Toronto Newborn Photography: Planning Your First Portraits
Their first days. Your family’s next chapter.
The little hands, the soft expressions, the way your newborn fits into this new chapter of family life—these details change so quickly. At Bellevie, we create newborn portraits for Toronto families who want to remember the beginning, and return to those photographs with joy as their family grows.
Our newborn sessions take place in our studio only. We do not currently offer in-home newborn photography. Find us near Highway 7 and Leslie Street, close to Highway 404, in Richmond Hill.
When should you book newborn photography?
We recommend contacting us during pregnancy, ideally one to three months before your expected delivery date. For the photography appointment, we generally recommend around day 10 after birth, often within 10–15 days and usually before 20 days.
Newborn photography is a separate service from our Baby sessions, which are for around 100 days to two years old. The setups, planning and approach are different, so choose the newborn service when enquiring about your newborn’s first portraits.
Two ways to plan your appointment
A flexible weekday booking: date to be confirmed
If you can attend on different weekdays, ask about a TBD booking. You make the required booking payment ahead of time, with the exact date to be confirmed after your newborn arrives. Contact us promptly after the birth so we can coordinate an appointment together.
This option works best when your family has weekday flexibility. The final appointment depends on both your availability and ours; a particular weekday is not guaranteed.
A fixed date, with one complimentary reschedule
You may also reserve a specific appointment in advance. If you need to change it, one complimentary reschedule is available with at least seven days’ notice before the booked photography appointment, subject to mutual availability.
This notice period relates to your photography appointment, not your due date. For shorter-notice requests, contact us and refer to your booking terms. We aim to offer flexibility while making sure the new date works for everyone.
Why age, size and sleep affect your photographs
Our newborn arrangements are small, purpose-built portrait setups. Your newborn’s size affects which backgrounds, wraps and props are suitable. Planning within our recommended early window can give you more choice among the setups you prefer.
Many familiar sleepy newborn poses also depend on your newborn being naturally settled and asleep. Photographing in the early weeks may offer more opportunities for these images, but every newborn is different. We cannot promise deep sleep, a specific pose or the same range of poses shown in a sample gallery.
What if my newborn is over 20 days old?
You can still enquire about photographs. Please tell us your newborn’s age before booking and be comfortable with the limitations: some smaller backgrounds and props may no longer fit, and the available poses may be more limited. We will discuss suitable choices rather than assuming every setup can be used.
What if my newborn stays awake?
Open eyes are completely fine. Awake portraits can preserve lovely expressions and are valid finished photographs, even though their look differs from the classic sleepy newborn portrait. Families should be comfortable receiving awake photographs; some sleep-dependent poses will not be possible while a newborn is awake.
A soft pink and floral portrait story
In this featured series, a pink wrap, delicate floral accents and a muted pink background create a gentle, coordinated palette. Wider photographs show the arrangement, while closer portraits bring attention to little hands, wrap textures and quiet expressions.
Share the images you love when planning your visit. We can discuss current newborn setups and which options suit your newborn and chosen package. The photographs are inspiration, rather than a promise of identical poses.
Editing and retouching: both are finished products
Edited photographs are complete, finished images. At Bellevie, editing includes cropping and adjustments to colour, contrast and sharpness, along with our colour styling. Edited does not mean RAW, unfinished or awaiting skin retouching.
Retouching is an additional level of finishing. It includes digital skin enhancement and subtle body fine-tuning according to your preferences. For newborns, this may mean softening temporary blemishes or uneven skin tones. Your newborn is beautiful exactly as they are; retouching is a personal aesthetic choice. Tell us if you prefer no alterations to skin, face or body.
Our newborn service starts with edited images. Where your package includes retouched images, these form an additional finished selection. Before reserving, check the current package for image quantities, retouching inclusions and the selection process.
Do you provide RAW or exposure-corrected files?
We do not provide RAW files. These contain camera sensor data and generally require compatible processing software; they are different from the finished edited photographs you receive.
Exposure-corrected images are another category: intermediate selection files with basic exposure adjustment and, where appropriate, cropping, before full colour editing or retouching. Bellevie uses these in certain services, such as maternity and business portraits, for selecting retouched photographs. They are not the standard first delivery for our newborn sessions.
Why our studio gives your family more choice
Our studio brings newborn setups and a larger family portrait space together in one place. With options such as Premium and Gold, you can combine newborn photographs with family portraits: depending on your chosen package, this can mean one or two newborn setups alongside a family portrait session. Check the current package combinations before reserving.
Keeping our range of setup materials at the studio gives you more options to discuss than a single backdrop transported to a home. However, each scene must be assembled manually; our full selection is not permanently set up and ready to use.
Please confirm your preferred setups before the photography date. This lets us prepare them before your appointment so your selected scenes are ready when you arrive. If you change your mind on the day, ask our team: we may be able to accommodate another suitable setup, depending on preparation time, materials and the session arrangements. A same-day switch is not guaranteed.
Clean fabrics and a thoughtfully maintained studio
We understand why hygiene matters when you are bringing in a newborn. Fabrics used for your session are clean for each use: our routine includes washing and UV cleaning for the fabrics that come into contact with your newborn’s skin.
We also carry out routine studio cleaning and use UV air-cleaning equipment as part of our studio hygiene measures. Our team normally wears masks for newborn sessions, and you are welcome to request mask use. Please share any specific concerns before your visit so we can discuss your family’s needs.
Before your studio visit
Let us know your expected delivery date when enquiring, then update us after your newborn arrives. Ask for newborn-specific preparation instructions and discuss feeding, changing and comfort needs before the appointment. On the day, we respond to how your newborn is doing, including time needed for settling within the session arrangements.
If you would like parents or siblings included, choose a package that accommodates your preferred combinations. Newborns, children and adults each count as members; confirm the package allowance and any additional-member arrangements before booking.
Your privacy matters. We share photographs on our website, social media or marketing materials only with your permission. Otherwise, they remain private and are used only as needed for our normal service workflow.
Newborn portraits for Toronto families, at our studio
Bellevie is at Unit 25, 175 West Beaver Creek Road, Richmond Hill, near Highway 7 and Leslie Street and close to Highway 404. We welcome families from Toronto, including North York and Scarborough, as well as nearby Markham and Vaughan and across the Greater Toronto Area. Newborn sessions are currently studio-based; in-home sessions are not available.
Explore our newborn packages and current booking information, or email info@bellevieco.ca with your expected timing and questions. We would be honoured to help you remember this beginning—and the family story that follows.
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