One of my favorite parts about capturing an in-home lifestyle newborn session is capturing families naturally. These sessions are typically more laid-back and are captured in a more documentary style than studio sessions. It’s a wonderful way to document this exciting phase as you welcome a new member to the family. Not only is it easier for mom and dad, the images that I’m always able to capture are so natural and true to life. While I do bring a few props with me such as wraps and a few swaddles, I love using elements in my client’s homes. Whether we decide to do the session in the nursery or another area of the home, these are always my favorite sessions.
Did you spend hours pouring over every detail of the new baby’s nursery? Wonderful, let’s showcase it all! Do you have a beautiful landscaped lawn or cozy front porch swing? Perfect! Do you feel most comfortable all snuggled up on your bed together? Even better.
Thinking of an At-Home Lifestyle Session? Here are four tips to make your session the best it can be:
1. Select & prepare a few areas of your home to use for photos.
I usually end up using 1-2 areas of the home, and the most important part of choosing those spots will be available light. I always bring flash as a backup in case your favorite room doesn’t have a ton of natural light, but the more light, the BETTER! If your favorite room (let’s say the nursery) has east facing windows, let’s schedule for the morning and take advantage of that beautiful light!
If you can, try to de-clutter any areas that you want to use for photos. I absolutely do not expect your home to be 100% perfect when I arrive because you have a NEWBORN! So, I am more than happy to help move things around but it’s always helpful for you to do ahead of time. Things like clearing off cups/phone chargers/etc. are quick and easy and make a huge difference in photos.
When I arrive, I will usually ask for a tour first, and to get your ideas about which rooms you’d like to utilize. If you have a clear idea of what you’d like, that’s great! If not, I am more than happy to lead the way and make a plan. Feel free to get creative with locations too!
2. Keep outfits simple
For your family, and for your newborn – there’s no need for anything super fancy here. For moms I usually recommend either a flowy dress or leggings/jeans and a nice top. Pick a central color scheme and work outfits around that. Also keep in mind your home’s colors and decor. That way, when you print and display the images in your home they will already coordinate! Also, when in doubt, just wear white. Simple, neutral colors are always best.
For your baby – I love how a simple white onesie or footless outfit looks in photos. Newborn knotted gowns are also adorable and easy for diaper changes. I would just recommend avoiding any gowns or outfits with lots of fabric and large collars, babies can easily get lost in too much fabric! I will always be more than happy to also bring along some wraps and swaddles, so often I’ll do some photos in your outfit, and some wrapped/swaddled.
3. Follow your baby’s cues
A good feed is usually recommended right before I am scheduled to arrive, but I always leave plenty of time during our session for diaper changes, feeding breaks, etc. so no need to stress about that. We will also follow your baby’s lead for what type of photos we will take and when. If you baby is super sleepy when I arrive, we may start with photos of them alone, or if they’re more awake we can do the whole family right away. Or if you have other children it’s generally best to get photos with them first. Basically, we don’t have to follow any kind of specific timeline or tight schedule, we just go with the flow and what works best for you!
4. Get ready for snuggles
My absolute favorite newborn images are those where you can tell your baby is so cozy and content, and that often means they’re laying on your chest or cuddled in close. So make sure to pause for moments to sniff that sweet newborn smell, stroke their soft cheeks, and play with their little fingers. Those little rolls will be gone before you know it, but those little details are what I’m here to preserve for you.
Now to baby Jack! I’ve known Brooke since she was a little girl and it seems like I’ve been there for so many of her life’s biggest moments. I’ve photographed her proms and homecomings, her senior portraits, even her wedding last spring, but my favorite captures have to be her as a new mom. Baby Jack (named after Brooke’s mom, one of my dearest friends) is so perfect in every single way. We love that we decided on an At-Home Lifestyle session for Jack’s newborn session.
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