If I could choose only 5 things to take to a newborn session, it would be this list! Honestly there are so many reasons why I love simple gear and props but the most important is: it relaxes the parents and doesn’t feel overwhelming. Props are beautiful but I prefer simple, organic and natural poses where the baby isn’t stressed and the session can be finished within an hour. Speed and simplicity is so important for the parents during this time. They are lacking sleep and trying to find a new routine so anything I can do to make it easy is so very important.

• Canon 5D Mark IV -camera body -I have used the Mark III for years and loved that camera body as well. The IV is so much better for shooting videos.

• 50 mm 1.2 lens -This lens is on my camera 99% of the time for a newborn session. If I could only choose one lens, this would be it.

• 100 macro lens -I love how this lens allows me to capture those tiny details in a new way. Eyelashes, toes, lips…it’s wonderful for portraits too if I’m in a pinch.

• white swaddle or wrap -I take a white swaddled with me to every newborn. There is something so simple about white and it doesn’t give the baby’s new skin and contract of color. It also dubs as a solid background if I need one.

• solid background -I prefer white, grey or cream for a background. I just have a reasonably priced run from Amazon. This gives me such a creamy background. It doesn’t distract from the baby and are colors that will match any home and decor.