I absolutely love lifestyle newborn sessions. Photographing families in their homes as they lovingly and naturally adore their precious new babies is so fulfilling. The intimacy and nostalgia of home pairs so perfectly with those early newborn days.
As a Huntsville newborn photographer, I often get asked how parents can best prepare for their in-home newborn session. While it can seem intimidating to get your home ready for photos, I promise that it doesn’t have to be! The goal of your session is to document your baby and your family’s joy and love – NOT to photograph a perfectly cleaned and decorated home. I have been photographing lifestyle sessions for years, so I’ve put together a few simple newborn session tips that I hope will ease your mind and help you feel calm and confident.
1. Tidy up just a little.
I get it. You’ve just brought a baby into the world, and keeping your home spick and span is not on top of the to-do list. Good! It absolutely shouldn’t be. You have much more important things to do right now, and I fully believe that resting and bonding with your baby is one of those things. That said, tidying the most well-lit areas of your home will give us a head start on your session. Oftentimes, that’s the master bedroom or nursery. However, I’m really looking for the best light in your home, so that could end up being the living room or a little nook of your dining room. If you don’t get a chance to tidy, please don’t worry! I am more than happy to help with this when I arrive!
2. Feed baby about 30 minutes before session time.
A list of newborn session tips wouldn’t be complete without helping you know when to feed your little one! Feeding your baby half an hour before we start your session will help your little one feel happy and sleepy for photos. Don’t worry if you also need to feed throughout the session. We can absolutely pause for a break at any point.
3. Set your thermostat a little higher.
Another easy tip for keeping your baby happy and sleepy is to bump up the temperature just a little. Somewhere around 75 degrees is a good rule of thumb. I know it can get a little warm, but trust me, it really helps.
4. Dress in light neutrals.
Having mom, dad, and siblings wear light neutrals helps keep the focus off of clothing and on your sweet baby. Whites, creams, light grays, or light tans are all good options. Darker colors can create a lot of color casting and contrast. Lighter neutrals are timeless and will add to that beautiful feel in your newborn session.
5. Trust your photographer.
Almost everyone at the beginning of a session tells me that they feel awkward in front of the camera and asks if I’ll help guide them. Of course! It’s extremely rare for anyone to feel like they know exactly what they’re doing when having their photos taken. The beautiful thing about a lifestyle session is that I want to capture the little moments, just as they are, so that you remember exactly what those details felt like. I promise that I’ll help you know where to look and a general idea of what to do. Trust me, it’s going to be wonderful.
Your in-home session doesn’t have to be stressful. If you implement these simple newborn session tips, I promise that things will go smoothly, you’ll get to adore your sweet baby, and we’ll create timeless images that you’re going to cherish for years and years to come.
Mallory Bell is a fine art Huntsville newborn photographer creating timeless imagery to document every stage of motherhood and family, from bump to baby and beyond. I capture your family honestly and candidly so you’ll always remember exactly how the little details felt. In the rush of life, it’s easy to overlook the ordinary moments. I aim to document the love between you and your little ones in a joyful, heartfelt way so your legacy will live on for generations to come.
From a client wardrobe and session guide, to heirloom quality products to turn your images into artwork, I aim to make the entire process seamless and easy for you. Relax, enjoy our time together, and I’ll take care of the rest. View more of my newborn portfolio here.
Ready to schedule your newborn session? I take a limited number of newborns each month, so contact me sooner than later. I can’t wait to hear from you!
