What to expect during your in-home newborn session

These sweet celebrations of new life are relaxed, beautiful – and stress-free!

Just this week I was talking with a first-time mom who is due in the next couple of months. She had lots of questions about newborn sessions and what they include, the COVID-19 precautions I take, and more.

With your first baby, there is so much you don’t know! Sometimes, it’s hard to even know what questions to ask in the first place.

So, here’s an overview of what at-home newborn sessions are like so that you’ll know what to expect!

Preparing ahead of time ensures a smoother newborn session

First of all, if you’re the least bit worried about having your newborn session at home, don’t be. 

I’m a mom of three little girls, so I know having a perfectly clean home isn’t that important after baby comes home. You’re much more concerned with the adjustment to parenthood and snuggling with your newborn.

That’s why I’ll send you a simple checklist that tells you exactly where we’ll probably photograph, and how to prepare your home for beautiful photos. In fact, here’s the exact list that’s in my Celebrate Motherhood magazine:

You can see that the suggestions here are very basic and quick. I recommend that my mamas hand this list off to their husbands the  night before or morning of our session.

Sometimes there are little things I move before taking photos, like cell phones or coffee cups on side tables. I’m always paying attention to items that might be distracting in your photos so that you don’t have to worry about it!

Instructions for how to feed baby before newborn photos

What most moms worry about before at-home newborn photos is getting baby to sleep. Because I know this is a big concern, I go over how to feed baby in your session contract, and again in the reminders I send the week of your session.

The wonderful thing about newborns is they really love to sleep. In those early days, that’s pretty much all they do! Getting your baby settled into a deep sleep for a smooth sessions typically involves two things: a full tummy and a tight swaddle!

If you’re breastfeeding, what you eat can affect baby in a big way. Some foods can cause uncomfortable gassiness, which can make it hard for your little love to settle for photos. That’s why I send all of my clients a suggested list of foods to avoid in the 48 hours leading up to the session. You’ll also receive instructions for when to feed baby so that hopefully he or she will sleep peacefully for their first-ever photo session!

What to wear guidance is included, too!

There are two super important aspects of beautiful at-home newborn photos: access to natural light and a neutral, comfortable wardrobe for your family. 

I can find pretty light in your home, so don’t worry about that! I’m always prepared with simple off-camera light if needed.

The most important job for mamas is to select a neutral wardrobe for your family. 

The reason I like earth tones and soft pastels for family newborn sessions is because these colors guarantee your baby will be the star of every photo. Minimal patterns and no bright colors keeps the focus on people, not clothing.

For mamas, I always suggest wearing a dress because it’s typically most comfortable and flattering. Your post-baby body will look and feel different than when you were pregnant. Usually dresses flow over curves and you won’t be constantly tugging on jeans or shirts.

I include sample color combinations and specific what-to-wear suggestions in my Celebrate Motherhood magazine to make dressing your family a breeze!

Morning sessions are usually best for babies and children

In-home newborn sessions usually begin around 10 am. Mornings seems to work best for newborns and young children when everyone is fresh and rested. I almost always begin with family photos so that we can get those must-have shots done when everyone is at their best!

No extra charge for parent poses!

I deliver a variety of photos in every at-home newborn session photo gallery. This includes family photos, each parent with baby, siblings with baby and baby by themselves. We can include pets with baby too, if you’d like! I usually snap photos in a couple of locations; usually, this is the master bedroom, the living room and the nursery.

My biggest regret from the studio newborn session with my first daughter is that my husband and I weren’t included in any of the photos. I didn’t know that parent poses weren’t included unless we specifically requested it when we booked. Since it was my first baby, I didn’t even know to ask about that!

So how does scheduling work anyway?!

When you book your in-home newborn session, your due date goes on my calendar. I take a limited number of clients per month so that I can adjust my schedule as needed when babies arrive.

A new dad I recently photographed thinks it’s a major selling point that the vast majority of my clients have their babies early!! Yes, even first-time moms!! I don’t know why this is, but it just seems to work out that my mamas meet their babies sooner than their due dates.

The sooner you can let me know your baby is here, the sooner I can adjust my schedule as needed for your in-home newborn photos. I ask that families send a quick text or email within two days of birth if possible.

How to schedule

The easiest way to get more info or schedule a session is to use the contact form on my website. Sometimes moms leave out important info (like their due date) when they just send an email. I can get you scheduled faster if I have all of the information requested on the contact form!

From there, I’ll send you a free Welcome Guide with all the session details. If you have questions, we’ll chat as long as you’d like. The scheduling process is simple and is completed entirely online!

I’d love to schedule a magical newborn session to celebrate you and your baby! Just head over to the Contact page and tell me more about you.