How to Prepare for an In-Home Lifestyle Newborn Session | Sandy Springs, Georgia Photographer

Visiting a family for their in-home lifestyle newborn session is something I really love to do. Welcoming a new baby is such an incredible moment in a family’s life and history together, and capturing those memories is one of my favorite parts of being a Sandy Springs, Georgia Photographer.

As the years pass, the photos from their in-home newborn session are such a  special gift for a family to look back on. Those first days, when parents and new siblings bring a new baby into their first home or nursery, are here and gone in the blink of an eye. 

Creating photos and memories that are uniquely their family’s, not just something produced in a studio, is incredibly special.

Today I’m sharing my tips on how to prepare for an in-home lifestyle newborn session. 

Do a Quick Tidy-Up

When you’ve just had a baby, whether it’s your first or not, those first few weeks are a haze. So please, don’t feel like your home has to be perfect! I promise, it’s okay for your home to look lived in!

Instead of worrying about cleaning and making your house spotless for your in-home lifestyle newborn session, focus on decluttering. 

A little simple tidying up and putting clutter (or, setting it in an unused room or closet until I leave) is all you need to do. That includes all of those pacifiers, burp rags, blankets, and breast pump pieces you might have everywhere!

Turn Off The Lights

I know it might sound silly to turn off the lights in your home during your in-home lifestyle newborn session, but I promise, there’s a good reason behind this tip! It might make the rooms feel dark, but my camera can do magical things that lights could ruin during editing!

Much of your session will be in the nursery, so I suggest opening the curtains or blinds and raising the shades to let in all the natural light you can. 

Have Special Baby Outfits Ready

Do you have a family heirloom outfit you want to photograph your baby in? Or, maybe you’ve eyed something in my client closet you can’t wait to borrow? Whatever outfit(s) you might have in mind for your sweet little one to wear, be sure to have them out and ready to use during your in-home lifestyle newborn session. 

I bring a simple white onesie and white baby wraps to every session, so you can count on me having something simple and neutral available. But if there are any particular swaddles, blankets, or outfits you want your baby to have in your photos, this is the time to document them!

Prepare The Crib for its Closeup

Since I’ll be shooting a good portion of your in-home lifestyle newborn session in your baby’s nursery, the baby’s crib will be front and center in some of your photos. I encourage using either a white or neutral crib sheet. If this isn’t something you already have, you can pick one up for $10 (or less!) at Target. 

Of course, the adorable patterns on your existing crib sheets are precious. But, sheets with too much color reflect onto your baby’s face. This, in effect, creates a colorful shadow that can be very challenging to edit out of your photos. Plus, too much of a pattern can be a distraction from your sweet babe.

Prepare Siblings for In-Home Lifestyle Newborn Photos

Bringing home a new baby is a pretty big change in your older children’s universe! Depending on how old your children are, I recommend talking to them about why your in-home lifestyle newborn session is special, what will be happening, and talking about what they can expect (and what you expect of them).

It can also be helpful to give older siblings something fun to do while the session is happening in your home. Setting them up with their favorite snack and activity is a great way to help them wait after their role in the session is over. Giving them something to work for is handy!

Having another family member, like a grandparent, present to entertain them and give them some 1-on-1 attention is a nice way to keep them occupied, too.

Be sure to check out my blog on how to involve siblings in maternity photos!

Feed Your Baby Beforehand

Happy babies with full little bellies make in-home lifestyle newborn sessions a breeze. I always suggest starting to feed your baby 20 minutes before my arrival, changing their diaper, and then putting them into their outfit. 

If your newborn gets fussy, it’s good to be prepared for bonus small feedings during your session. Doing so helps everyone stay relaxed and focused on the baby (at least for part of the shoot!)

If you’re interested in documenting feeding or nursing, we can absolutely do this at the beginning of the session. In that case, hold off on feeding the baby until I get there. Then, we’ll get those pictures done first at your session!

Bathtime is Your Friend!

As a mom, I know all too well that life with a newborn can be unpredictable! Sometimes, despite your best efforts to feed and calm your baby for your in-home lifestyle newborn session, your baby doesn’t end up having their best day. In fact, they might be wide awake and fussy! 

If that’s the case, this simple tip will help: Give them a quick bath. Bath time tends to make babies sleepy and ready to eat, which works really well for their session!

Turn Off Your Air Conditioning 

You’ve probably heard that babies get chilly pretty easily, and you might have noticed that they can get pretty fussy when they’re cold!

To prepare for a smooth and relaxed in-home lifestyle newborn session, make sure that your air conditioning isn’t running during the shoot. This will keep your home from getting too cool and prevent chilly drafts that might bother your baby.

What I Bring to an In-Home Lifestyle Newborn Session

If you’ve browsed my galleries you’ve noticed that my photography style is very classic and soft. I bring several items to each in-home lifestyle newborn session to create a beautiful aesthetic in your images!

• A solid white onesie: a simple and neutral classic that lets your baby’s beauty shine.
• A Moses basket: Moses baskets are perfect for adding textures to images. They’re also a nice way to achieve precious sibling shots while keeping the baby safe!
• Muslin wraps and blankets: I bring several solid white muslin baby wraps and blankets to each shoot so we have soft and stylish options available. 
• Clothing from my Client Wardrobe for mama and little kids: My carefully curated Client Wardrobe has stylish pieces available to rent for free.
• A portable white noise machine: You read that right! I’ve learned, as a mom and a photographer, that white noise machines can be game changes for keeping babies calm. 

Ready to document this beautiful milestone in your family’s history? Contact me to book your in-home newborn session.