Newborn Family Photos

August 9, 2021

In my last blog post, I shared photos from a maternity session with mom-to-be (read that blog post here). Well, not too long after that session she welcomed her baby boy, and I had the honor of taking his newborn pictures. You’ll also see bonus newborn family photos below!

Welcoming Baby Boy

Meet Kainoa, just 7 days new. Wide-eyed and ready to explore the world, he was such a sweet baby to photograph!

Widely awake newborn baby boy, who wears a teal bonnet and a teal wrap, looking straight into camera during his newborn photoshoot with Cathy Murai Photography, OC newborn photographer in Irvine, CA

They will forever be our family treasure

Cathy knows how important these pictures are going to be for the rest of our lives, and makes sure she only gives her best in everything she does for her clients.

The final photographs… it made me cry when I first saw them. They are beyond beautiful, and they will forever be our family treasure. Thank you so much, Cathy!

Mother of Kainoa

Planning the Session – Color Scheme

You can see more photos from the newborn session below, and one thing you may notice is the color scheme. Whether you’re planning to have a wall gallery or photo album, color coordination is key as we plan your newborn session.

Prior to the session, I always ask my clients to describe the baby’s nursery, including the colors and the theme of the decor. This gives me inspiration for the styling during the newborn session. Kaino’s mom picked a teal, cream, and beige color palette, so you’ll see that theme present throughout the images.

A newborn baby boy posing and sleeping on a wooden bed with teal blanket while Cathy Murai Photography captured his newborn photos.

A newborn baby boy in chin on hands pose while sleeping on a cream and beige blanket during his newborn photo session in studio in Irvine, CA

Cathy worked her magic

I was worried about if he was going to cry the whole time, among many other things I was nervous about. All my worries faded away as the session started and Cathy worked her magic…and when I say magic, it was MAGIC!!!

She would use her gadgets and tricks and her soothing hands to guide my baby to sleep and keep him asleep in order to get the best pictures with him in these amazing poses. I ended up not having to stress at all during the session, and as a bonus, got to learn a few neat tricks to calm my baby down and put him to bed.

Mother of Kainoa

Newborn Photos with BIG Family

I also had the opportunity to photograph this family for a third time a month later! Their BIG, beautiful family all gathered in my Irvine studio for a session. This was the largest family that I have ever photographed for a newborn session in my studio!

Here’s a little behind-the-scenes info: I couldn’t fit all of the family members in front of my studio backdrop, so instead I took the pictures in front of a white wall and added in the backdrop with Photoshop. Could you tell?

In the photos, you can see the loving family that surrounds Kainoa, now just over one month old. It was truly a pleasure to photograph them!

Family of mom, dad, sister, aunts, and uncles wearing beige and cream shirts and denim pants smile while standing around one-month-old baby in swaddle for their Newborn Family Photos with Cathy Murai Photography - Orange County Newborn Photographer in Irvine, CA

What to wear for the Newborn Family Photos

Again, as you can see, color coordination is one of the key successes of the photoshoot. This family decided to dress in the cream and beige color scheme, so the family photos will fit in perfectly with the images from the newborn session on a gallery wall. I send every client a preparation guide including information on what to wear. Below are some of my recommendations.

For Moms and Dads

We want all of the focus of the image to be on the connection you share with your baby, rather than the clothing. Therefore, we suggest simple, solid, and neutral-colored clothes. (Neutrals include white, cream, gray, khaki, black, etc.)

Pick 2-3 colors and then coordinate different tones of the colors together.
Dad should wear a solid T-shirt that compliments mom’s top.
Avoid strong patterns such as stripes and logos – these can be distracting in the image.
Be sure to iron clothes to avoid distracting creases and wrinkles.

For Siblings

Siblings can wear a simple tee, tank, or dress in the same color tone. For little girls, avoid distracting hair accessories – select ones that are small and a neutral color.

Most importantly, wear what makes you feel comfortable!

A Lasting Friendship

One of the best parts of being a photographer is forming a relationship with families during this very special time of their lives. I have clients whose babies I photographed years ago, and I still keep in touch with them to this day, especially through Instagram. It’s so fun to watch their precious children grow and to reminisce on when I met them in their first weeks of life.

I’m always happy to work with families like Kainoa’s to make capture your sweetest memories. It would be my pleasure to work with your family, too!

Family of mom, dad, sister, and baby brother smile softly at the camera while wearing cream and beige for their Newborn Family Photos with Cathy Murai Photography - Orange County Newborn Photographer in Irvine, CA

Expecting? Connect with Me!

I offer newborn, maternity, and baby milestones including first birthday sessions for families in Orange County. If you’re expecting a baby this fall, now is the time to reserve your session! Contact me to inquire here.

Book Your Session – Contact Me