If you have booked a session with an Iowa City newborn photographer (hopefully it’s me!), then you are probably now wondering how to prepare for your in-home newborn photos. I am going to keep it short and sweet and give you just a few tips.

Find outfits to wear for your newborn session

If you are preparing for an in-home newborn photo session, one of the first steps will be to decide on what you, your family, and the little one will wear. Most moms feel most comfortable in an over-sized sweater/cardigan (paired with stretchy pants) or a flowy dress. Keep in mind that you are at home, so you don’t need to look too formal or fancy! I do have moms that rock jeans and I am always amazed. For baby, my favorite outfits are simple onesies, rompers or knits. I will do a swaddle here or there, but mostly if it is for calming baby (it also can be easier for siblings to help hold baby). Here is my blog all about what to wear if you want more details.

Clear clutter (but dont’ overdo it!)

The house does not need a deep clean, period. You are going to have a brand new baby to care for, so please keep the cleaning to a minimal. The biggest bang for your buck is to clear the bigger items of clutter from the rooms we plan to use for your session (most commonly primary/master, living room, nursery). Cleaning by shoving a bunch of stuff in closets also works for me. If you have time to open up shades/blinds to allow for natural light, that is also wonderful. I am always more than happy to help clients. It is fairly common for us to just move a few things as we are doing the session and seeing what will be in the background.

Have a relaxed morning

This is super important. This goes for before and during your session. Your baby will sense if you are stressed out. We have plenty of time, so please try to keep things as normal as possible. You can walk your baby around or rock them as you normally would. The more you can stick to your usual routine, the better. If you are still feeding your baby when I arrive, that’s perfectly fine (that can be hard to time and I don’t want you to rush). Those natural moments, like breastfeeding or changing clothes/diapers, can also be wonderful to capture. Bring the relaxed vibes! Sip on your coffee or listen to your favorite music. I also see this a lot with siblings, including my little toddler friends. I recommend allowing siblings (especially toddlers) to come in and out of the photos naturally. It doesn’t usually go over well when siblings are “forced” to continuously take pictures. Instead, we can let siblings read or play during parts of the session. Then, we can encourage family and sibling shots strategically.

I hope this was helpful if you are sitting and pondering how to prepare for in-home newborn photos. If you happened to stumble on this blog and you are considering booking newborn photos (and are in the Iowa City) area, feel free to contact me for more info!