Today, we’re talking about where to buy outfits for your newborn photography session. It can be hard to find the right outfit — or outfits, since we love a good outfit change — for your Dayton-area newborn session. I’m here to help. Here are some tips to make things go smoothly ahead of your session.
I also have a full style guide for the whole family, but feel free to reach out to me directly and I’ll happily help guide you through everyone’s outfit decisions.
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How to Choose Outfits for Your Newborn Photography Session
First and foremost, I always suggest choosing neutrals or light pastel colors. These colors photograph beautifully and keep your images light and airy, in keeping with my overall photography style. Stay away from bold or loud patterns, and dark or neon colors, since these tend to detract from your baby’s sweet face rather than complement it.
I recommend coordinating the rest of the family’s outfits in this same way. Light, airy, and neutral tones across the board will make for lovely photographs where everyone’s faces truly shine, rather than competing with busy clothing.
As for what kind of clothing to choose, go with whatever feels right for your family. Personally, I love a baby in a cute romper. There are plenty of good gender-neutral romper options available, which is great if you’re waiting until birth to find out the gender. If that’s not your situation, rompers are still a wonderful choice because they’re simple but still charming, and they highlight our favorite newborn features — sweet faces, chubby little legs, and tiny toes.
Comfort is another major factor to keep in mind. Soft, breathable fabrics will go a long way toward keeping your baby calm and settled throughout the session. The American Academy of Pediatrics notes that newborn skin is especially sensitive to rough or synthetic fabrics, which is part of why soft cotton and other natural fibers tend to keep babies more comfortable — and, in turn, more cooperative during a session.
Ultimately, the goal is that you love your photos. Feel free to show some personality and choose outfits that feel authentic to you and your family, rather than what you think you’re “supposed” to pick.
A Quick Note on Newborn Sizing
One thing that catches a lot of first-time parents off guard: newborn clothing sizes can run surprisingly large, especially in the first couple of weeks. If your baby is on the smaller side, even “newborn” sized items may swim on them a bit. A few tips to plan around this:
- Consider sizing down if your baby is expected to be on the smaller end, or buy a couple of sizes to have options on hand
- Swaddles and wraps are naturally more forgiving than fitted outfits, since they don’t depend on an exact fit
- If you’re shopping before birth and unsure of your baby’s exact size, it’s worth having a backup plan (like a swaddle) in case an outfit doesn’t fit as expected on session day
My Favorite Places to Buy Outfits for Your Newborn Photography Session
Old Navy is one of my absolute favorite places to buy outfits for a newborn session. There’s always a large variety of newborn rompers for both baby boys and girls, in neutral colors that fit almost any family’s color scheme. Old Navy is also a great place to find coordinating or matching outfits for siblings and parents, all in one spot.
Burt’s Bees Baby is another favorite brand of mine for newborn outfits. They’re especially wonderful for sessions during the winter months, thanks to their beautiful, neutral-colored quilted jumpsuits — just enough detail to feel charming, but neutral enough to let your baby’s face stay the true focus.
Colored Organics is another great option. They carry some of the cutest rompers for any season or color theme you’re going for, made from soft, organic fabrics that are gentle on newborn skin.
Don’t Sleep on the Swaddles!
We also can work with swaddles! Some babies are calmer in a swaddle during their photo session, and I’m happy to work with this! There’s nothing like a swaddled little baby! You can find an adorable swaddle blanket almost anywhere, but Target or Carter’s always have super cute options!
Don’t Sleep on the Swaddles
We can also work beautifully with swaddles during your session. Some babies are naturally calmer when swaddled, and I’m always happy to incorporate this into your gallery — there’s really nothing like a soft, swaddled newborn portrait. You can find adorable swaddle blankets almost anywhere, but Target and Carter’s always have especially cute, affordable options.
What About Siblings and Parents?
If older siblings or parents will be included in part of your session, the same neutral, coordinated approach applies. You don’t need to match exactly — in fact, perfectly matching outfits can sometimes look a little too staged. Instead, aim for a shared color palette (soft creams, blush, sage, or dusty blue tend to work beautifully together) so everyone complements each other without looking like a uniform.
If you’d like more detailed guidance on building out a full family color palette, I’ve written a complete guide on choosing color palettes for your newborn session, which covers coordinating parents and siblings alongside baby.
Seasonal Considerations for Outfit Shopping
If your session falls during a particular season, it’s worth factoring that into your outfit choices, even for an in-home or studio session where the temperature is controlled:
- Fall/Winter sessions often lean beautifully into deeper neutrals, soft knits, and quilted textures like the Burt’s Bees jumpsuits mentioned above.
- Spring/Summer sessions tend to favor lighter, breathable fabrics and softer pastel tones.
- Regardless of season, keep the studio or nursery’s indoor temperature in mind — layers can always be added or removed, but overly heavy outfits may cause your baby to overheat during the session itself.
Planning Ahead for a Stress-Free Session
Planning your newborn’s (and the rest of the family’s) outfits ahead of time gives you real peace of mind heading into your session, and helps your gallery feel cohesive and timeless for years to come. If you’d like to see how these outfit choices come together in an actual session, I’ve laid out what to expect on my in-home newborn photography page and my studio newborn packages page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you provide outfits or props for the session? I have some swaddles and simple props available, but many families prefer to bring their own outfits for a more personal touch. I’m always happy to advise on what I have on hand versus what you might want to purchase.
What if our outfits don’t match perfectly? That’s completely fine, and often preferred. A shared color palette looks more natural and timeless than exact matching.
Should we buy newborn-sized outfits before the baby is born? It’s fine to buy ahead, just keep in mind that newborn sizing can run larger than expected. Having a swaddle as backup is a good safety net.
Do you offer guidance on sibling and parent outfits too? Yes — feel free to reach out any time for help coordinating the whole family, not just your newborn.
What to Avoid When Choosing Outfits
Just as important as knowing what to choose is knowing what tends not to work well in photos:
- Busy patterns and logos — these draw the eye away from your baby’s face and can look dated quickly.
- Stiff or scratchy fabrics — beyond just comfort, these can cause visible red marks or irritation on delicate newborn skin, especially with longer sessions.
- Outfits that are too tight or restrictive — newborns need to be able to move and stretch comfortably, especially during swaddled or unswaddled posing.
- Anything with small, loose embellishments — buttons, bows, or decorations that could pose a safety concern for a very young baby are best avoided, particularly for close-up detail shots.
Building a Timeless Wardrobe for Multiple Sessions
If you’re planning to book more than one session throughout your baby’s first year — a newborn session followed by later milestone sessions, for example — it can be worth choosing a cohesive color palette from the very beginning. Soft neutrals in particular tend to age well across a full gallery, meaning your newborn photos, six-month sitting-up photos, and first birthday photos can all feel like part of the same visual story when you look back on them together, rather than looking like disconnected, unrelated sessions.
This is especially worth considering if you plan to display printed photos together, whether in a gallery wall, an album, or simply side by side in a nursery or hallway.
A Few Final Shopping Tips
- Order early. Popular newborn outfits, especially neutral rompers and swaddles, can sell out quickly, particularly around baby shower season or the holidays.
- Wash new items before the session, if time allows, to soften fabric and remove any residual dyes or chemicals from packaging.
- Keep tags on until you’re sure of fit, especially if you’re shopping before your baby arrives and aren’t certain of their exact size yet.
- Don’t be afraid to ask for my opinion. I’m always happy to look at a couple of outfit options ahead of time and help you decide what will photograph best.
Happy Shopping, Friends
At the end of the day, you should love everything about your photos. Planning ahead gives you one less thing to worry about heading into your session, and helps your images feel timeless for years to come.
Feel free to reach out if you need help choosing outfits or making final decisions — I’m here to help. You can also browse more real sessions on the journal for outfit inspiration.
Talk soon, Janelle
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