Preparing for a newborn photo session does not need to be stressful. The goal is not perfection. It is presence. Your home does not need to look like a magazine, your baby does not need to be asleep the entire time, and you certainly do not need to have it all together. With just a few small preparations, we can set the stage for a relaxed, natural session that captures the beauty (and sometimes chaos) of life with a new baby.
As mentioned, I tend to work in the master bedroom, nursery and main living area. Usually any spaces that are filled with the most natural light.
My style of photography is very light and bright and while we can't add additional windows to get more light we can make some subtle choices to help achieve that asthetic. So, in the main bedroom and in your precious baby's nursery/bassinet, the lighter and simpler the bedding is, the better. White or off-white would be best as this will help to reflect the most light.
Although I do have a flash for times of need, I am primarily a natural light photographer. I can use all the light I can get when trying to achieve these nice bright images so I may take a wonder around the spaces I'll use most and open all the blinds/curtains needed to help give us a lighting leg-up!
Your home doesn't need to be as clean as a whistle. Who has time for that when you have a new baby to care for? All I ask is that you have a look around in the main rooms and pack away any unnecessary "clutter" from side tables and throw any unwashed laundryin a pile in a corner... there is no judgement here. I may make a few adjustments when I'm there to "hide" things like cords etc. I do this at almost all my in-home sessions to minimise post sesison editing but I always do my best to pop everything back in place again once I'm done.
On cooler summer days and definitely in the dead of winter, I recommend cranking up the heating in the home. A warm environment helps to keep new babies sleepy and more importantly, content when we remove the wrap for those precious detail shots.
If there are any meaningful items you would love to include in your session—such as a special blanket, a handmade toy, a gift from a grandparent, or something passed down through the family—please feel free to gather them beforehand. These small details can add so much personal significance to your photos and help tell a story that is uniquely yours. We may not use everything, but having them on hand gives us the option to thoughtfully include what matters most to you.
If you have other children who are old enough to understand, it's a good idea to prepare your kids for what is to come before the session starts. A lot of families discuss and pick something fun in advance as a treat for after the session if they're good listeners and in the days leading up to the session, tell them that your friend Sarah is going to be coming to visit and will be taking some family photos. Even show them a picture of me so I am not a totally strange face to them. Encourage them and get them excited about showing me their special toys or things they like to do.
That being said, I am a parent too. So, if you raised an eyebrow while reading any of that... believe me, I get it. On the day, please don't be worried about how they will behave or embarrassed if things don't go as planned. They're little and I want to help you embrace these moments with them instead of trying to make them act a certain way for an hour. We will make sure to get a few shots of everyone smiling and looking at the camera, but for the most part I just want you to have a great time, be yourselves and interact with each other.
My job isn't to make you look perfect or to make your children behave perfectly and sit straight up on a stiff chair with a stiff smile. My job is to show you that your family is absolutely perfect just the way they are.
Capturing all of the in-between moments, the ones that can't be scripted, is my absolute favourite part. So if one of your children starts running away giggling, scoop them up and smother them in tickles and kisses. If they are shy or upset, hold them close to you and whisper the words to their favourite song while tucking their hair behind their ear.
If you as a parent keep smiling and having a good time, I will be able to capture sweet moments the whole way through. Sometimes, "imperfect" situations can lead to the perfect photo. And trust me, I know that some of your favourite photos will be of the intimate, or silly moments that we didn't plan on!
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