How Should I Dress My Baby for a Newborn Photoshoot

When you are planning your visit to Mabel & Møøse you do not need to worry about what to dress your baby in. A plain white baby vest is absolutely perfect.

You may have heard them called a onesie, a babygrow or a bodysuit. They all refer to the same thing, an all in one suit usually with poppers between the legs. Any style works, short sleeves, long sleeves or strappy. It can be a regular over the head style or a kimono. The only rules are that it must be completely plain, no logo, no pattern, and it must be white. This is how I create my signature Scandi style and keep the focus entirely on your baby.

In terms of fit, slightly too big is always better than too tight.

Please Dress Your Baby in Their Vest Before You Leave Home

This is really important. Please have your baby already wearing their white vest when you arrive rather than packed in the changing bag. I would much rather edit out a tiny milk stain than disturb a settled baby by changing them when they arrive. A calm settled baby at the start of a session makes everything so much easier.

The Kit and Kin Nappy

It would also be really helpful if your baby is wearing a Kit and Kin nappy when they arrive. I keep a supply of them in the studio but if your baby is already wearing one it means I do not need to disturb them before we begin.

Kit and Kin nappies are super soft, beautifully minimal in design and perfect for newborn photography. They run from size 1 right up to size 6 and are available online and at Boots, Amazon and most larger supermarkets.

If your baby does what babies are supposed to do in their nappy on the way to the studio, please do not worry. Sometimes there is simply no option but to change them and that is completely fine.

Why White Works So Well

A plain white baby vest is one of the most beautiful things a newborn can wear. It is fresh, clean and completely timeless. There is nothing to distract from your baby, nothing to date the photographs and nothing that will ever feel out of place on a wall in your home.

Think about how many times in those first days and weeks you look at your baby wearing nothing but a simple vest. This is how you see them every day and it is exactly how I want to photograph them. I can create a full and varied gallery with your baby wearing just this one simple outfit.

What About Older Babies

The same rule applies whatever age your baby is. A plain white vest or bodysuit works just as well for a sitter or crawler as it does for a newborn. A slightly thicker material works well for older babies who are moving around more. But the same principle applies, completely plain and completely white.

Where to Buy

White baby vests are available almost everywhere. I particularly love the ones from John Lewis, M&S and Baby Mori. H&M, Next and most supermarkets also stock them. If this is your second or third baby and you are planning to use a hand me down, please buy a fresh new one for the session. A bright fresh white makes a real difference in the photographs.

Baby Shawls

If your baby is settled and happy I will also use a beautiful hand knitted baby shawl during the session to create even more variety in your gallery. You can read more about the shawls I use in the studio in my baby shawl guide.

If you would love calm, timeless photographs of your baby I would love to hear from you.