Your Guide To In-Home Newborn Photography

Your guide to In-home newborn photography: In-home newborn photography enables you to capture the beauty and love of welcoming your child into the world, at your very own home. This post will help you feel more comfortable and prepared for newborn photos (and we all know that a little more excitement and ease is welcome during this season). 

P.S. While this guide was created to help you prepare and answer any worrying questions, your only true job is to be yourself. If you focus on connecting with your family and enjoying the experience, it’ll be so simple and effortless for your photographer to capture your heart with their images. If we’re working together, please read through my newborn style guide (sent to you when you book) for even more outfit tips and a checklist to help you prepare for our time together too.

Why consider in-home newborn photography

In-home newborn photography allows these moments to feel more easy and natural, which creates more authentic and connection-focused images. 

Scheduling your newborn photos at home also saves time and stress so that all you have to do is stay home and appreciate the real goodness of these early days with a newborn.

Why shouldn’t your first few captured memories of your baby’s life be at the home? (I, for one, love how this kind of photography can really capture the stage of life you’re in!)

In-home newborn photography: your guide

When to take newborn photos

Within the first 10 days is usually recommended for newborn photography as this is when the baby is sleeping for long stretches of time. (I prefer the first week for a sleepier, more restful experience — for you and the baby.) 

Yes, the exact photography session date will change depending on when your baby is born! Communicate with your photographer (or ask a partner/family member to do so) when baby arrives. I ask for an email within 48 hours so we can confirm a date and time for the newborn photos within that first week if possible.

When to book your newborn photography session

While newborn sessions depend on when your baby is born, you will need to schedule this in advance so your photographer of choice is available. It’s best to book your newborn photographer at least 3 months in advance. Personally, I open my books 6 months in advance based on the due date. 

What time of day to take newborn photos

Trust me on this — lighting is your best friend. I always recommend the first half of the day, usually around 10 am, when the light is still soft and dreamy. This will also be the most flattering.

Choosing a location in your home

Getting your newborn anywhere can be a stressful experience, as any parent knows, but, thankfully, when you’re taking the photos at your own home, a lot of those problems fall away. 

Look for 1-2 spaces in your home with lots of natural light and soft colors. Avoid spaces that stress you out or feel cluttered. I often recommend the nursery room, living room, or the master bedroom. Be sure to have any areas where photographs will be taken cleaned — with beds made and nightstands “staged.”

Ask a loved one to help you lightly clean ahead of time. Nothing needs to be sparkling; we just want it to be inviting and free of distracting items in the background.

What should my newborn wear?

A neutral palette with a simple wrap and minimal props — that’s the gist of it. I bring a few neutral wraps (like a beige, pink, or light blue swaddle). That’s it! So don’t worry about outfits for baby.

This simplicity lets the focus stay on your newborn and makes the prep less complicated as a whole. Your photographer will most likely have their own headbands and bonnets available for a finished look (that applies to my newborn sessions too!)

Accessories like a teddy bear, baseball glove, or floral crown can add a nice touch, but remember to keep it simple! (Outfits without a theme will also age better with time.)

Interestingly enough, removing the complexity leads to a luxury feel. Your baby enclosed in the warmth of a simple wrap with a timeless headband will photograph beautifully.

P.S. If you’re working with me, I have a client closet for postpartum mothers, and of course bonnets and headbands for the baby.

What kind of photos do I want?

It’s super important to know the answer to this question going into the photography session. 

Are you going to want pictures of you as parents and any siblings too? Then you will want to have outfits that will complement one another in soft neutral tones to maintain the tenderness of the newborn session. (Follow this family outfit photo guide for help here.) For dad, a simple outfit of a tailored dress shirt with slacks is great in neutral colors. For mom, wrap and maxi-length dresses are an excellent choice. Siblings always look best in soft jumpers, lace or cotton dresses, and a simple pair of khaki shorts and solid button-up shirts. 

As for the types of photos that are possible, all sorts of possibilities are at your fingertips. Here are just a few, for example

• The newborn swaddled up, sleeping peacefully
• Mom cuddling the baby in her favorite chair
• Mom and dad holding baby in the nursery room
• Parents cuddling up with the baby in their bedroom
• Mom and dad embracing as they look down at the baby cradled in their arms.
• The newborn beside their siblings or the family’s pets
• The baby in all sorts of sweet and sleepy poses
• Up close focus of baby’s features (with my macro lens!)

The temperature to set your house at

Ultimately, the baby will feel more comfortable and sleepy (especially during outfit changes) if the house is at a warm temperature. Of course, don’t bump up the heat so much that you feel uncomfortable in photos as parents, but perhaps putting a space heater near the baby during the photos will help. (Plus upping that thermostat by a few degrees.) Oftentimes, I put the temperature at about 78-80 degrees for in-studio sessions.

How to prepare on the day-of

Before the in-home newborn photography session, make sure your little one is kept awake for 2-3 hours prior to the session. When the photographer arrives, you’ll feed and change the baby so they can be full, and ready to sleep through their session. (Yes, I want my clients to feed the baby after I arrive so the sleepy benefits are immediate.) And as mentioned, set that thermostat to about 78-80 degrees!

Please eat a big breakfast beforehand so you are happy and energized too (as much as one can be during week one of newborn parenting).

How long will it take?

This depends on your newborn photographer, but most of us (myself included) follow a baby-led philosophy. This means that we’ll pace ourselves based on how baby is doing. This can take longer sometimes, as we provide the timing to let the baby relax, sleep, etc. Plan on about 2-3 hours.

Peace and calm with in-home newborn photography

With in-home newborn photography, you start a part of the parenting process in a way that is much more relaxing and in sync with your usual schedule. Time can be of the essence when it comes to capturing those first precious, warm moments of your child’s life. 

By celebrating their entry into the world in the very home they will be spending their beginning days and years, the whole experience becomes that much more joyful and unforgettable. It’s also nice to capture the sweet details of the baby’s nursery that you likely spent so much time and effort carefully curating and creating in anticipation of your baby’s arrival.

Ready for your in-home newborn session

I’m so excited to help you freeze time and capture the tender moments of these early days with your newest addition. As much as we swear we’ll remember all of the details (I know I did), I can tell you from experience that time is a thief and the memories become softer and fuzzier at the edges. Photos always bring them all back to life for us! When you are ready to book your newborn session, in-home, or otherwise, be sure to send me an inquiry before the calendar fills up. I can’t wait to connect with you!