How to Prepare for an At Home Newborn Session
I have been photographing this family for five years now and it is always a joy to see them. I’m so excited that I got to capture their newest addition to the family. It truly is always an honor to document the growth of my clients’ families over the years. I love this session so much and I wanted to use it as an opportunity to blog about how to prepare for an in home newborn session.
Schedule your at-home newborn session in the first month after birth
Because I do lifestyle sessions and limited props, you can wait a few days or even weeks before getting your newborn shots. Newborns tend to be sleepier those first few weeks, so some new families prefer to do it sooner. But if you wait until a month or so after birth, the baby may have his eyes open more and everyone will be feeling a little more relaxed. However, if you want to incorporate a propped image of your little one, you will need to schedule the session within the first 10-14 days of delivery.
Schedule the session in the early morning
The best time for an at-home newborn session is during the daylight, and usually in the morning hours. I always suggest 9 AM – 11 am, since this gives us the best morning light, and it can often mean a well-rested little one.
Choose rooms with natural light
Natural light is the best lighting since it allows for a soft glow. I suggest picking a room that has brighter light and having the blinds open. We will be embracing your home’s unique decor and style, so don’t worry about adding more lights. We will use the natural light of the rooms. We will keep you close to the windows, and we can move around the home to find the best lighting.
Your home doesn’t have to be spotless or perfect
Don’t worry about keeping it spotless. While we want to limit the clutter in the backdrop, some clutter is expected. It’s your home, and it’s supposed to look lived in. We can move furniture around if needed, and we don’t need a ton of space. I like to focus on the baby’s room and parents’ room. I do suggest making the bed and adding some cozy blankets and pillows for some texture and color! Simple crib shots of the baby are so cozy and provide a great blank canvas to show off the nursery. My client’s home was under construction, so we shot this entire session in the master bedroom and we still got a lot of variety. This is not the first time I have shot in one room. I use the rooms that have the best light. If only one room gets an abundance of light, we will maximize the use of that room.
Focus on neutral colors
When it comes to the outfits, for both parents and the newborn, I suggest keeping them neutral. Think creams, soft blues, blush, and gray. This way, the colors don’t reflect too much on the skin, and the focus can be on you all and not the outfits. I also suggest keeping some of the bedding in the crib lighter colors. But of course, if your nursery is colorful, that is fine as well! I love a pop of color, especially in the pillows and artwork. The pop of orange on the bed for this session is such a fun touch. I incorporated rust and earth tones for the baby to coordinate with the colors of this home.
Feed the baby before the session
While this might make the newborn a little sleepy, it will also give us a happier little one! Don’t worry if you have to change or feed mid-session. The joy of doing the session in your home is that you can be comfortable! Many new mommas like to have some nursing pictures as well.
Don’t worry about posing
As a photographer, I focus my at-home newborn sessions on capturing everything in the moment. I won’t pose or stage too much. I will just give you a few prompts to get comfortable, and let the love do the rest! I love to capture this moment in real-time, with an intimate look into your beautiful family.
For props, I leave that up to the parents. If you have any items you want to be used, we can absolutely include them! This sometimes includes baskets, bowls, headbands, hats, swaddles, or toys. If you request a propped photo, I do limit it to one so we have time to capture those intimate family moments.
Have a few outfits ready
I bring along outfits for the baby and I have a client closet with dresses for moms. I suggest having a back up outfit on hand for toddler aged siblings and I can bring more than one dress from the coset for moms as a backup. If you are using your own outfits for the baby, it is a good idea to have at least two. This is to give your gallery variety and in case there are some accidents, or they need to be changed. You can choose to just have them swaddled, in their diaper, or in a cute outfit.