Outdoor San Francisco Newborn Session

In these pandemic times, moving your newborn session from inside your home to the outdoors can be done! With a little bit of planning, we can get gorgeous images of your new family.

I met sweet little baby Selma this past fall when she was about a month old. We found a secluded location in the Presidio of San Francisco, in the late afternoon for that golden magic hour light.

So how can you plan for an outdoor newborn session? Here are some tips.

Pack a large duffel bag with:

• A neutral colored blanket to lay on the ground. Don’t worry if it’s not waterproof. We can layer it with another picnic blanket underneath.

• Outfit changes for your baby. It’s nice to have options, as well as backups! Also if they like being swaddled, bring a few of those. Make sure the outfits aren’t too loose on your newborn.

• Baby blankets and a warmed hot water bottle. We want to keep your little one feeling warm while we are outdoors. The warmed hot water bottle could be tucked inside the baby blanket and out of site.

• Wet wipes and burp cloths.

• A pacifier if that helps soothe your baby.

• A nursing blanket, if you prefer for breaks to breast feed, or a have a bottle handy.

Bring a blanket to lay on the ground. We can layer it with other more waterproof blankets underneath.

What Should I Wear?

• Pick an outfit you feel good in! Feeling good and confident in your clothing leads to looking great in your photos.
• Clothing that is flexible is key. You’ll be standing, sitting, and snuggling your baby. So it’s important that your clothing can move with you. So avoid too-tight or tailored clothing.
• You don’t have to avoid color (I personally love color!), but I recommend avoiding loud patterns.
• Don’t match your partner, but do coordinate to make sure what you will both be wearing will go together.
• You may want to have a backup outfit handy in your car, in case you get spit-up on you!
• Don’t forget some layers for yourself, in case it’s a little chilly out, as San Francisco can often be in the 60’s and a little windy.
• Jewelry is fine, but lose the watch! Your baby is itty bitty and there will be lots of cradling close-ups, and a watch can be a distracting element.

This mom’s mustard colored wrap dress was gorgeous and photographed beautifully.

Keeping your baby warm during an outdoor session is key, so bring lots of snuggly baby blankets.

Having a blanket is also great so we can get some images of you and your baby laying down, since we won’t have a bed or couch handy!

There is no rush with a newborn session. I like to schedule a lot of time so that you can take all the breaks you may need and we keep the star of the show happy with a full belly and a dry diaper!

During your newborn session, we’ll take lots of breaks so we can keep your baby fed and happy!

Have fun and interact with your baby!

Yes to skull diapers! :-)

My photography style for capturing your newborn session is candid and not very posed. I want to photograph this fleeting time with you and your new baby, so feel free to interact with your child and don’t worry too much about the camera. Just enjoy and play with your newborn and the magic will be captured! I’ll take a mix of close-ups of your baby, and you interacting as a family.

To inquire about your outdoor newborn session in San Francisco or the Bay Area, contact Sonya here. And check out this backyard Oakland newborn session.