What to do When Covid-19 Cancels Your Newborn Session

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I feel for the women of the world who are about to give birth right now. The world is in total turmoil, and you have the added stress of bringing a new life into it.

Suffice it to say, the fact that your newborn session has been postponed due to Covid-19 probably isn’t topping your list of worries. You have bigger fish to fry, and I get that.

But the fact of the matter is, your baby is still being born and you probably would still like some documentation of the newborn stage. And since I can’t come into your home right now and do it for you, I’m going to do my best to tell you what to do from here.

Three Things to do when Your Newborn Session is Postponed

Agree to Reschedule

If your newborn photographer hasn’t reach out to yet to discuss plans, you’ll want to make contact with her. If she (or he) has, here’s my first recommendation: don’t cancel!

The reality is that no one can come into your home right now and take photos… legally anyway. And if a photographer is offering to do it for you, it’s illegal if your county or state is under a Stay at Home order. That being said, they could be fined and/or lose their business. That’s not something I’m going to mess with, personally.

Instead of cancelling, agree to reschedule once all of this has passed. This may mean that you’re getting two month photos instead of newborn photos. In my opinion, though, it’s much better than no photos at all!

And even more than that, it’s much better than your photographer breaking the law and risking spreading the coronavirus.

Try taking your own photos

As a newborn photographer who attempted to take my firstborn’s newborn photos, I actually never recommend this. But we’re in the middle of a crisis here, so I’m going back on my word.

You may not be able to get that coveted full family photo right now, but with a few tips and tricks you can at least get baby, baby and mom, baby and dad, and baby with sibling(s). And you can do it with your phone if that’s the only camera you have available.

Don’t worry. There’s a full blog post coming on specific tips and tricks to get the best photos with your phone, but if you need to do it like now, here are a couple of recommendations.

Find a room that provides good natural light, turn off any and all overhead lights or lamps, feed baby, swaddle baby and start snapping. Try different angles until you get what you want.

I promise I’ll get more detailed on this in a later post, so stay tuned (and join the MWP Mama Community for first dibs).

Capture the Moments in Between

I know you want the professional photos of your baby, and you’re going to try your hardest to emulate those with your phone. But don’t forget about the sweet moments in between that no one gets dressed up for.

One of my favorite pictures of Beckett from the newborn stage is when he’s a day old. We’re in the hospital, he’s tucked into my gown and I have zero makeup on. I’m not going to frame a 16×20 of it in my house, but I still adore the photo.

Some of my favorite photos from when Cal was born are of Justin holding him and Beckett sitting close by while they both are looking at him and admiring him.

Pay attention and wait for those moments and snap a quick photo when they happen. Because this time is fleeting, and just because you can’t have professional photos right now doesn’t mean you can’t have memorable and heartfelt documentation of it.