What to expect with an In-home Newborn Session and ways to get the best results

In-home newborn sessions have become very popular over the last couple of years. These generally have lifestyle photography feel to them. What does that mean exactly? Well that they feel like a moment captured from real life. Less staged. Lifestyle photography is currently the only style I offer with my newborn sessions; these can be done in a studio or the client’s home. For this blog post, I am going to focus on what to expect with an in-home newborn session and ways to get the best results.

What to expect

After just having a baby, getting ready (I am talking showered, and makeup done) can make you feel like a new woman. However, needing to get out the door, loading everyone into the car and getting to a studio by a certain time can become stressful. Not all newborns like their car seats and car rides in the beginning. This is where the idea of a more relaxed experience in your own home becomes really appealing to some people. You still get ready, and maybe some areas of the home have been tidied a bit, but the photographer comes to you.

These sessions generally take place in the nursery capturing all those little details of the room and decor (since you went to the trouble to make it just perfect). Other common areas are the primary bedroom and the living room. With an in-home newborn session, the focus is really on authentic emotions and feelings. This means all the snuggles between the baby and the family. Of course, photos of just the baby are taken too. Documenting all the features, the hand, the lips, those sweet baby toes (they get me every time). When I am taking photos of just the baby, I like to do so in a large basket, with baby cozy and swaddled and me shooting from above. This way we are able to get some newborn photos that can have that traditional newborn style look.

 

Tips for the best results with an in-home newborn session

Don’t stress about things. The baby may cry, may need changes, may need feedings that is all okay. A good photographer should know these things and be patient with the session. As a mama to two of my own, and one on the way, I get all the things. Try to keep your routine as normal as possible if you have established one at all. Keep baby awake for about 45 minutes before the session begins, and feed baby right before (typically during the 15 minutes before the session begins).

Keep things in the home as calm as you can during the session. This means if you have pets that are not great with visitors plan to have them put away and out of sight from the photographer, so they don’t make a lot of commotion. If they are chill and you want them included, then I am always down for that. They are the fur babies after all. If there are other siblings make sure they are ready as well. I like to do family photos first so then the siblings can go play or watch some special tv during the remainder of the shoot. This way they don’t have to wait and get antsy.

The great thing about Lifestyle photography is that it is just that, capturing life. The real things that take place within a home. This can be messy, or there can be crying but it’s perfect the way it is. The newborn stage is so special, and it happens so fast, truly it can feel like a whirlwind and an out-of-body experience at times. This is why as a mother and a photographer I enjoy capturing these moments for my clients. In this blog post, I talked about what to expect with an in-home newborn session and ways to get the best result.

 

If you are interested in my newborn services or have more questions I would love to chat!