One of the most common worries I hear from new parents in Calgary goes something like this: “Our baby cries so much. Should we even bother booking a session?” If that sounds familiar, take a deep breath. Newborn photos with a colicky baby are not only possible, they happen in my studio all the time, and the galleries are just as beautiful as any other. After photographing hundreds of newborns, I have built my entire session structure around the reality that some babies need extra soothing, extra time, and extra patience. Here is exactly how I do it.
Why Newborn Photos with a Colicky Baby Still Turn Out Beautifully
Colic and reflux feel enormous when you are living through them at 3 a.m., but from a photographer’s perspective, they are simply variables to plan around. A colicky baby is still a baby with impossibly tiny fingers, soft newborn hair, and that sleepy squish that disappears far too quickly. My job is to work with your baby, never against them.
I am not the only photographer who feels this way. Fellow Calgary photographer Tiara Tran wrote a lovely piece confirming that a colic baby can absolutely have newborn photos taken, and my experience matches hers completely. The difference between a stressful session and a peaceful one is not the baby. It is how the session is designed.
You can see the proof in my newborn photography portfolio. Many of those serene, curled-up babies spent part of their session crying, feeding, or being walked around the studio in my arms. You would never know it from the final images, and that is the point.
Photographing a Fussy Newborn Starts with Timing Around Feeds
When I am photographing a fussy newborn, the schedule matters more than anything else. I ask parents to give baby a full feed right when they arrive at the studio, not before leaving home. A baby who eats in my warm, dim, quiet space tends to drift into a deeper sleep than one who ate 40 minutes ago and woke up during the car ride.
How I handle a newborn session with reflux
A newborn session with reflux needs one extra ingredient: time upright after every feed. Reflux babies who are laid down too quickly will spit up, become uncomfortable, and cry. So I build in a 15 to 20 minute upright window after each feed before we attempt any posing. During that window, I photograph details instead. Tiny toes, eyelashes, the curve of an ear, dad’s hands cradling baby against his chest. Nothing about that time is wasted.
Feeding on demand, always
I never ask parents to stretch a hungry baby to fit my timeline. If your little one wants to eat three times during the session, we pause three times. Comfort feeds, top-ups, and snack feeds are all welcome. A settled tummy is the foundation of every sleepy pose you have ever admired.
How Photographers Soothe Babies During Sessions: My Upright Break System
Parents often ask how photographers soothe babies during sessions, and the honest answer is that we use the same tools you do, just with a few refinements that come from repetition. In my studio, soothing is not an interruption to the session. It is part of the session.
- Upright soothing breaks: The moment a baby signals discomfort, I stop shooting and we bring baby upright against a shoulder. For colicky babies, gentle pressure on the tummy combined with a slow sway works wonders.
- Warmth everywhere: I keep the studio around 26 degrees, warm my blankets, and warm my hands before every transition. Cold surfaces are the fastest way to wake a settled baby.
- White noise: A steady shushing sound runs through the entire session, mimicking the womb and softening any sudden noises.
- Slow transitions: I move babies between poses in small, patient steps, keeping my hands on them so they always feel secure.
Everything about my Calgary studio was set up with unsettled babies in mind, from the temperature control to the comfortable feeding chair where parents can relax with a coffee while I work. Spokane photographer Britt Harvey put it well when she explained what happens if a newborn cries through the photoshoot: crying is normal, expected, and never a session-ender for an experienced newborn photographer.
Why My Unhurried Session Length Exists for Exactly This Reason
This is the part I want every worried parent to hear. My newborn sessions are intentionally long, often three to four hours, and colic is one of the biggest reasons why. When there is no clock ticking, a 30 minute soothing break costs us nothing. A cluster feed costs us nothing. A diaper blowout followed by a full outfit change costs us nothing.
Quick 45 minute sessions simply cannot absorb a colicky baby’s needs, which is why rushed formats so often end in stress for everyone. A fussy baby in an unhurried session still produces a full, gorgeous gallery. A fussy baby in a rushed session produces panic. This philosophy shapes my entire approach to luxury newborn photography in Calgary: the experience should feel calm for you, your baby, and me.
What I ask of parents
Honestly, very little. Arrive with a hungry baby, dress in something comfortable, and then hand the hard work over to me. Many parents of colicky babies tell me the session was the most relaxed few hours they had all month, because for once, someone else was doing the soothing. If your baby arrived early or late and you are unsure about timing, my post on when to schedule newborn photos if your baby comes early or late walks through how flexible scheduling really is.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will a colicky baby mean fewer photos in my gallery?
No. Because my sessions are unhurried, soothing breaks do not reduce your gallery. I photograph details and parent poses during fussy stretches and return to sleepy poses once baby settles, so you receive a complete collection either way.
Should I reschedule if my baby is having a particularly bad colic week?
Usually not, since colic rarely follows a predictable calendar and babies often behave differently in my warm, dark, white-noise-filled studio than at home. That said, I always stay flexible, and we can talk through options if you are worried.
What should I bring to a newborn session with reflux?
Bring extra feeds, burp cloths, a spare outfit for yourself, and any comfort items like a soother if you use one. I handle everything else, including blankets, wraps, props, and all the patience your baby needs.
If you are expecting a little one in Calgary or the surrounding areas and want a newborn experience built around your baby’s needs rather than a stopwatch, I would be honoured to photograph your family. At Amanda Dams Photography, I specialize in luxury newborn and maternity sessions where fussy, colicky, and reflux babies are welcomed with warm blankets and unlimited patience. Take a look at my work, and when you are ready, reach out through my contact page so we can plan a session where the only thing you need to do is relax.
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