session
Over the years I’ve noticed how much the clothes you choose can impact your newborn photos. I don’t want you to overthink it or feel like you need to spend a lot of money, but a few thoughtful choices about comfort, color, and texture can make a real difference in how your photos turn out. As a newborn photographer in Kimberley, BC, I love guiding families through in-home lifestyle sessions, helping them choose outfits that feel natural and look beautiful on camera. If you’re planning a family newborn session in Kimberley or Cranbrook, BC, these tips will help you feel confident and relaxed while creating memories you’ll treasure for years.
You can see examples in my newborn gallery for more inspiration!
What Mom Should Wear for Newborn Photos
First up is always Mom. Don’t leave yourself until last! Let’s start with your outfit and build the rest of the family’s outfits around it. A long, loose dress is a great choice for any body type. It feels comfortable while still being fitted in the places you feel confident. This is a great chance to add in a simple pattern if you like. Personally, I love sleeves on a dress! They are perfect for lying down, sitting, and snuggling, and they look natural at home. But don’t feel like you need to hide under a tent! Let’s celebrate the incredible thing your body just did while keeping you comfortable and confident. If dresses aren’t your style, an oversized sweater with jeans or leggings works just as well. Knits photograph beautifully, and again, the key is comfort, length, and looseness so you can relax and enjoy your newborn session.
What Dad Should Wear
Next up is Dad. Keep it simple and comfortable. A casual button-up is always a great choice, ideally in a solid, neutral shade that complements the rest of the family. I especially love a denim shirt paired with black jeans or chinos, or a solid button up with jeans. T-shirts can work too, as long as they fit well, aren’t too tight, and are wrinkle-free. Another favorite option is a long-sleeve waffle knit. Its texture photographs beautifully, looks relaxed, and feels comfortable, making it a perfect choice for a natural, cozy look. If Dad has his own personal style, I love when he shows it off. It’s important that he feels like himself and doesn’t feel forced into a cookie-cutter theme. Just keep it simple. Avoid bright colors, logos, and definitely no plaid!
What Siblings Should Wear
Onto my favorite….the siblings! They might just steal the show, even though we’re technically here for the baby. I’m obsessed with cute kids’ clothes, but nothing too dressed up. Siblings will probably be crawling all over the bed and snuggling with baby, so cozy and comfortable is key. This is also a great opportunity to add a bit of muted color or a soft pattern, and textures like corduroy, muslin, linen and knits photograph beautifully.
For little ones wearing a dress, be sure to include a diaper cover, shorts, tights, or leggings underneath. Kids never stop moving, so outfits need to work for action, not just look perfect when they’re sitting still. What I find works the best is a simple one-piece outfit like a jumpsuit or romper. It’s always a winner and moves with them, unlike a t-shirt that can ride up. Keep it cute, comfortable, and fun!
The Newborn!
For baby, I always recommend keeping things simple. Elaborate outfits can distract from all those tiny features you’ll want to remember, especially since they change so quickly in those first weeks. A simple onesie in a neutral color is perfect. White is always lovely, but off-white can be even better. I also love when the outfit shows their little arms or legs, or both. In warmer weather, or if it’s a summer session, a cute diaper cover alone is a sweet option to show off all those little rolls and chubbiness.
Texture can photograph beautifully here too. Ribbed fabrics and knits are favorites of mine, and a simple pattern can work as well. The most important thing, though, is how the outfit fits. This can be tricky since many families don’t have newborn-sized clothing for long, but a snug fit makes a big difference. If the outfit is too big, baby can end up swimming in it and the fabric can ride up into their face. If there’s one outfit that’s worth planning for in advance, it’s baby’s.
Accessories can be sweet too, like a small headband. The key again is fit. I tend to prefer smaller bows since large ones can feel a bit overwhelming and take attention away from those tiny newborn features.
Coordinating Outfits and Choosing Colours
Finally, let’s talk about coordinating everyone together. The goal is not to match perfectly, but to choose outfits that complement each other. Starting with Mom’s outfit makes this much easier, since the rest of the family’s clothing can build naturally from there.
Neutral tones are always a great foundation for newborn photos. Colors like cream, beige, soft browns, muted greens, and gentle blues tend to photograph beautifully and keep the focus on your connection as a family. If most of the outfits are neutral, it’s perfectly fine to add a little muted color or a simple pattern to one person’s outfit to keep things feeling natural and balanced.
Texture is another wonderful way to add depth without being distracting. Knits, ribbed fabrics, muslin, corduroy, and waffle knits all photograph beautifully and add interest while still keeping the overall look soft and cohesive.
The most important thing is that everyone feels comfortable and looks like themselves. Clothing that feels natural around the house will always photograph best. When everyone is relaxed and confident in what they’re wearing, it helps create the cozy, connected feeling that lifestyle newborn sessions are all about.
Planning outfits for your newborn session should feel simple and even a little fun. The goal is not perfection, just comfortable clothing that feels natural and helps everyone relax and connect. If you’re still feeling unsure about what to wear, I’ve put together a Pinterest board with lots of outfit inspiration you can browse here:
Clothing Inspiration for In Home Newborn Photos
If you’re expecting and planning a lifestyle newborn session in Kimberley or Cranbrook, BC, I’d love to help you document this season for your family. You can learn more about my newborn sessions or get in touch to book your session by clicking the button below!