I’m so excited to share this Bellbrook newborn photography session with you today, and to talk through what makes holiday newborn sessions so special. Christmas is universally known as the most wonderful time of the year — combine that with an eagerly awaited, brand-new baby, and it becomes even more magical.
Baby Tate’s Christmas Newborn Session
Baby Tate was born right before Thanksgiving, so his Bellbrook family wanted to weave some Christmas elements into his newborn session, and it turned out beautifully. Christmas is such a warm, magical time of year on its own, and having a brand-new baby to celebrate alongside it made this particular session feel even more special.
Family photos in front of the Christmas tree are always a lovely idea during the holiday season, and images with a newborn as the star make for especially sweet Christmas cards that year. Another beautiful detail in this session was the family’s actual Christmas tree — full of sentimental, meaningful ornaments collected over the years. Unpacking those memories every holiday season is special on its own, and having them featured in Tate’s newborn photos adds another layer of magic this family will treasure every time they decorate for years to come.
Love in Every Frame
One of my favorite parts of this session was watching how much Tate’s older siblings adored him. Jacob (8) and Emmy (6) loved their new baby brother so much, and they were thrilled to hold him and shower him with attention throughout the session. It genuinely doesn’t get any sweeter than watching that kind of instant, protective love between siblings.
If you have older children joining a newborn session of your own, I’ve written a full guide on how to prepare your toddler for a sibling’s newborn session, which applies just as well to slightly older kids like Jacob and Emmy.
Working With the Light: Nursery vs. Master Bedroom
Normally, during an in-home session, I like to spend a good portion of our time in baby’s nursery. But lighting always has to be factored in, and we make adjustments as needed. For Tate’s session, we ended up doing the majority of the shoot in the master bedroom, since the natural light there was especially beautiful that day — while still making sure to include detailed shots from the nursery itself.
The nursery is such a special room, and all of those small, thoughtful details are wonderful to include in a session for parents to look back on for years to come. If you’re planning your own in-home session and aren’t sure which room will offer the best light, I’m always happy to talk through your home’s layout ahead of time — you can see more about how a full in-home session works on my in-home newborn photography page.
Why Holiday Newborn Sessions Are Worth Planning For
Babies born in the weeks leading up to Christmas, like Tate, get to experience a genuinely unique kind of newborn session — one layered with twinkling lights, a decorated tree, and all the warmth of the holiday season. A few reasons holiday-season sessions are worth considering if your due date happens to line up:
- Built-in decor. A beautifully decorated home during the holidays provides gorgeous, ready-made backdrops without any extra effort.
- Timeless Christmas card material. Newborn-and-holiday combination photos make for some of the most memorable cards a family will ever send.
- A story worth telling. “Born right before Christmas” is a detail families love recounting for years, and having images that visually tie the two together makes that story even richer.
- A cozy, warm feeling overall. Between soft holiday lighting and the natural softness of newborn photography, the two pair together beautifully.
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, newborns settle best in warm, calm, low-stimulation environments — which a quiet, softly-lit living room during the holidays often provides naturally, without needing much additional setup.
Tips for Planning Your Own Holiday Newborn Session
If your due date falls anywhere near the holiday season, here are a few things worth thinking through ahead of time:
Decorate a little earlier than usual, if needed. If your baby’s due date lines up with when you’d normally put up your tree, consider decorating slightly ahead of schedule so your home is ready whenever your session ends up happening.
Keep holiday decor relatively simple near the photo area. A beautifully lit tree is stunning on its own — too many competing decorations nearby can distract from your baby as the true focus.
Think about outfit coordination. Soft reds, deep greens, or classic neutrals tend to photograph beautifully alongside holiday decor without looking overly “matchy” or costume-like. If you’d like more detailed guidance, I’ve written a full post on choosing color palettes for your newborn session.
Book early. The holiday season is a busy time for everyone, photographers included. If your due date falls in November or December, reaching out as early as possible in your pregnancy helps make sure a session is available during that tight newborn window.
Don’t stress about “perfect” timing. Between family holiday plans and a brand-new baby’s unpredictable schedule, flexibility matters even more this time of year. We’ll work together to find a date that works for your family.
Capturing the Small, Fleeting Details
Beyond the holiday backdrop, Tate’s session included all of the classic newborn details that make this stage so worth documenting: his sweet, sleepy face, soft skin, and tiny toes; the way his mother held him after nine long months of waiting; his little legs still tucked up the way they were before birth. These details matter just as much as the seasonal touches, and a good holiday session should always include both — the festive backdrop and the timeless newborn moments underneath it.
The CDC’s guidance on newborn development is a good reminder of just how quickly these details shift within only the first month of life, which is exactly why timing your session within the first couple of weeks after birth matters, holiday season or not.
Holiday Sessions Aren’t Just for December Babies
While Tate’s session is a great example of a baby actually born near Christmas, holiday-themed newborn sessions can work beautifully even if your due date doesn’t line up exactly. Some families choose to schedule a slightly later session — a few weeks into their baby’s life — specifically to capture that first holiday season together, tree and all. If your baby was born earlier in the year but you’d still love a cozy, seasonal set of images, this is absolutely worth discussing when we plan your session.
What to Expect From Your Session
Whether your session lands during the holidays or any other time of year, the overall experience stays the same: we move at your baby’s pace, with plenty of built-in time for feeding, soothing, and simple breaks. If your home has holiday decor up, we’ll work it into the session naturally, alongside the classic swaddled portraits and detailed nursery shots every newborn gallery deserves.
If you’d like to compare an in-home session to a studio option, I’ve outlined both on my studio newborn packages page.
Serving Bellbrook and the Greater Dayton Area
Bellbrook’s quiet, tree-lined streets and close-knit community make it one of my favorite Dayton-area suburbs to photograph newborns in, holiday season or otherwise. Whether your session lands during a festive December week or any other time of year, I bring the same relaxed, detail-focused approach to every family I work with.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can we include Christmas decorations in our newborn session? Absolutely — if your baby is born near the holidays, incorporating your own tree and decor makes for a genuinely special, one-of-a-kind gallery.
What if our baby is born right before or during the holidays? That’s completely fine, and often makes for some of the most memorable sessions of the year. We’ll work together to find timing that fits both the newborn window and your family’s holiday plans.
Do older siblings work well in these sessions? Yes — sibling moments, like Tate’s session with Jacob and Emmy, are often some of the sweetest images in the whole gallery.
Should we decorate before or after the newborn session? If your due date lines up closely with your usual decorating schedule, it can help to decorate slightly earlier so your home is ready whenever your session happens.
A Family I’m Grateful For
I loved working with Tate’s family, and I hope you enjoyed this look into one of the most magical newborn sessions of the season.
Thanks for being here, and reach out to me if you’d like to plan your own holiday — or any season — newborn session. Whether your baby arrives in the quiet stillness of a summer afternoon or right in the middle of holiday chaos, I’d love to help you capture this fleeting, once-in-a-lifetime stage. You can also browse more real sessions on the journal for inspiration.
Talk soon, Janelle
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