Top 5 Tips for the Best Newborn Photos (From a Pittsburgh Newborn Photographer)

Welcoming a new baby is such a special and fleeting time — and capturing it with beautiful, timeless images is something you’ll never regret. As a professional Pittsburgh newborn photographer, I’ve photographed over 1,000 babies and families, and these are my top tips to help you get the very best newborn photos.

1. Choose Your Style: Lifestyle vs. Studio Newborn Photos

The first decision to make is whether you prefer lifestyle newborn photos (natural, in-home feel) or studio newborn photography (posed, styled, and softly curated).

Not sure which is right for you?

Check out my full breakdown here → (lifestyle vs studio)

Many families searching for newborn photos in Pittsburgh aren’t sure of the difference — so taking a few minutes to decide your style will help you love your final images even more.

Still can't decide? Here's my hot take:

Think about what you want to do with the finished images. If you want to decorate the nursery, send birth announcements, or frame the images anywhere else in your home or office, posed studio images will work best for your needs. Each image will stand alone beautifully. On the flip, if you want an album, I love lifestyle images for this. They tell a whole story together.

2. Schedule Your Newborn Photos at the Right Time

Timing is everything when it comes to newborn photography. One of the biggest things I see parents-to-be ask is "when is the best time for newborn photos?" Great question! The goal is to capture your baby while they are still fresh, sleepy, and curly. Babies change incredibly fast — and the difference between a 2-day-old and a 2-month-old is truly astounding to me.

For the best results, newborn sessions are typically scheduled within 5–21 days after birth.

During this window: babies are sleepier, they naturally curl into those classic newborn poses, and ultimately, sessions tend to go quicker and more smoothly.

As a Pittsburgh newborn photographer, I don’t recommend scheduling sessions earlier than 5 days after birth. This eliminates a few potential issues. First, it gives mom more time to physically recover after delivery. Also, if baby is exclusively breastfed, mom's milk usually takes a few days to come in and so a baby may be too hungry and unsettled those first few days. Cluster feeding is not ideal for photo day!

Because sessions happen so soon after birth, it’s best to book during pregnancy to guarantee availability around your due date. Once your baby arrives, we’ll finalize your exact session date.

3. Share Any Preferences Before Your Session

I love incorporating a special blanket or heirloom item that is special to you! It's also totally fine if you don't have any special requests too! (Most people don't, haha). Just let me know ahead of time so we can plan/set-up how to best incorporate it without scrambling during the session, which wastes precious sleeping baby time!

I will also use whatever color palette you choose! My studio is full of everything and I have plenty of baby items to match whatever vibe you are going for.

Also remember, trust and relax! You picked and hired me for a reason- the work stood out to you among a sea of others. So, trust why you hired me and let me work my magic without micromanaging the session. I promise it will be more enjoyable that way! Trying to exactly copy a bunch of images you’ve seen online is almost always disappointing and takes away the opportunity to get something even better!

The best newborn photos happen when there’s a balance of collaboration and trust.

4. Follow Your Newborn Session Prep Guide

Before your session, I’ll send you detailed prep instructions designed to help everything go smoothly. It may not be exactly what your typical morning looks like — but there’s a reason for every step!

These tips are based on my 15 years of experience photographing newborns and are designed to:

• Help your baby stay sleepy
• Minimize fussiness
• Create a calm, successful session

You can review my full prep guide here → Newborn Photo Prep Guide

Following these steps makes a huge difference in achieving those peaceful, dreamy newborn images and being able to relax and enjoy the photoshoot.

5. Relax and Enjoy the Experience

This might be the most important tip of all. When you book a session with me, my goal is for you to actually enjoy the experience — not feel stressed by it.

At my Pittsburgh newborn photography studio, you can:

• Sit back and relax
• Watch your baby being gently posed
• Take whatever behind the scenes videos and photos that you'd like
• Take in all those tiny details you’ll want to remember forever

I handle everything for your baby during the session, so you can simply enjoy the moment.

One of my favorite things is seeing parents smile, take behind-the-scenes photos, and quietly soak in how sweet and tiny their baby is.

These moments go by quickly — and your session is a chance to pause and take it all in.

Ready to Book Your Newborn Photos in Pittsburgh?

If you’re expecting and looking for a Pittsburgh newborn photographer, I’d love to help you capture this special time.

Newborn sessions are limited each month to accommodate due dates.