As much as we all love a bit of sunshine, heatwaves can understandably leave new parents wondering whether it's safe to attend a newborn photography session.
The simple answer is yes – provided the environment is suitable and the session is adapted to the conditions. Above all else, your baby's wellbeing should always come first.
Why Hot Weather Needs Special Consideration
Newborn babies cannot regulate their body temperature as efficiently as older children and adults. They can become too warm surprisingly quickly and, unlike us, they have very limited ways of cooling themselves down. Overheating is generally considered a greater risk for newborns than becoming slightly cool, which is why careful observation and adapting the session to the conditions is so important.That's why any experienced newborn photographer should continually assess not only the baby, but also the environment throughout the session.
The Importance of a Suitable Studio Environment
I am fortunate that my Warwickshire studio has lovely thick walls and generally stays much cooler than the temperatures outside. During a heatwave, however, I still take additional precautions. Fans are used to keep the air circulating and help everyone stay comfortable, and sessions may begin earlier in the morning before the day's heat builds.
Throughout every session I continually assess the whole environment rather than relying on the thermometer alone. I consider room temperature, airflow, humidity and, most importantly, how baby is responding.
As a rough guide, many newborn photographers recommend warming the posing area or studio to around 26–28°C, particularly when creating posed newborn portraits where babies may spend longer wearing only a nappy or no clothing at all.
Those recommendations work well under normal conditions, helping to keep an unclothed baby comfortable throughout the session. However, during a typical British heatwave the situation can be quite different. High humidity can make a room feel much warmer and more uncomfortable than the thermometer alone suggests, and a studio may continue to warm throughout a long session despite fans and other cooling measures.
My own approach is therefore slightly different during our British heatwaves. Rather than trying to maintain a particular room temperature, I adapt the session to suit the conditions. I will often start sessions earlier in the morning and use lighter wraps, more natural poses and plenty of feeding and cuddling breaks.
On very hot days, relaxed, baby-led posing often takes priority over more structured posing, as this involves less handling and repositioning, helping everyone remain more comfortable in the heat.
Even when outside temperatures climb into the mid-30s, my studio will often remain at a naturally occurring temperature of around 24–25°C, which I find comfortable during periods of hot weather. Once the studio reaches these levels, I begin introducing additional precautions and monitor baby's comfort even more closely. If the studio temperature were to rise to around 27°C or above, and I felt I could no longer maintain a comfortable environment for baby, parents, siblings and myself, I would postpone the session until conditions improve.
Every baby is different of course, so no thermometer can replace professional judgement and careful observation of each baby's comfort
It's important to remember of course that the temperatures I've mentioned above relate specifically to a professionally supervised newborn photography session, where baby's comfort is continually monitored for a short time. They should not be confused with the recommended room temperatures for a baby's everyday environment at home. For sleeping, always follow the latest NHS, health visitor and The Lullaby Trust guidance. They recommend keeping your baby's room at around 16–20°C where possible, using lighter clothing and bedding in hot weather, and regularly checking your baby for signs of overheating. If your baby's room becomes warmer than this during a heatwave, continue to follow their advice on dressing your baby appropriately and keeping the room as cool as you safely can.
It's Not Just About Baby
Although newborn safety is always the priority, a very hot studio affects everyone.
Parents can become overheated and anxious, toddlers and older siblings can become irritable and upset, and even photographers can find their concentration and energy levels affected by excessive heat.
A calm, comfortable environment makes for a much more enjoyable experience for everybody and usually results in better photographs too.
Starting Earlier Can Make a Big Difference
During particularly warm weather, I will often suggest an earlier session start time. Beginning before the day's temperatures have had a chance to build can make everyone significantly more comfortable and allows us to work at a more relaxed pace.
A little flexibility can go a long way during a heatwave.
Adapting the Session for Warmer Weather
Heatwaves sometimes mean making a few changes to the usual newborn workflow. Rather than using lots of layers, wraps and frequent posing changes, I tend to:
Use lighter fabrics where appropriate
Keep wrapping to an absolute minimum
Create more relaxed, lifestyle-inspired images
Reduce handling and repositioning
Allow for even more feeding and cuddle breaks than usual
Follow baby's cues very closely throughout the session
Sometimes the simplest photographs become the most beautiful.
Tiny details, peaceful expressions and natural family interactions often tell the most meaningful story.
Signs That a Baby May Be Becoming Too Warm
Throughout every session I continually observe baby's appearance and behaviour. Signs that a newborn may be becoming overheated can include:
Flushed, red or blotchy skin
Sweating or damp hair
Rapid or heavy breathing
Restlessness or unusual fussiness
Becoming difficult to settle
Feeling hot to the touch
Lethargy or seeming unusually sleepy and difficult to rouse
Feeding less enthusiastically than usual
Should any of these signs appear, it is important to stop, cool the environment and allow baby to cool down and, if needed, feed or enjoy some skin-to-skin cuddles with a parent before deciding whether to continue.
Safety Always Comes First
After nearly twenty years of professionally photographing newborns, one thing has never changed: every decision I make during a session is based around baby's comfort and safety.
Beautiful photographs are important, but they are always secondary to your baby's wellbeing. If that means simplifying setups, taking additional breaks, starting earlier in the day or even postponing the session altogether, then that is exactly what I will do.
Because while heatwaves eventually pass, your baby's safety and comfort will always be my number one priority.
If your baby is due this summer and you have any questions about newborn photography during warmer weather, please don't hesitate to get in touch. I'm always happy to explain the steps I take to keep my tiniest clients – and their families – safe, comfortable and relaxed throughout their session.