Are wondering how to prepare for an in-home newborn photoshoot? In the below guide, I’ll go over the best time of day for your session, how to schedule in advance, ways to prepare your home, and how to include the whole family for a fun experience. Keep reading for more.
How To Prepare Your Home For a Newborn Photoshoot
Upon booking, I provide my families with a newborn photoshoot prep guide. This allows you an inside look at my top tips and tricks for helping to prepare your home for your newborn photoshoot. As a mom, I understand that life with a newborn, while a cherished and memorable time in your life, can also tend to make things feel topsy-turvy. I don’t expect you to undergo a deep cleaning or even completely reorganize your home before my arrival.
However, there are a few small tips I can provide you with to help you ready your home. Small action items that will ensure our time together is spent producing memorable photos of your newborn and the rest of the family. First, we will more than likely be spending some time in the nursery. A quick tidy-up the night before will help the setting immensely. Remove the diaper pail from the room (yes, completely!) and ensure that any burp clothes or stray clothing is removed from around the nursery. This includes piles on the changing table or nursery chair. These items can be tucked away in a closet, basket, or another corner of your home for the time being. In addition to moving stray items, when the morning of our session arrives, you’ll want to open all the blinds in the nursery and shut off the lights.
Best Time of Day for Newborn Photos
The best time of day to schedule your newborn photos is typically mid-morning, around 10 am. Mornings tend to have fewer interruptions than the afternoon or evening. Giving you the space to focus on this experience as it unfolds. I typically recommend this time frame for several reasons.
Sweet bundled newborns are so much more content in the morning. In fact, they are usually still a little sleepy. This will allow us to move them from pose to various locations of your home with little to no fuss on their end.
Next, the morning light, during any season tends to be at its brightest around mid-morning. As a newborn photographer, I have to admit, morning light is nothing short of magical. Remember how I mentioned opening up the blinds on the morning of your session? Our goal for your newborn photoshoot is to be drenched in the warmth of the golden rays. This effect produces beautiful images during your in-home family photography experience
Additionally, if there are older siblings participating in the newborn photoshoot, mid-morning is a great time of day for them as well. It’s right after breakfast but just before lunch. They’ll have a full belly and be ready to explore and have fun. All without being overwhelmed or tired out from the events of the day. This will allow us to create a fun experience during the photoshoot for them as well.
Lastly, working together in the morning provides us with the ability to move along at a pace that works for you. We can take our time and enjoy every moment without feeling rushed, or pushed along on a specific deadline. Spouses and significant others can participate in the photoshoot and go back to work if they are no longer on leave. A morning photoshoot also provides you with the rest of the day to relax, nap, and tend to the needs of your family without feeling exhausted or overwhelmed.
Best Age to Photograph Newborns
The best age to capture newborn photos is right around 2-3 weeks. Of course, you might be wondering how to schedule your newborn photoshoot to ensure it falls within this time frame. The best advice I can give you would be to reach out during your third trimester. From there we can schedule the photoshoot for a date that falls 2-4 weeks after your due date. Or, we can pick a date that will be best for you to be up and moving during the session. By getting a date on a calendar, you will have one less thing to worry about as you prepare for the experience of birthing. I know that many times, the experience of birthing does not always go as hoped or planned. This is why I allow room in my schedule for families to move the date of their newborn session if needed. Your and baby’s health is of the utmost importance, and experiencing this beautiful moment together is so much more than just ‘taking a few photos’.
How Long is a Newborn Photoshoot?
First and foremost, a newborn photoshoot should never feel rushed. Welcoming a new baby into the family is a beautiful moment that should be savored and celebrated by all. Typically, my in-home newborn photoshoots last an hour and a half. This gives us the time and space to stop for feedings and changes as needed. However, I do recommend trying to feed your baby around 10 minutes before the start of the session. This will ensure they are full, happy, and ready for their big moment in front of the camera. Also, a clean diaper and change of clothes will put the baby in contented bliss. Thus allowing us to start off on the right foot.
Newborn Family Pictures
I touched on this a bit, but your newborn session is more than just photos of your sweet newborn. It’s a chance for you to come together for newborn family pictures. Whether that includes siblings or a family fur baby, your time in front of the camera will include different groupings. Ensuring everyone gets to spend time with each other, and with baby.
Newborn Poses With Mom
My approach to family and newborn photography is to focus on the love and joy that exists in your family. The moments where bright smiles erupt in between newborn yawns and toddler giggles. Oftentimes, moms will ask if I will assist them in posing. While I will guide you through the process, my goal is not to instruct you on how to sit or stand. My job as your newborn photographer is to let the moments unfold naturally. Immortalizing the bliss you feel when holding your tender newborn baby in your arms. It’s less about instructing you where to put your hands and more about allowing you to revel in the delight of the moment.
Newborn Photoshoot Minnesota
Are you ready to learn about the next steps in scheduling your newborn photoshoot in Minnesota? You can learn more about the packages and experience I offer, at this link. Or, to view more of my work, you can take a peek inside some of my most recent newborn photoshoots in Minnesota, below.
