One of the things I pride myself on is helping parents of a newborn achieve a session that meets all their expectations. I truly try to go above and beyond to give them photos they will treasure for generations to come. That being said, not every prop or heirloom is ideal for adding into a newborn session. Size, type, and safety concerns always make me carefully consider which items are best for using, and these are some that work great:

Wedding Veils: Kyndall (left) was one of my adorable newborns who’s mommy wanted to utilize the veil she wore on her wedding day. Highlighting a wedding veil is a lovely way to add some family history and uniqueness into a baby session (also, those wedding veils are usually just sitting in a closet after your ceremony, so it’s a fun way to re-use it!). As you can see above, we draped it over Kyndall and added mommy’s wedding rings to complete the look.

Wedding Rings:  Much like a wedding veil, wedding rings from one or both parents are a very cute and beautiful prop. They can be added just like we did above, and I’ve also seen them used on a newborn’s toes or hands. Of course, since rings can be a choking hazard, I only add them in when appropriate. Your baby’s safety is my number one priority!

Sports Jerseys: If dad or mom is a big sports fan, or played professionally, it can be really fun to incorporate a jersey that adds in their team spirit or even a varsity jacket from high school. It’s another easy prop to add in, and can give extra personality to a session.

Heirloom Quilts or Stuffed Animals: I love adding heirloom quilts to a session. They can go over or under baby, and especially when family members have handmade them, they add some sweet sentiment to a shoot. They also can add a vintage feel with other headbands or outfits that coordinate. Beloved animals that belonged to parents, or that have been purchased for your newborn, are both sweet ideas and can be incorporated.

Best News of All: Want to know the best part of booking a session with me? You can just sail right into my studio without a single prop if you want! I have exclusively curated a selection of beautiful, high quality and unique props, outfits, headbands, hats and backdrops that offer you a huge variety for your newborn! I also hand select the items to best suit your needs, and that means it’s ONE LESS THING for you to think about as parents of a new baby! You can focus solely on enjoying and celebrating your precious new baby and not worry about a bit of your session. As a mom and grandmother, I know you will appreciate that idea!

If you’re dreaming up a newborn session, and want to see if it’s possible, please contact me directly. I’d love to talk you through your ideas and see which ones we can make a reality!