What to wear
For the baby: nothing, a plain wrap, or a simple sleepsuit. Anything with slogans or hard fastenings dates the photograph and leaves marks. For…
In short: For the baby: nothing, a plain wrap, or a simple sleepsuit. Anything with slogans or hard fastenings dates the photograph and leaves marks. For parents: plain mid-tones, sleeves rolled, no busy prints — you are the background for the baby.
Colour. For the baby: cream, oatmeal, soft grey or nothing at all. Strong colours reflect onto newborn skin, which is already blotchy and red in the first fortnight, and the correction is difficult.
Fabric. Stretch jersey wraps and plain muslin. Anything with hard poppers, elastic or embroidery leaves marks on skin that stay visible for the whole session.
For the parents. Plain mid-tones with sleeves you can push up. You are the background: patterns pull the eye away from a face the size of an apple.
The thing that ruins frames. Slogan babygrows. They date the photograph instantly and they are the first thing anyone reads in the frame.
In the bag. More muslins than seems reasonable, a spare wrap, and a room thermometer — a newborn settles at about 24 °C and not below it. Hand sanitiser, short nails, and nothing scented on your hands.