What exactly are in-home newborn photos? The main options for newborn photos are studio and in-home. Instead of packing up the diaper bag + toting babe to a heated studio, you get to stay in the comforts of your own home. Baby feeding supplies, postpartum care, siblings toys (for breaks) are all at your fingertips. I don’t know about you, but it was a major accomplishment getting a newborn out of the house i.e. to our first pediatrician appointment. So being able to stay at home can make the task a little less daunting.

The push for more authentic, natural + nostalgic photos.

There has been a huge increase since I started photography with moms and families looking for more authentic + nostalgic photos. In-home newborn photos offer just that. Your newborn pics will not look exactly like your neighbor or best friends. Including some documentary elements is always fun to (things you would usually do with your newborn that naturally unfold without the photographer “bossing you around” aka prompting.

Tip 1: Plan the spaces/rooms you may use with your photographer

The typical rooms that I use for a newborn session are living room, master/primary bedroom and nursery. However, depending on the lighting etc we may use rooms such as a kitchen. I typically like to do baby’s solo shots on the parents bed and/or in the nursery (i.e. crib, bassinet etc). If you have enough time it can be super helpful to send pictures or videos to your photographer to help with planning prior to baby arriving. And bonus-you don’t have to worry about cleaning the entire house! Think about what sheets/background you may want to have in the crib and/or parents bed. Sometimes parents forget this detail and have a busy comforter that doesn’t always jive the best. Typically if that is the case, we can just remove the comforter and use a plain sheet or a large quilt/blanket.

Tip 2: Have a relaxed “usual” morning

Ok, I get that it feels a little out of the ordinary when someone else is going to be at your house pointing a camera at you. But as much as you can go through your usual morning routine with your baby, the better. The flexibility of having the session at your own home reduces the pressure of having everything done and needing baby to be “ready” and acting angelic. Mama can feed baby during the session or rock baby in rocking chair or dad can walk around the house holding babe. Some of my favorite newborn sessions are the ones that parents put a record on and drink some coffee together. Not only does this capture a “usual morning”, but it also makes parents feel relaxed. And when parents are relaxed, generally baby is more relaxed. Older siblings typically relax more if they are able to read or play off and on throughout our session.

Tip 3: Pick out comfortable and casual outfits

Typically since you will be at home, you will want to pick out outfits that aren’t too formal. I have had moms wear jeans (good for them!), legging/yoga type pants and maxi dresses. I love cute little rompers and onesies for baby. If you would like to have your baby swaddled, I always think a loose swaddle/blanket can be cute. I typically don’t do a tight burrito swaddle (unless requested) because I love to have baby’s little fingers and toes available for detail shots and of course holding and kissing. The same general tips apply to newborn photos as other family photo sessions. Avoid overly matching outfits, mix textures/materials, avoid large floral/logos, take off your apple watch;) Here is a blog about what to wear for newborn photos if you want more details. If you are a mama that is breastfeeding, it may be helpful to wear something that is easily accessible for any nursing.

Tip 4: Don’t rush to book your session!

Typically for studio posed sessions, photographers recommend scheduling your session at 5-8 days after birth (to ensure baby is nice and sleepy/cuddly). However, for an in-home (lifestyle) session, there is a lot of flexibility. Your baby doesn’t need to fit into a bucket or basket. You will be holding them, cuddling them, feeding them etc. Give yourself time to get settled at home!

Tip 5: Prepare older siblings or other family members

Try to leave your anxiety and control out of this. I think every mom worries about whether their other kids (or even partners) will “behave”. The funny thing about that is that the more parents try to control older siblings, the worse things usually go.

Being at home typically makes it easier on older siblings. They are already comfortable and they have access to their room and toys. They also can easily take breaks during the session (because no toddlers attention span is that long). Here are some phrases you can use with your child(ren) to help them understand what they are about to experience.

Here are some things you can share with your child:

“We are so excited that you are a (big brother/sister) now! I want to remember forever how big you are and how little (baby’s name) is. We have a special friend coming over to take photos of our family. Her name is (photographer’s name, and you get to be included the pictures with mommy and daddy too! Isn’t that fun? She is going to be here for a couple of hours and will need your help to create some pretty photos of us! I can’t wait!”

Avoid saying things like “you had better smile” or “don’t do your weird smile” or continuously practicing can make the situation seem boring. However, staying positive, upbeat and gentle as you explain what is going to happen can really help your child look forward to having photos taken. An experienced photographer should be able to help your child relax and be their most genuine, joyful, self.

Would you like to see an example of a in-home lifestyle newborn session? Here is a blog that includes a lot of photos from a newborn session so you can get a better idea of a full gallery.

Are you interested in newborn photos or videos to capture your little one’s first days/weeks at home? Please reach out! I would love to hear from you.