Preparing for your in-home newborn session may seem overwhelming at first, but I promise you it’s super easy, and the pictures are something you will always cherish!

First, what is an In-Home, Lifestyle Newborn Session?

An in-home lifestyle session, is exactly how it sounds! These sessions tell your sweet, growing family’s story of welcoming a new babe from the comfort of your own home. So, there is no stress of trying to get everyone ready, pack everyone up, and get out the door!

My lifestyle sessions are also baby led, so you don’t have to worry about trying to keep baby awake, or try to overfeed baby in an attempt to make them sleepy. Everything about life with a new baby is beautiful! So, I am there for the bottles, the snuggles, and all the in-between moments too ❤️.

I will bring a couple of wraps, a posing pillow, and a seagrass basket to use if it works with your family’s session flow. Every session is different, so there are zero expectations on what needs to be done, and every session turns out so uniquely beautiful.

Click here to read my blog with my, Top 5 Reasons to have an in-home, lifestyle newborn session!

What to Expect?

Preparing for your in-home, newborn session starts with knowing what to expect!

The #1 question I get is, “When should I book, and how will I know when to schedule since I am planning on laboring naturally?”

I always recommend scheduling at the end of the 1st/ 2nd trimester. I only accept a certain number of new mommas a month, in order to ensure adequate scheduling availability and flexibility, so often times I book up months in advance. If you are further along in your pregnancy, or you have already welcomed that sweet new bundle always send me a message! I do have a waiting list for booked months, and often times can schedule a couple throughout the month as my calendar allows.

Once you are officially on my calendar, I will pencil in your due date so I know to be expecting a message from you around that time. Then, once you are admitted to deliver that sweet babe, all you have to do is shoot me a quick text and we will get a date and time set up! It’s that easy!

I try to schedule newborn sessions in the first 5-10 days following delivery, so they are still in that nice sleepy, snuggly phase. Session are ideally scheduled between 10 am- 12 pm, which is the best for indoor sessions using natural light, but if we have older sibling nap times let me know and we can work around those as well! ❤️

How to Prepare for your In-Home, Newborn Session?

This is the EASIEST question because the answer is NOTHING! Tidying up and cleaning is the LAST thing on your mind as a new momma, and honestly if I show up to your house and it is spotless, it’s going to give me a complex about the current state of my own home…. and my youngest baby is 2 1/2 🥴

No, in all seriousness PLEASE do not feel any stress or obligation to do anything around the house when preparing for your in-home, newborn session! I will move and adjust things as needed once I arrive!

When I arrive the first thing I will do is get to know big brother/sisters(s) a little better (if there are any). I also always bring a little gift, to help make them feel special!

Then, I will look around the home to look for the best sources of natural light. Normally that is the master bedroom, specifically the master bed, the nursery, and sometimes the living room.

I will turn off all artificial lights, and open all blinds and curtains. If there are things stored on the bedside tables, I will ask where would be a good place for me to stash them. If the master bedroom comforter is dark, or has a busy pattern I will either turn it over to the underside or cover it with a blanket. (I have covered some of the most gorgeous linens y’all! It has nothing to do with your style or aesthetic, super light neutral colors just photograph best. The biggest reason is darker colors and/or patterns can cause color casting on to skin, which is super hard to correct. Also, light neutral colors are not distracting, and make sure the focus is on what’s important, which is you and your sweet new babe!

What to wear?

After booking you will receive a style guide that goes over all the details, as well as full access to our client closet! Click here if you want to take a peek at all the beautiful nursing and bump friendly options we have available!

Light, neutral colors photograph best! Don’t try to overthink wardrobe, as simple is best! Just remember everyone should coordinate, without being matchy matchy (we don’t want to give doublemint twins vibes… y’all remember those commercials or am I showing my age again,lol)

Try and avoid bright and bold colors (neons), super dark colors like black and navy blue and big patterns and shirts with large logos on them because all that can take away from the overall feel and look of your images. We want the focus to be on you and your little one, not what your shirt said. Same rules apply to siblings. Try and avoid clothing with characters, sequins and neons.

From a cozy oversized sweater and leggings, to a pretty floral or linen dress, the options are endless for you mamas!

FAQ about Preparing for In-Home, Lifestyle Newborn Sessions

What if my baby is super fussy, and cries during most of the session?

This is the wonderful thing about our session being in-home, and baby led. We can take as many breaks as we need to, and baby can have all the snuggles and feeding time as needed. If this means that baby never leaves mom and/or dad’s arms through the whole session, then that’s ok too! We will still get a full, gorgeous gallery that you will absolutely LOVE. Babies cry. It’s totally ok. It’s totally normal.

I’m worried my older kids won’t behave. What if they don’t want to participate in the session?

I tell all my families I have ZERO expectations of how a session should flow, or what needs to happen. A new addition is a huge adjustment for older kiddos! That is why I always make a point to get to know them a little better when I arrive, and always bring them a little present to help make them feel special. I will also get them to help me look around the house for light, and ask them if they want to help with little things to get ready for pictures.

I will never force brothers and sisters to come and participate, but I do like to make it fun and 9.5 times out of 10 siblings will decide they want to come and join in on some games (like hiding goldfish in baby’s swaddle to find, or finding baby’s nose, or smelling baby’s toes to see if they really do smell like chocolate!)

What if we don’t have a nursery, or even have a crib?

Some of my most favorite sessions have been in tiny homes with no nursery or crib! It’s all about angles and light. There are so many other places inside your home that we can use! Couches, beds, even the floor!

My house is small, and is not perfectly decorated

Well then you are in good company because mine isn’t either! A home is a home because of the love that fills it, and that is what I am there to capture. When you look back on your gallery, I want it to take you back to a time when nothing else mattered but love, and the feeling of heart bursting, overwhelming joy at what YOU just created! That has nothing to do with Pinterest worthy decor and a perfectly maintained home because that kind of all consuming love is wonderful, and exhausting, and beautifully messy!

Do you use or bring props?

I will bring a couple light neutral wraps, a few headbands/ bonets, a posing pillow, and a small space heater. Being a lifestyle photographer, I tend to lean more towards less is more. My goal is to capture you and your family organically, but I will do some lightly posed pictures of baby wrapped, if session flow allows.

How long does a typical session last?

Sessions are baby and family led. So, I don’t put a time frame on session length, but generally sessions are around 2 hours.

Now you know everything about preparing for your in-home newborn session!

Still need to book your session? Click here to send me a message to get on the calendar!

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xoxo

Alex