Portrait of Newborn baby girl wearing a pretty green floral outfit and matching headband by Christchurch Newborn Baby & family photographer Kirsten Naomi Photography

CREATE A Legacy OF LOVE

CHRISTCHURCH NEWBORN PHOTOGRAPHER

Newborn Photography: The First Chapter

Your baby will never be this tiny again, and these first moments are precious. Their delicate features, the way they smell, and the way they curl into you so effortlessly. Time moves quickly, but we create a space where it slows down, allowing you to soak in the wonder of this new beginning.

With a calm and supportive approach, we guide you every step of the way, from planning your session to styling and posing, ensuring an experience that is both effortless and meaningful. Our signature style is timeless and refined, capturing these early days with simplicity and warmth.

These photographs are more than memories; they are heirlooms, an artistic reflection of love, connection, and the beginning of your beautiful journey of parenthood. As your baby grows, these images will become even more special, a reminder of just how small they were and how deeply they were loved from the very start.

SKIP TO GALLERY

WHAT TO EXPECT

FAQ

Triptych of Newborn Photographs featuring a baby with a Korowai by Christchurch Newborn Photographer Kirsten Naomi Photogaphy

Our Clients Say

Newborn Baby Girl being cradled by her mother, by Christchurch Maternity, Newborn and Baby Photographer Kirsten Naomi Photography

"We recently had the pleasure of working with Kirsten for a newborn baby photo shoot, and we couldn't be more thrilled with the results. Kirsten's exceptional talent and professionalism truly set her apart as one of the best photographers we have ever come across. From the moment we contacted Kirsten, she exhibited a level of responsiveness and enthusiasm that immediately put us at ease. Her genuine passion for capturing precious moments was evident throughout the entire process. Kirsten went above and beyond to ensure a comfortable and enjoyable experience for both us and our newborn. During the photo shoot, Kirsten's skill and creativity shone through. She effortlessly guided us through various poses and settings, all while maintaining a calm and patient demeanor. Her attention to detail was remarkable, capturing the delicate features and expressions of our baby with an artistic touch that exceeded our expectations. What truly impressed us was Kirsten's ability to create a warm and inviting atmosphere. Our newborn seemed at ease in her presence, resulting in natural and heartwarming photographs that beautifully reflect the essence of this special time in our lives."

Anuj, Google Review of a Newborn Portrait Session

The Experience

Your newborn session is designed to be calm, unhurried, and entirely focused on capturing the beauty of these first days with your little one. Held within the first two weeks, when your baby is still sleepy and curly from the womb, we create an environment where time slows down, allowing you to soak in every detail. From the moment you book, we take care of everything. We have a large collection of vintage-inspired knitwear, delicate bonnets, soft wraps, and beautiful headbands, along with props sourced from around the world. We can style siblings and offer a selection of couture gowns for a more formal and fine-art portrait look. Many of our clients choose to have their hair and makeup professionally styled for the session. We love incorporating personal and cultural pieces, such as your Whānau Korowai, Sari, or a cherished family heirloom, adding layers of meaning to your portraits. Every detail is considered to ensure your session reflects your personal taste and unique story. With extensive training in newborn safety and posing, we handle your baby with the utmost care, creating a collection of timeless portraits that include individual newborn images as well as family and sibling photographs. Sessions typically last up to three hours, giving us the time to work gently around your baby’s natural rhythm, ensuring a relaxed and stress-free experience. We are creating more than just photographs. These images will become treasured family heirlooms, showcasing and preserving the love and wonder of this new beginning.

CALL KIRSTEN

BOOK MY SESSION

FAQ

Are you the kind of person who likes more detail?

The four steps below outline what to expect from your newborn portrait experience, but if you still have questions, let's chat! You can call Kirsten on 027 523 3939 or use the button above.

Newborn Baby and Dad First Pump, Photo by Christchurch Newborn, Maternity and Family Photographer Kirsten Naomi Photography

1. BOOK

Plan ahead

Booking in advance is essential, and we recommend that you book early in your second trimester.

Your session will take place in our beautiful Ferrymead studio within the first 2 weeks of your baby's arrival.

Choose your package

We're transparent — our full pricing is online.

Booking is easy

Just contact us by phone or email.

VIEW PRICING

Newborn Baby Boy in a tiny bed cuddling a grey teddy bear by Christchurch Newborn Photographer Kirsten Naomi Photography

3. SHOOT

When you arrive, we'll have everything ready based on our pre-session consultation. You'll be able to look over our extensive collection of baby clothes and props, and we'll fine-tune our shot list.

We have lots of home comforts, with hot and cold drinks and comfy couches where you can relax (and maybe take a nap) while we are photographing your baby.

CLIENT REVIEWS

Dad with son and newborn baby daughter by Christchurch Newborn, Maternity and Family Photographer Kirsten Naomi Photography

2. PLAN

Pre-session consultation (Phone or Zoom)

This enables us to learn more about you, your family, and anyone else being photographed.

The planning session will cover:

Setting the overall vision for the collection.
Creating a provisional shot list, along with a plan for backgrounds and props.
Creating a wardrobe plan, including any cultural outfits and items we can include.
Strategies for helping young kids feel comfortable on the shoot.
A run-through of what to expect on the shoot day.

VIEW GALLERY

Black and white Portrait of a Baby Boy in his Dads Hands by Christchurch Newborn Baby Photographer Kirsten Naomi Photography

4. SELECT

Your collection will be ready three weeks after your session. Your images will be beautifully edited, printed, and mounted ready for you to take home.

Most clients also choose to purchase wall art and/or some of our beautiful display products.

We'll design your artwork during your viewing appointment, and we'll organise everything else.

Easy.

DISPLAY OPTIONS

BOOK MY SESSION

Collection of framed artwork by Kirsten Naomi Photography

Wall Art

One of the things that makes us different is our focus on helping you create beautiful artwork for your home.

We know you're busy, so we do all the hard work in designing, creating, and even delivering your artwork. So all you need to do is hang it on the wall (and we can recommend someone for that too).

All of our wall art is heirloom quality, designed to be passed down to your children. We use the highest-quality materials, and our team includes a Master Framer with decades of experience.

Don't worry if you don't have room for frames on your wall; we also offer albums and our unique portrait boxes, which are beautiful, high quality and space-efficient.

LEARN MORE

Qualifications

Qualified Newborn Photographer

Accredited with Newborn Photographers International since 2018

Accredited Professional Photographer

New Zealand Institute of Professional Photography

Associate Accredited Photographer

International Portrait Masters

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Triptych of Newborn Photographs featuring a baby in a vintage blue romper and bonnet by Christchurch Newborn Photographer Kirsten Naomi Photogaphy

Baby Safety

Your baby's comfort and safety is our top priority. We have completed extensive training in the safe handling and posing of newborn babies.

LEARN MORE

Portrait of Newborn baby girl sleeping with her hands tucked under her face while being cradled by her parents by Christchurch Newborn Baby & Family photographer Kirsten Naomi Photography

FAQ

We aim to hold the session while your baby is very new and still used to being tucked up inside — usually between days 5 and 14 after birth.

Because we can’t predict when your baby will choose to make an entrance, we make a provisional booking on your due date and update this to a confirmed appointment time after they have arrived.

We know it can feel daunting to leave the house with a brand new baby, so we have made our studio easy to access, with parking at the door, and very comfortable with everything you might need.

You can find more general session and pricing information HERE.

Yes, you should always book in advance.

To deliver the exceptional service and personalised attention we are known for, we limit the number of sessions we schedule each month. Consequently, while we occasionally have last-minute openings, we strongly advise booking early to secure your preferred date.

We recommend booking your newborn photography session early in your second trimester. Early booking helps ensure we can accommodate your preferred dates and provide the bespoke experience our clients love.

You can find more general session and pricing information HERE.

The session will take place in our beautiful studio in Ferrymead, Christchurch where we don't have to worry about the weather and have great light at all times.

We like to keep babies and their families warm and comfortable and to make the session really easy for you.

We also love studio portraits because they are classic and will stand the test of time. We use multiple outfits and can change the backdrop to get lots of variety in your collection.

You might like to view our newborn gallery.

We will discuss this during your style consultation to ensure you feel prepared for your session. This will include discussing what to wear and planning the style of photographs we are going to take.

You may like to read our Tips for Planning the Perfect Newborn Portrait Session, which was originally featured in Issue 15 of 'Pregnancy Bump and Baby Magazine'.

However, leaving all prep aside, our goal is to create a calm relaxed environment where you can simply enjoy the moment.

You might like to check out some of our award winning photographs HERE.

You might also like to view our handy preparation guides HERE

Absolutely! It’s completely normal to feel nervous, but we specialise in creating a relaxed and supportive environment.

We are very experienced when it comes to photographing newborns with their family will guide you through the session. We use clever posing and great lighting to show you at your best and ensure you have photographs with your new baby that you will love and treasure.

We encourage you to take advantage of the opportunity for professionally taken family photos — even if you feel nervous about it. As a parent you will take lots of photos of your children, but so often we end up with very few photos with ourselves in them. Many of our clients (sometimes to their surprise) find the family photographs are their favourite and these are most often chosen for framed wall art.

Women:

We have a client wardrobe with many gowns, bodysuits, and flowing fabrics that are ideal for a maternity portrait session. Our wardrobe includes options to suit a wide range of figures and personal styles.
We recommend you bring a range of underwear, including smooth natural coloured pants and bra, a strapless bra, and some more lacy items if you wish them to be photographed on show.
Many client choose to bring additional outfit options from home, such as jeans and a shirt.
Cultural items should be provided by the client. We love to include korowai, sari and other cultural items in your session, so please bring these with you. You may like to view our blog on Photographing Korowai.

Babies and Children:

We provide everything for your newborn, so there is not need to purchase anything for the session. This includes all outfits, props, headbands and textiles.
We can provide shorts and tee's for children up to the age of seven; and
Our client wardrobe include a range of dresses for children of all ages.
Cultural items should be provided by the client. We love to photograph korowai, special dresses, sari and other items that are special for your family
We love to include special items in your session, such as heirloom blankets, so please bring these with you.

Men:

We do not currently have options for men in our client wardrobe. Simple white or black fitted t-shirts and jeans photograph nicely and work alongside most gowns.

Tips for bringing your own wardrobe options:

Avoid busy patterns, logos, or overly trendy styles, as these can date your photos.
Please ensure that your clothes are clean and pressed (if required) as wrinkles are difficult to remove naturally in photoshop.

We'll discuss styling and will help you choose what works best during your session. You may like to view our Galleries to see examples of outfits that have photographed well.

Your portraits will be carefully curated and professionally retouched and ready for you to view approximately three weeks after your session.

You’ll receive your final images in both digital and printed format and most clients also choose to add on some framed wall art of their favourite portraits, or perhaps a portrait box, or an album.

All of our artworks are designed to become cherished family heirlooms, we use the highest quality materials and experienced craftspeople to create your final pieces.

You can learn more about the experience we offer and what to expect HERE.