We offer in-home, lifestyle newborn sessions for several reasons. 1. You are most comfortable in your home…and so is your newborn! This helps us capture you and your family in the most natural, intimate, and snuggly way. possible 2. You have access to all of the blankets, burp cloths, bottles and binkies that you could ever need WITHOUT having to pack a diaper bag. and 3. You’ve likely spent a great deal of time putting those finishing touches on your newest little Love’s nursery, and we want to be sure to document those sentimental details for you! We love that your lifestyle newborn session will reflect this wonderful (and sometimes crazy) time in your life! Whether it’s two-year old sister crawling into baby brother’s crib, or the family dog coming in to check on their new sibling, we know you will cherish these sweet moments forever!
Though in-home sessions are our favorite way to capture newborns and their families, it is never lost on us that it’s difficult to have your home ready for a photography session right after bringing baby home! We’ve put together a few tips to help you get yourself, your family, AND your home ready for us! No need to hire a cleaning service, these tips will go a long way!
- PREPARE THE CRIB – We love to take photos of your newborn swaddled up in their crib! We prefer white or neutral crib sheets if possible. This helps eliminate color casting on baby’s face, and also helps us keep the focus on your baby and those precious, tiny details. You will thank us later!
- DE-CLUTTER – No need to spend a ton of time cleaning every room in your house! Think of those must-have rooms you want to shoot in (typically nursery, master bedroom, and living area) and toss the stuff that you don’t want seen into a basket in the closet. This includes items like trashcans, breast pumps, extra burp cloths, coffee cups, tissue boxes, etc. Nothing can distract from a beautiful photo like a diaper pale in the background!
- OPEN THE BLINDS – We believe the most beautiful photographs of your family are in natural light! Before we arrive, we suggest you turn off all of the overhead and lamp light in the areas we will shoot in, and open up the blinds! It may feel very dark to you, but your photos will have a more cohesive feel without multiple types of light distracting from the subjects!
- IT’S ALL IN THE DETAILS – Do you have anything sentimental you’d like to include in your photos? Perhaps it’s the booties your grandmother crocheted when she found out you were expecting, or the bassinet that’s been passed down through your family for generations? Think of those items, both small and large, that are precious and meaningful to you. Set them aside for us when we arrive so that we can be sure to incorporate them in your session!
- NEWBORN PREP – Newborn skin can be dry and flaky, we recommend rubbing some lotion on face, hands and feet, or any other area that will be exposed during photos. It’s also a good idea to clip finger and toe nails prior to our arrival! Baby and toddler noses can get dirty fast, so we suggest having baby wipes on hand and ready to go for quick clean ups. Have baby dressed in what you would like her to wear for family photos when we arrive. We will bring a plain white onesie with us for closeups and details shots toward the end of the session, unless you’ve got one you’d like us to use.
- PREPARE THE OLDER SIBLINGS – It is natural for older siblings to feel confused and maybe even a little jealous of the attention that the new baby will be receiving during the shoot. Even the most well-behaved children can act out during a photo session! We see it all the time and have tricks to get them to settle down, but the best thing to do is prepare for this ahead of time. Have a favorite snack ready for them, and maybe even a movie picked out for in-between shots. Bonus points if you have someone to help watch them while we are taking shots of just you, dad and baby! Most importantly, try not to stress as your family will feed off of this. We will do our best to give your tiny tots frequent breaks and lots of praise!
- FEED THE CREW – While we try to stick to a schedule during your newborn session, the truth is that your baby will determine the flow of the shoot! It’s a good idea to have your family fed before we get there, and have some snacks ready in case our session goes longer than anticipated. We will take mini breaks to allow for feedings and diaper changes, but we recommend feeding baby about 20 minutes before we arrive. Your family will also be more willing to smile with a full belly!
- HAVE OUTFITS & BACKUP OUTFITS ON-HAND – Have your outfits picked out and ready before we arrive! There is no need for anyone in the fam to have socks or shoes on. We typically recommend a neutral color palate for indoor sessions with lots of whites/creams, etc. We will likely have you snuggled up on the sofa or in a chair, so wear what’s comfortable! Also…newborns have a knack for spitting up on you or having a blowout just as we’ve gotten you settled into that snuggly pose. Your life will be easier if you have a backup option for you and baby ready to go!
And last but FAR from least, set your expectations. Babies are brand new to this world and trying to figure it all out. We are here to capture these first days and are following THEIR lead. If they need a break, we will take a break whatever the reason. No need to feel stressed or rushed. We will stay until we are confident we got all the shots to document this important time in your families lives.
We can’t wait to work with you!