In-Home Newborn Session
PREP GUIDE
Real life, beautifully photographed exactly as it is.
You’ve done the big things: grown a human, kept them alive, made it to today. Let me take it from here.
This guide is designed to help you feel confident, relaxed, and fully present for your in-home newborn session. It’s not about making your house look like a magazine or posing your baby like a potato in a basket. This is about documenting real connection, soft skin, quiet glances, tiny yawns, and the wonder of this moment in your life.
So don’t stress. You’re already doing great. Here’s what to know:
Light > Perfection
I photograph using only natural light, so we’ll stick to the areas in your home with the best available window light. No need to deep-clean the house—just clear away clutter from a few spots with soft light (bedroom, nursery, living room). I can help move things when I arrive.
Pro tip: Before I arrive, turn off all artificial lights and open all the blinds and curtains. Natural light + neutral walls = magic.
Keep It Warm
Newborns love warmth—it reminds them of being curled up in the womb. I recommend bumping the thermostat to around 75–78 degrees before I arrive, especially if we’ll be photographing your baby with fewer layers or bare skin.
What to Wear
Choose soft, neutral tones and clothing that allows you to move, snuggle, and sit comfortably. Avoid logos, neon colors, and anything too structured or stiff.
Think: linen, knits, gauze, cotton, and layers. Muted earth tones, warm neutrals, soft pastels--all perfect.
For baby:
A couple of solid-colored onesies (white, oatmeal, soft blue, muted rose)
A simple swaddle or blanket
No headbands, props, or Pinterest poses—your baby is perfect as they are
For you:
Be dressed and ready when I arrive (or close to it)
Consider flowy tops, cozy textures, or something you’d wear on a slow Sunday morning
Feeding & Timing
Try to feed baby 15–30 minutes before the session, if possible. A full belly and a fresh diaper can go a long way toward keeping them relaxed. That said, we’ll work around their rhythm, not the clock.
If you're breastfeeding and would like to include that in your images, beautiful. Just let me know, and I’ll document it with sensitivity and care.
Siblings & Family
If you’ve got older kids, I’ll make them feel seen, heard, and important. There’s no need to “make” them cooperate. We’ll let them lead, play, and step in and out naturally. Sometimes they need a break, and sometimes they want to show me their room. Either way, it’s all part of the story.
Want to have a reward ready for afterward? A snack, a small gift, or a “baby gave you this” moment? Totally optional, but often helpful.
A Few Final Things
• Don’t worry about posing. I’ll guide you gently, but most of the magic will come from simply being close, connected, and present.
• Take breaks when needed. Change a diaper, grab a snack. I’m not in a rush.
• The only thing you really need to do? Be there. The rest will follow.
This isn’t about staging a moment.
It’s about remembering one—before it changes again.
You're doing beautifully. I can't wait to help you see that through these images.