What to expect during an in-home newborn photo session with me!

Located in NE Ohio

First, know that I’m so excited to meet you & your family! Newborn sessions are my top favorite sessions to do, and I’m really looking forward to capturing some really meaningful photos of this precious time in your family’s life. 

The Session:

Let me give you confidence by saying first of all that your shoot is going to be wonderful, and know that 99% of the time the first 10 minutes of any photoshoot can feel uncomfortable until you relax into it and feel confident in front of the camera! Trust in the fact that I do this all the time; I’ll always prompt and direct you and never ask you to do something that feels wrong, awkward, or leave you hanging with no idea what you should be doing next. I promise it will be easy and by the end of the session you’ll be totally relaxed. The objective isn’t just to take pretty pictures, but to capture this exciting stage in your life, exactly as it is now. Also, we will always move at the baby’s pace. I will photograph everything tastefully, whether it be changing outfits, feeding, or snuggling. 

While deep cleaning isn’t required, you might want to just take a look around your space and put away things/declutter the areas we will be photographing.  I mainly photograph my newborn sessions in the living room, primary bedroom, and the nursery if the baby has one. 

Newborn sessions can take some time, usually around 2-3 hours. I do not do major posing or have any expectation on how the baby should behave (alert or asleep).  We let the baby guide the session. What is important is that we capture this beautiful time in your life authentically.

Your baby is perfect just the way they are. I don’t try to make babies sleep or place them in unnatural poses. However, because we optimally want your baby to be super relaxed, turning the heat up in your home by a few degrees will help them to feel warm and sleepy. I suggest you have your newborn in a simple, neutral onesie or romper that is form fitting with no graphics or words. Please gather a few favorite blankets or swaddles for your baby to be wrapped in. I will also bring along a few blankets and swaddles too, along with my Moses baskets, just in case! I recommend feeding your baby as much as they want prior to my arrival, and it’s totally ok if baby needs multiple feeding breaks during the session. Snuggling feeding photos are my absolute favorite, and I love documenting how you feed your baby during this special time.

Applying newborn-safe lotion to your baby’s skin the night before and then again in the morning before your session will also help not only your baby’s skin to look its best, but will also help soothe and relax your little one.

Please remember that I only use natural light. We will be utilizing all the light that comes in through the windows. All overhead lights and lamps will be turned off. There is nothing more beautiful than natural light, I assure you.

What to Wear: 

I always tell my families that mom should choose her outfit first, and then coordinate the rest of the family’s outfits to compliment her own. My recommendation for mom is to wear something loose and neutral colored. Choose comfortable. Don’t choose an outfit that is too tight and pinching or one that you have to keep adjusting. You want to be relaxed and free during your session, not worrying about how you look or feel.

Solids are best. Stick to solid colors, avoid large prints and busy patterns so the focus is on your face. Textures always photograph well. Try a lace wrap dress or knit sweater. Incorporate layers; cardigans, scarves, even jewelry can act as a layering tool. Layers add dimension and interest and allow you to play around with different textures so feel free to mix and match. Midi and Maxi dresses are very common for photo sessions in part because they are so comfortable to wear and they photograph well. So many moms that I work with love how easy and comfy a dress feels. However, it’s ok if dresses aren’t your thing. Choose an outfit that reflects you and is comfortable for you to wear. Whatever it is, choose a style that reflects YOU! Just because it’s a popular option doesn’t mean that you have to wear it if it’s not your style. Don’t forget to accessorize as well! Now is the time to wear that sentimental necklace, for instance. 

A note about socks – you’d be absolutely amazed at how socks can affect every single photo, and I don’t mean in a good way. If we are doing an in-home session, and you are opting not to be barefoot (I highly recommend bare feet, which eliminates this issue!) then please do make sure your socks are either plain white, beige, or black, with no logos or patterns. We want the focus of the photos to be on your beautiful faces, and not distracted by what’s on your feet.

For dads, I typically recommend whatever is comfortable and compliments moms outfit, usually jeans, or neutral colored pants, and a solid color henley, button-down, sweater, or t-shirt works fine! I strongly recommend that dads resist wearing baseball hats or anything with a large brim that will harshly shadow their face, or otherwise cast a large shadow. Of course, other kinds of hats are totally fine, if it’s a normal part of their wardrobe!

Remember to dress like yourself. Wear something you feel awesome and beautiful in. Ensure it’s an outfit you know is comfortable. Avoid big patterns, logos, or vivid/neon colors. Aim for earthy tones, natural fabrics and clothing with lots of movement. 

Older Siblings:

I have a few tips for capturing older siblings with your newest addition. First of all and perhaps the most important: have low expectations. This is hard, I know. However, the more low-key you are, the more you adopt the “we get what we get and I’ll be happy” mentality – the more likely we are to get good photos of your babies together. This attitude works best because kids can sense when you’re stressed, or forcing a situation, and they respond to it. Any cooperation we can get will be amazing, and the last thing we want is to have a full-blown stress tantrum on our hands. This is a time to be gentle, easy going, and inviting with your older kiddos. If we give them space and choices (do you want to sit or lay down with the baby? Do you want to kiss or hold the baby’s hand?) the more likely we are to capture some really special moments. Another tip I have is to talk with your older child/ren during the week ahead of the session about what’s going to happen. Preparing them ahead of time is key. Pull up my instagram on your phone, show them some photos, explain the importance of listening during the upcoming session, and being very gentle with their new sibling. With some prep, you’ll find that they’ll be more likely to be excited to participate and looking forward to showing off their new baby sibling! 

The main takeaway here is to relax, play with your kids, take the pressure off, and you’ll have some beautiful photos.

Here’s a couple tips I wanted to send you before we meet up:

Connect with your family on the day. There’s nothing worse than starting the shoot absolutely frazzled and rushed and disconnected. Give yourself grace on the day, and remember that nothing is more important than the love you share with your family.

Embrace what comes, whatever unfolds. Every shoot is unique, and we have no set-in-stone pattern. It’s all about capturing your life and family exactly how it is on the day of your shoot.