I absolutely love in-home newborn sessions! There’s something really special about being welcomed into your home and documenting your beautiful family in the place that you call home. There is no more comforable place than home for you and your new precious baby.
I wanted to share a guide so that you feel fully prepared for the day of your newborn session. You will be sleep deprived and still recovering from childbirth, so I hope this gives you some clarity leading up to your newborn photography session date. Parents often find themselves stressing over their baby and if they’ll cooperate for their session. Going into your newborn session prepared will help make the experience as enjoyable and as seamless as possible!
Before your baby arrives, we will schedule a tentative session date based off of your due date. If you are having a scheduled c-section, we can chose the actual session date. You will complete the Newborn Session Questionnaire and share your color choices so I can customize a newborn session for you. I put together premium wraps, headbands, bonnets and props to create a look that you’ll find similar to my portfolio. You will want this art displayed on your walls for years to come!
You will then contact me within 24-48 hours after baby’s arrival to schedule the actual session date and time. I offer studio newborn or in-home newborn sessions. Not sure which type of newborn session is right for you? You can read more about the benefits of each here.
Newborn sessions are offered during the week and in the morning hours when babies are sleepiest and siblings are most cooperative. I recommend newborn sessions to be scheduled within 2-4 weeks after birth when baby is sleepiest and most flexible for all of the cute little prompts I will guide you and your baby through. Since my style is more lifestyle versus posed newborn, I do not require newborns to be just a few days old. I can still capture plenty of wrapped poses and lifestyle shots to create beautiful memories.
Prep Your Locations
I will be looking for the areas with the largest amount of space and the most natural light. The most used areas for in-home newborn sessions are the nursery, master bedroom and living room. When using the master bedroom for the newborn solo photos as well as for lifestyle photos with Mom and Dad, having a white, cream, light colored bedding is preferred.
Do not stress about professionally cleaning. We are only going to be in two to three locations, so your entire house doesn’t need to be spotless. Please put away clutter so that we have space for the photography, and avoid messy backgrounds.
Lighting
Natural light is my favorite light to work with. I love capturing your new babe and family in the natural light in your home. We will be embracing your home’s natural light. I recommend opening all the curtains/blinds and turning off overhead lights so we can take advantage of the natural brightness. I’ll place you all next to windows as much as possible — we will take full advantage of the light coming into your house. I may even have you text me photos of the spaces you like to be photographed at the time of day we plan to shoot, so that we have a good idea of what spaces are optimal at that time.
Temperature
Babies love warmth, so I recommend turning up your heat. I will bring a sound machine and have your baby wrapped in one of my premium swaddle blankets. The warmth, paired with the swaddling and white noise will create a calm and gentle environment.
Right before I am scheduled to arrive, I recommend giving your baby a full feeding. Feeding your baby before your session is one of the most important factors when preparing for your session. A full baby is a happy baby and babe should be quite sleepy after a nice full feeding. Rest assured that we will take as many feeding breaks as your baby needs during your session.
Please dress baby in just a diaper with blankets over them or clothes that are very easy to take off. A zipper sleeper is great. NOTHING that goes over the head.
Have diapers, wipes and a burp cloth handy. Also, bring along a pacifier if your baby is using one. A pacifier can be very helpful with soothing during the transition of different poses if they do wake.
Your child’s safety is my number 1 priority. I will not attempt any unnatural poses that I do not feel comfortable with. As a Mother to 5 children, and with 6 years of experience as a professional newborn photographer, I am skilled in soothing a baby and am focused on keeping them safe and comfortable throughout the session.
Newborn sessions last up to 2 hours. If you are having sibling photos taken, I always complete this part of the session first. This allows Dad to step away with any older siblings during the rest of the session, as they typically become restless while waiting for their new sibling’s photos to be taken. It is best to have minimal noise and distraction so that baby is not startled.
Having family photos during your newborn session and not sure what to wear? I recommend neutral, cream tones and soft hues for an intimate look. All clients will have full access to my curated client closet which is filled with various sizes and silhouettes that are perfect for your postpartum body! Be sure to wear nude undergarments and bring a strapless bra. Keep in mind your nails will be in the photos so you may want to remove any chipped or overly bright polish.
One thing is for sure; you’ll never regret being able to look back on those precious memories of your newborn baby. I still have my wall adorned with all of my daughter’s newborn photos and will always cherish their teeny tiny features.
