What to Expect at Your Newborn Session with Monika

A complete guide for Manchester parents — from the first enquiry to your finished gallery.

If you've just found out you're expecting — or you're already counting down the weeks — you might be thinking about newborn photos and not quite knowing where to start. What happens at a session? When should you book? What does your baby wear? How long will it take?

These are the questions I hear most often, and I've put together this guide to answer every single one. By the time you've read it, you'll know exactly what a newborn session with me looks like, and hopefully feel genuinely excited about it.

When is the best time to have newborn photos taken?

The golden window is within the first two weeks of your baby's life — ideally between five and fourteen days old. At this age, babies sleep deeply, curl naturally into those beautiful compact poses, and their skin still has that incredible softness we all associate with a brand-new arrival.

After two weeks, babies become more wakeful and alert — which is wonderful, but makes it harder to capture those deeply sleepy, curled-up moments.

That said, life doesn't always follow the plan. If your baby arrived earlier or later than expected, or you're reading this and your little one is three weeks old — please still get in touch. Every baby is different, and we can absolutely work with what we have.

When should you book your newborn session?

The short answer: as early as possible, ideally in your second trimester. Newborn sessions in Manchester book up quickly, particularly in the spring and autumn, and I hold a provisional space for you based on your due date. Once your baby arrives, you simply let me know and we'll confirm the exact date around days five to ten.

There's no need to know the exact date of birth to secure your spot — a due date is all I need.

What happens on the day — a timeline

A typical newborn session runs between two and three hours. That might sound long, but most of that time is simply letting baby lead the pace. Here's how it usually unfolds:

Arrival & settling in

You arrive, have a warm drink, and we talk through the session — colours, any props you'd like to include, poses you've seen and loved. Baby settles into the warm studio environment.

Feeding & settling baby

A full, sleepy baby photographs beautifully. We'll make sure the baby is fed and fully settled before we begin posing. This is the most important part — there's no rush.

Baby poses & detail shots

The heart of the session. Soft wraps, neutral backdrops, those extraordinary tiny details — fingers, toes, eyelashes, the curve of a sleeping cheek.

Family & sibling shots

Some of my favourite images come from these moments — a parent cradling their baby, or an older sibling meeting their brother or sister for the first time.

Wrap up

We finish up, I share what to expect for the delivery of your gallery, and you head home with a tired but very well-photographed baby.

How to prepare — before you arrive

Preparation makes a surprising difference to how smoothly a session flows. Here's what I recommend:

Temperature

Keep your home or the studio warm before the session. Babies settle fastest when they're comfortable — around 24°C is ideal.

Feeding

Feed your baby just before you leave, or plan to feed when you arrive. A full baby is a sleepy baby, and sleepy babies photograph beautifully.

Clothing

Dress baby in a vest or babygrow that opens at the front or has a wide neckline — easy to remove without waking them.

What to wear yourself

Soft neutrals — creams, taupes, muted greens or greys — photograph beautifully and keep the focus on your baby. Avoid bright logos or patterns.

What to bring

• Nappies, wipes, and a change of clothes for the baby

• Any feeding equipment you need (bottles, formula, muslin cloths)

• A dummy/pacifier, if your baby uses one — they can be invaluable for settling

• Any heirloom items you'd like included — a special blanket, a piece of jewellery, a meaningful object

• Something comfortable for you — you'll be there for a few hours

What about siblings and pets?

I love including the whole family. Siblings, even very young ones, can create some of the most touching images of the entire session — there's something about that first meeting, captured properly, that parents treasure for decades. I'll guide your older children gently and we'll keep their involvement short and sweet so nobody gets overwhelmed.

Pets are very welcome too, though I find it works best to include them at the very start or end of the session, before the baby is settled into the deeper poses.

Colours, props and personalisation

My aesthetic tends toward the natural and timeless — soft neutral wraps, organic textures, warm light. I find these images age beautifully and feel classic rather than dated five years from now.

That said, I love personalising sessions. If there's a colour you're drawn to, a family heirloom you want to include, or a particular mood you have in mind — bring it to me. Some of my favourite sessions have come from a parent describing something very specific that turned out to be perfect.

When will you receive your gallery?

Your online gallery will typically be ready within one to two weeks of the session. You'll receive a private link to view, share, and download your images, along with options for prints and wall art if you'd like them.

What if the baby doesn't cooperate?

They will, eventually — I promise. This is something every parent worries about and very rarely needs to. Newborns have their own rhythm, and my job is to follow it rather than fight it. If the baby needs feeding three times, we feed three times. If they need a long settlement, we settle. The session takes as long as it takes, and there's absolutely no pressure.

I've photographed a great many babies, including the ones who arrived very alert, the ones with reflux, and the ones who had strong opinions about being put down. We always get there.

"These early days go so fast. Let me help you hold onto them."

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