Outdoor Newborn Photography – Ottawa & surrounding areas

Little Wagon Photography shares tips on photographing newborn babies outdoors in the Ottawa area.

As more and more people get vaccinated and Covid starts slowing down, we are thankfully able to start photographing outdoors once again. The reality with newborn sessions is that it usually takes place indoors. Photographers have a lot more control of the lighting, warmth, etc when photographing newborn babies in the studio. However, thankfully it is Summer in Ottawa and the weather has been helping us! This has made many of us step out of our comfort zone and take newborn sessions outdoors. 🙂

Ottawa has many beautiful parks to take advantage of and I am so glad that so many of my clients have been as excited as I am to photograph their little ones outside. As we do indoors, I still take a variety of photos of baby alone as well as with parents/siblings (depending on the package). The main difference is that when photographing newborns outside, I do mostly photos of them wrapped to keep them warm and content. Here are some tips to make those newborn sessions more successful when venturing out in nature:

1 – Keep baby warm! Newborns settle best when they are warm and swaddled. And even in warm summer days, outdoor photography can bring a light breeze that may affect baby’s temperature. So while naked photos of babies are adorable, I choose to keep them swaddled for most photos, switching wraps and styles but keeping them warm and content throughout our session.

2 – Make sure they are fed prior to the session. This goes with indoors and outdoors. A fed baby is a happy, sleepy baby. 🙂 I always suggest to parents that they feed baby prior to leaving the house. This will give them a chance to fall asleep in the car and arrive at the location ready to go. 😉

3 – Have mom/dad hold baby. There are so many different poses that you can do with baby while being held by mom/dad or sibling. And with nature as your background, you just can’t get it wrong. But choose the location wisely! Make sure there are no distractions behind them and choose areas that will compliment the photo.

4 – Make sure to choose shaded areas. There are 2 reasons for that. First, babies’ skin are very sensitive to the sun and it is super important to keep them safe at all times. The second reason is that direct sun will not only end up waking them up, it will also not help the look of your photos. Open shaded areas are always best regardless of the photo session you are doing. The exception is if you are photographing towards end of day. That beautiful golden hour allows us to photograph clients in open areas without any problems.

5 – Check the forecast! Just as we like to keep the studio warm for newborn sessions so that they stay sleepy and comfortable, it is important that you only photograph newborns outside if the weather will cooperate. Anything below 24 degrees celcius is a bit too cold for me. Even if it’s warmer, make sure you check to see if it will be a windy day or even if there’s a chance for showers. Although it takes a bit more planning to make it work, it is very worth it in the end. 🙂

Although I have mostly photographed newborn babies indoors in the comfort of my Stittsville studio, I must admit that I have fallen in love with outdoor newborn photography in Ottawa. Nature provides such beautiful backdrops and it’s hard to compete with that.

Phase 2 is soon opening up and clients will now have the option of photographing indoors or outdoors. You can see a list of my packages and see what would work best for you and your family. And please don’t hesitate to contact me with any questions.

Newborn Photography Safety Tips – Ottawa Photographer

Newborn Photography Safety Tips – Ottawa Photographer. When it comes to photographing newborns, there are some basic safety tips that should be used in every newborn photo shoot. Photographing newborns has become such a popular thing but it’s super important to hire someone who is trained in these safety techniques and has experience in the field. Here are some basic tips when photographing newborn babies:

1 – Back to the basics: wash your hands! For me, not only do I wash my hands but I usually also use clean gloves when handling baby. Having a hand sanitizer close by is also a great idea.

2 – Wash any blankets/wraps that have been used and clean any props. Every baby that comes in for a session should be using clean, sanitized props/fabrics. No germs allowed! 😉

3 – Having a set of extra hands: there are certain poses such as the froggy pose and the potato sack pose where it is always best and necessary to have an extra set of hands to help you with baby. Most of these poses are usually composites that are finalized in Photoshop. Baby’s safety should always come first and Photographers should never jeopardize safety for a specific pose.

4 – Posing: not every pose will work for every newborn baby. Don’t force baby into a pose he/she is not liking and move on to something that works best for him/her. Not only will it make baby happier, but it will also make it for a more natural photo.

5 – Siblings: personally, in my Ottawa studio, I usually do photos of siblings laying down with baby. This tends to be the safest, especially when siblings are still toddlers. Older kids can usually hold baby but you should once again have mom/dad close by to the child to ensure everyone’s safety.

6 – Illness: If anyone in your family or their family is sick, it might be a good idea to re-schedule that newborn photo session! Newborns are still so fragile that extra care should always be taken.

7 – Camera Strap: Always have your camera strap on and wear it around your neck when taking photos from above. That is a must for me!

While newborn photos are beautiful to capture and it’s something you can treasure forever, it’s important to take all the precautions to have a smooth, safe session. Newborns are tiny and fragile and their well-being should be the most important thing in every photo shoot.

I hope these help and thank you for stopping by! Please feel free to take a peek at some of my work here.

Newborn Photography – Ottawa’s best newborn photographer shares tips on how to sooth a baby

Many parents ask me how I am able to get their baby back to sleep so quickly during a newborn photography session. To be honest with you, I wish I had known half of what I know now back when I had my babies (who are 9 and 11 years-old now!). The truth is, it takes time and practice to get the swing of things. Just like it took me time to learn how to pose newborn babies for photos, it also takes time to adjust and get to know what works and what doesn’t for your little one. For first time parents, everything is so new and overwhelming to them. At times, it may seem that you just don’t know what you’re doing. I know that was certainly the case for me and my husband back when we had our first son. But the truth is that everything is new for baby too! They have just spent the last 9 months enjoying the warmth and cuddle of being all snuggled up in mommy’s belly and suddenly everything changed for them. Luckily, there are a few things that you can do to make this transition for both of you a little easier. Here are a few tips and tricks that I have learned over the years while photographing little ones:


1) The first thing I recommend is to make sure baby is clean (diaper change), fed and comfortable. Sometimes all baby needs is to be fed or to have a clean diaper! Babies usually start turning their heads, opening their mouths and putting their hands in their mouth when they start getting hungry. Although we’re told babies usually feed about every 3 hours, every baby is different and watching for these signs will help you keep baby happy and content.

2) Swaddle. For my kids, I was convinced that they did not like being swaddled. They would cry and get their arms out and I was certain they did not want to have their arms in. But the truth is that most babies looove being swaddled. If you think about it, they had just spent the last 9 months not really being able to move in mom’s belly; at least for the last couple of months before they came out. Being swaddled gives them a sense of security and comfort. At my Ottawa studio I swaddle them quite tightly for newborn photos but I always tell parents that’s not how you want to swaddle them at home. Click here to find some instructions on how to swaddle a baby at home.


3) Make sure baby is not cold. The truth is nobody likes being cold… at the studio I keep the temperature nice and toasty since the newborn baby will be naked while I photograph him/her throughout the newborn session. For my kids, before I changed them, I would always run the wipe or cloth under hot water so that I wouldn’t startle them with a cold cloth on their warm skin. Making sure baby is not cold at my sessions always helps them sleep and be comfortable.


4) White noise. Here is a link for the white noise I use throughout my newborn photography sessions. Back when I had my boys, which really wasn’t that long ago, there was no YouTube or apps that we could use. So we resorted to the vacuum cleaner, the hair dryer and things of that nature. Nowadays there are so many ways get these white noises and they really help! These sounds help mimic the sounds that babies heard while in momma’s belly and it’s yet another technique to help sooth your baby. 🙂


5) Rocking the baby. I always tell my clients that if their baby is moving, I’m moving with them! Sometimes when they’re laying on the beanbag while I do their newborn photos, they will start moving a bit and wanting to wake up. If I just put my hand lightly on them and start moving it slightly from side to side, they usually go right back to sleep. At home, you can rock your baby, put them in a swing and even go for a car drive. Moving and rocking them lightly is a great way to put them back to sleep.


6) Giving them a soother. I know, I know… we are told not to give them soothers. And I totally agree that if your baby doesn’t need one, then you shouldn’t give it to them. However, there are some babies that really have that need to soothe by suckling. It’s their instinct. And in that case, I recommend a soother. During my newborn photo sessions, I always tell parents to bring a soother along. In case baby starts waking up while I transition them in between poses, I put the soother in their mouth and they usually go right back to sleep.


I hope the tips above can help you a bit! Please note that these are just my opinion and you should always talk to an expert in case your baby is still having a hard time settling after you try all of the tips above. I know it can be tough in the beginning to find out what works for your little one and what doesn’t but this time truly flies by and soon they will be giggling and playing with you! Enjoy this time with them and make sure you get to rest as well. Thanks for stopping by! 😀

Newborn Photography Ottawa – sweet baby Aria

Another sweet baby girl is on the blog! Baby Aria came to the studio at a few days new and it was so fun to meet her and see her family again. She’s got one of the sweetest families out there. 🙂

Did you know that newborn photo sessions will last anywhere between 1-3 hours depending on which package you choose to go with? It may seem like newborn photos are effortless but it can take quite a bit of time to transition baby from on pose to the other. I really take my time transitioning baby in a soothing and gentle manner so that she/he stays sleepy and comfy through the whole thing.

Throughout my newborn photography sessions, I do a variety of poses in the beanbag as well as newborn photos in props. Usually, there are about 5-6 poses that I do of the newborn baby on the beanbag. It may seem a like a lot more but the great thing about newborn photography is that you can take such a variety of photos from just one pose by just switching the angle you photograph baby from and adding a few props in between! When parents receive their gallery, there are usually around 70 photos to choose from (with the newborn mini session there are usually about 30-40 photos or so). The gallery is filled with the best of the best photos of your newborn baby session, including family and sibling photos. Many times, parents end up purchasing extra photos or upgrading to the bigger package. I think it’s always a great problem to have when you have too many beautiful photos to choose from. 😉

Please visit the rest of our website and make sure to browse through our galleries! Feel free to contact us with any questions you may have. Thanks for stopping by!

Newborn Photography – serving Ottawa and surrounding areas

It’s been so nice taking some time to enjoy this beautiful Summer weather with my boys! The sun is shining, the heat is real and thank goodness for swimming pools and ice cream. 🙂

I met this family a few years back and it was so nice seeing them again as they welcomed their new baby girl! Their kids were seriously the sweetest and most well behaved kids ever. And this baby girl… I could have kept her all day here with me. 😀

Most newborn sessions last somewhere between 2-3 hours. What you see here are just a few photos to give you a tiny sample of the goodness that we captured. Newborn photography sessions are usually a mix of photos of baby on his/her own (on the beanbag as well as props such as baskets), family photos, photos of each parent with baby as well as sibling photos. We take time to feed and sooth baby whenever needed. Sessions are never rushed, so you can be assured that you will leave with some beautiful memories that will last you a lifetime (because all of our packages include high resolution digital photos!).

There are lots of tips on how to prepare for a newborn photo session beforehand. I always send clients some guidelines prior to their baby session with suggestions on how to prepare, what to bring, when to feed their newborn baby, what to avoid, etc. That way we can work towards having the newborn photo session go as smooth as possible.

Please feel free to browse through our galleries and take a peek at the different packages that we offer. Thanks for stopping by!

Newborn Photographers – Ottawa Little Wagon Photography

It’s been a while since I sat down to do some blogging and some social media posting! With this beautiful weather and the business that comes with Spring photo sessions, it’s been hard to find a time to sit and do “computer” work for a bit. 😉

This adorable family recently came in to capture some photos of their sweet new baby boy. It is so much fun to include older siblings in these newborn photo sessions. Although it is not always easy to capture those newborn and sibling photos (and I always warn parents that they may not happen if older sibling doesn’t want to cooperate), it is so priceless when we get photos like these.

There are three different packages that I offer for newborn sessions. The first one is a mini session and includes photos of baby only. The other two both includes family photos as well as sibling photos. Some parents choose to have the main focus of the session be on newborn photos and just want to capture a few of the family ones. Some parents prefer capturing mostly photos of the family with just a few of the baby on his/her own. However, the far majority of my clients end up with exactly half and half! Even when parents come to the session with the focus being mainly on one or the other, they end up loving them all. And that makes me so happy… 🙂

After just giving birth, there are many moms who don’t feel their best and feel they should skip any photos with them. With a little encouragement I usually get them to take at least a few photos with their babies. They are sooo precious to have and to keep! Knowing how to angle the camera to capture the best look for momma and baby is key. I absolutely love capturing those sweet tender moments between a mom or a dad and their newborn baby. And the three or four of them is even better!

Please feel free to visit my gallery page and contact me with any questions that you may have. I hope you enjoy scrolling through the blog to see more samples of my work!

Ottawa Newborn Photographer – Smiley baby boy

This sweet little man gave me so many smiles during his newborn photography session in our Ottawa studio! Mr. Adorable came in at about 3 weeks of age for his mini photo session. For those clients who are only looking for a few photos of their newborn baby, the newborn mini session is a great option! With the newborn mini session clients get 10 photos of baby alone. I can tell you that these parents absolutely loved all the smiles we got to capture during their baby photo shoot! I also offer other photography packages that include 20 or 30 photos as well as photos of baby with mom, dad, siblings and family photos. I absolutely love those photos that show the connection between baby and mom/dad. It’s really priceless…

I have been photographing newborns for 7 years now and I am so very grateful and beyond amazed that this is my job! It has taken me years to get to where I am. Learning how to pose baby properly and safely, how to use the right lighting, how to photograph baby from different angles and how to get those perfect details right takes time and practice! But every time I am editing photos from my newborn photo sessions in my Ottawa studio, I have a big smile on my face. 🙂

I always recommend that clients book their newborn photography session a couple of months in advance. However, from time to time I will have last minute availability so it’s never too late to check. Please contact me if you have any questions and feel free to take a look at my newborn gallery by clicking here. Thanks for stopping by and I hope to hear from you soon!

Newborn Photography – Baby Nora

This sweet baby girl was such a darling baby to photograph. One of my farourite type of photos to take during a newborn session are the photos with mom & dad. There’s just so much love in that interaction. Makes me feel blessed to have this job every day. 🙂

Please visit our gallery for more photos of little ones and contact us if you have any questions. You can find all of our packages here. Thanks for stopping by!

Ottawa Newborn Photography – Sweet baby Ella & her big brothers

I was so happy to photograph this sweet family and their adorable new addition. She will be well taken care of with her two big brothers to protect her!

Please visit our gallery to see more of our work. You can see the newborn gallery by clicking here. Thanks for stopping by!

Newborn Photography – Ottawa’s Best Newborn Photographer – sweet baby girl

This little sweetie pie was such a darling to work with (look at those cheeks and eyelashes!). Her session took place at our Ottawa studio but did you know that we also offer newborn sessions at the comfort of your home? Extra fee does apply so please contact us if that is something that interests you and we can give you all of the details.

Please visit our newborn gallery for more samples of our newborn work and thank you for stopping by!