Choosing what to wear for your newborn photography session can feel surprisingly overwhelming,  especially during those busy final weeks of pregnancy when you have approximately one million other things on your mind.

As a Perth newborn photographer based in Hilbert, I work with families from Byford, Armadale, Mundijong, Serpentine and surrounding suburbs, and outfit questions are something I help families with every single week. The good news? At Four O Photography, I've taken most of the hard work off your plate completely.

Here's everything you need to know about what to wear, and what to dress your baby in,  for your newborn session.

Hi, I’m Mia, a Perth newborn photographer based in Hilbert specialising in calm, baby-led studio sessions for growing families. My sessions are relaxed and fully guided, with plenty of time for feeding, settling and including siblings.

If you're expecting and planning newborn photos in Perth, you can enquire about availability here.

You Don't Need to Shop for a Thing

One of the things families love most about sessions at my Hilbert studio is that I have a full client wardrobe available for mums to borrow at no extra cost.

That means no last-minute shopping trips, no guessing what will photograph well, and no stress about finding something that fits a postpartum body, which, let's be honest, is one of the more emotionally loaded parts of preparing for photos in those early weeks.

When you book your session with Four O Photography, you'll receive a newborn preparation guide that walks you through everything in my wardrobe, the styles available, the sizing, and exactly what to expect. But here's a summary of what I have ready for you.

What's in the Four O Photography Client Wardrobe

My wardrobe is built around soft, flattering, timeless styles that photograph beautifully in my warm, naturally lit Hilbert studio. Most of my dresses are:

Flowy and relaxed: soft fabrics that drape beautifully and feel comfortable on a postpartum body

Off shoulder or wide neckline styles: 
perfect for skin to skin images and showing the connection between mum and baby

Neutral toned: creams, whites, taupes, soft beiges and warm naturals that complement my studio aesthetic and keep the focus on your family

Mostly summer weight: light, breathable fabrics suited to Perth's warmer months, with a selection of winter weight options available for cooler sessions

I know that postpartum bodies come in all shapes and sizes and confidence levels and my wardrobe is chosen with that in mind.

The styles are forgiving, flattering, and designed to make you feel beautiful without feeling exposed or uncomfortable.

For Mums — Knits and Casual Styling
Not every mum wants a flowy dress and that's completely fine. If you prefer a more relaxed, casual feel for your images, I also have a selection of soft knit pieces that work beautifully with jeans or your own comfortable clothing. This creates a warmer, cosier feel that suits certain families perfectly and looks just as stunning in the final gallery.

If you'd love this style, just let me know when you enquire and we can chat through what would work best for you.

For Mums — Dresses

What to Dress Baby In

Here's the wonderful news, you don't need to bring a single thing for your baby either.
My studio has a full selection of baby clothing, wraps and accessories ready to use during your session, including:

Wraps and swaddles: soft, beautiful wraps in neutral and natural tones that create that classic, timeless newborn look. These are washed and prepared fresh for every session.

Baby outfits: I have a curated selection of tiny baby pieces in natural tones for both boys and girls, as well as gender neutral options. These are chosen to complement the overall palette of the session and photograph beautifully.

Baby girl accessories: I have a gorgeous collection of delicate floral headbands for baby girls, soft, beautiful, and completely in keeping with the natural, warm aesthetic of my sessions. These are some of my favourite finishing touches and families always love them.

Blankets and layering pieces: soft knit blankets and layering pieces that add texture and warmth to images.

Everything is provided, laundered, and ready for your baby on the day. You simply need to arrive and I take care of the rest.

What to Bring From Home

Even though my wardrobe covers most of what you need, there are a few things worth bringing from home just in case:

A dummy or pacifier if your baby uses one, these are incredibly helpful for settling during the session and can simply be removed for the final images

Your own outfit as a backup if you'd like to try something from my wardrobe but want a fallback option

A favourite wrap or outfit if there's something sentimental you'd love to include, a special knit from a grandparent, for example, or a coming-home outfit

Colours to Avoid

Regardless of whether you're wearing something from my wardrobe or your own clothing, here are the colours and styles that tend not to photograph as well in a newborn session:

Very dark colours: black, dark navy and charcoal can create a stark contrast that draws the eye away from the softness of the images. They can also make skin tones appear cooler and less warm.

Bright or bold colours: red, royal blue, bright orange and similar tones tend to dominate the image and distract from the connection between family members.

Busy patterns: florals, stripes, checks and graphic prints all compete visually with the baby and the emotion of the images.

The goal is always for your clothing to recede gently into the background so that what your eye goes to first, and last, is the love between your family.

What If I'm Unsure?

If you're not sure what to wear, please just ask. I genuinely love helping families with this part of the process and I am always happy to advise.

When you book your session with Four O Photography you'll receive a detailed newborn preparation guide that includes photos of my wardrobe, sizing information, and styling suggestions. And if you still have questions after reading it, my inbox is always open.

Ready to Book Your Perth Newborn Session?

If you're expecting and you're based in Byford, Armadale, Mundijong, Serpentine, Bedfordale, Oakford or anywhere across Perth's south east,  I'd love to hear from you.

Sessions are held in my warm home studio in Hilbert, and everything, including your wardrobe and your baby's outfits, is taken care of for you. You simply show up, hold your baby, and let me do the rest. 🤍

Get in touch here to check availability or ask any questions about your upcoming session.