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This beautiful family recently came to see me for their sweet baby girl’s newborn session, and as a newborn photographer serving Jersey City and Bergen County, I could not wait to welcome them into my studio.
The family had recently welcomed their third baby into the world, and you could truly feel the excitement and love the moment they walked through the door. Mom, Cheryl, and Dad, Evan, came to the session along with their adorable daughter Melanie and son Cameron. Both siblings were so excited to take photos with their new baby sister, Brooke, and they were incredibly sweet and gentle with her throughout the session.
Mom contacted me during her second trimester to reserve her newborn session, which is always the perfect time to book. We had worked together previously for Cameron’s first birthday cake smash session, so it felt extra special getting to photograph another milestone for their growing family. I absolutely love when families continue coming back to me over the years. Being invited to document these moments as their children grow is such an honor.
Baby Brooke was just 11 days old for her session, which falls right into that ideal 7–14 day window for newborn photography. During this stage, babies are typically still very sleepy and curly, making it the perfect time for those cozy, peaceful newborn poses. Brooke was truly such a dream baby and slept through almost her entire session! She settled beautifully into each setup and made transitioning between poses incredibly smooth.
Family Photos
When the family first arrived, I decided to begin with family portraits. I always love starting this way because it allows us to capture those meaningful connections and genuine emotions before focusing entirely on baby portraits.
These images often become some of the most treasured photographs from the entire session because they freeze this exact season of life for the family. I like to create a variety of family poses including everyone looking at the camera, everyone admiring the baby, and a few more candid moments where the parents look toward each other while the children focus on their new sibling. Those little in-between moments always end up being some of the sweetest.
I also make sure to capture portraits of just mom and dad with their newest baby so they have special images celebrating this new chapter as a family of five.
Once we finished the family portraits, the rest of the family got to relax while I moved on to Brooke’s individual newborn portraits. The kids happily played games with mom and dad while I focused on photographing baby girl.
Baby Girl’s Newborn Photoshoot
For Brooke’s setups, Mom had requested soft pinks, purples, and creams for the session. I decided to begin with a beautiful cream wrap paired with a matching bonnet and the sweetest little felt bunny tucked gently into her hands.
I then placed her into one of my all-time favorite props, my wooden crate. This setup is truly a client favorite because it photographs so beautifully and works perfectly for both boys and girls. There is just something timeless and cozy about it that I always love. Brooke looked absolutely precious curled up inside, completely peaceful and content.
After capturing a few images with the bunny, I swapped out the bonnet for a delicate pearl headband to give the setup a slightly softer and more feminine look. Those portraits ended up becoming some of Mom’s favorites from the gallery.
Once we finished with the crate setup, I carefully transitioned Brooke into another client favorite, my heart bowl. She stayed sound asleep through the entire transition, allowing me to gently position her inside while adding the bonnet back on for a cozy finishing touch.
The heart bowl always adds such a whimsical and sentimental feel to newborn galleries, and I loved how beautifully the soft cream tones came together in this setup.
After that, I unwrapped Brooke and moved her into the pink floral bucket with her tiny chin resting gently on her hands. This prop is always highly requested because parents love seeing just how tiny their baby looks nestled inside. Brooke looked absolutely perfect posed there, and the soft floral details complemented the session colors beautifully.
Wrapping Up the Session
The entire session lasted about an hour, and I was so happy with the amount of variety we were able to capture in that time. Sessions like this are such a great example of how a Mini Swaddle Session can still provide a beautiful, diverse gallery while offering families a shorter and more budget-friendly experience.
Even in a shorter session, we were able to capture family portraits and multiple unique setups for Brooke, all while keeping the experience relaxed and stress-free for everyone involved.
Looking for a Newborn Photographer in Bergen County, NJ?
If you’re searching for a newborn photographer in Hoboken or Bergen County who offers cozy, baby-led newborn sessions with a timeless and natural style, I would love to help you capture this special season before it slips away.
My Mini Swaddle Session is perfect for families wanting beautiful newborn portraits in a shorter, stress-free experience while still capturing all those sweet little details you never want to forget.
If you’d like to reserve your due date and begin planning your newborn session, I’d love to hear from you!
