The Magic Behind an In Home Newborn Session
The real magic of an in home newborn session I believe comes from the fact that at home is where you are most comfortable.
The natural thought process for families when they consider an in home newborn session is to think “my house is too messy” or “my house isn’t photo worthy”. I want to challenge that thought process!
What you see and what a photographer sees are two very different things. When I go to a client’s home I am looking for two things: one good window, and a family ready to make some really sweet memories. As long as we have those two components - we are golden!
Your house does not need to be professionally cleaned, spotless, or perfectly organized to have an in home newborn session take place. If there is clutter or things we don’t want in the background of a shot, we will simply move them. Trust me when I say I have never once walked into a client’s home and found it magazine ready after having just brought home a newborn, and that is perfectly ok! I am there to document your family as it truly is. I promise you that including your toddlers favorite well loved stuffed animal will add value to these photos years from now, not take away.
After many years of photographing in home newborn sessions in Dallas, I have a list of tips and tricks that are tried and true. If you want a magical in home newborn session, here’s exactly what to do!
Choose 1-2 spots in your home that have at least one good window for natural light, and declutter those areas to whatever degree you feel comfortable. These are the areas we will begin in, and if I see a great spot that you havent thought of using, I’ll point it out. The most common areas for in home newborn sessions are the nursery, master bedroom, and living room. That does not mean those are the only areas we can use! I have used hallways, stairwells, kitchens, toddler bedrooms, front porch, any spot you can think of I have shot in before. It all starts with where the best light is.
Day before: if you have toddlers or older kids, hype them up! Make them excited to get to take photos with their new baby sibling. Approach it as a special event that is part of being a big sibling. Approaching photos from an excited and positive reinforcement angle will always create better results than saying things such as “if you don’t sit still and smile you don’t get your snack”. I’m not saying bribery isn’t helpful - just that it is only helpful when done in a positive way.
Day of: feed baby so they are content and sleepy for the session! A sleepy baby is typically easiest for newborn photos. This is also the reason I suggest newborn photos being done within the first 1-3 weeks of babies life, while they are still very sleepy and less alert. There is a lot of passing baby back and forth and sometimes changing done during newborn photos, so having then full and sleepy helps to avoid crash outs.
Have an outfit change or two on deck: For in home newborn sessions you are always welcome to have an outfit change planned for the whole family! It is helpful to have 3 options for baby, in case of spit up etc. When deciding what to wear, neutrals are always my go to for in home newborn sessions. Bright, bold colors are to be avoided as they cast color onto skin, this is especially hard when editing newborns skin tones. Neutrals photograph best in every scenario. Most families choose a cozy vibe for outfits when doing an in home newborn session. You are in your own home, so be as comfortable as you’d like!
Be ready for anything: Newborns cry, spit up, and needs breaks often for feeding, changing or calming - that is expected and totally ok! When doing an in home newborn session, there is no rush and no pressure. I am there to document your first days with your baby, and I will always make sure we get beautiful images. I book all newborns as an hour long session to ensure we have time, sometimes in home newborn sessions go over an hour and sometimes they are quicker! There is no perfect amount of time, but I have found an hour to be the sweet spot for most!
A perfect example..
This photo was taken on their dining room floor - it had gorgeous light from a large window and I loved the pink florals for their baby girl. A weird spot - yep, but it ended up being one of my favorite images!
The real magic of an in home newborn session I believe comes from the fact that at home is where you are most comfortable. Being at home for your newborn photo session is especially magical if you have toddlers. When at home, your older kids can take breaks. They can leave the room and decompress while we do just baby or baby and parent photos. These little breaks away from the pressure of the camera are truly magic with kids, and I have found make all the difference. My favorite is when kids leave the room, and come back with a toy or book they want to show me or show their baby sibling. Those are the moments we want the most - natural and so precious.
When you are in a studio, it is usually one large room. This eliminates the option for your older kids to take little breathers during the newborn session, and can really amplify their emotions when they feel overwhelmed.
Studios have their benefits, like perfect light and curated sets, and I will do a blog post on the magic of studio newborn sessions as well! Studio newborn sessions are perfect for families who want to get out of the house, or who do want the more curated magazine style newborn images.
My goal for this blog is to prepare and inspire you before your in home newborn session with me! If you have any doubt or questions for me after reading this, please reach out. Feel free to send me photos/videos of the rooms you would like to use in your home, I am always happy to give my opinion on which spots we should focus on.
The same goes for outfits, if you are struggling to put looks together, I am happy to give feedback! Color palettes from Pinterest are always super helpful and I love sending those to clients when thinking about outfit choices. Seeing the color scheme of your home and nursery is often very helpful when looking at outfit choices.
I recommend booking your newborn session 1-2 months ahead of time. I take on 5 newborn sessions per month, due to the unpredictable nature of scheduling with newborn sessions. When you inquire for a newborn session, I mark you down for the month you are due in. This secures your spot and ensures I have space for your session that month. When baby is born, I have you reach out to me and at that time we choose an exact date and time for your session. :)
