Everything You Need to Know About In-Home Newborn Sessions
Even with the addition of the studio, we’ve continued to offer newborn sessions in-home. There are several reasons for this, but the main one is we want to make documenting those first few days of life as easy and accessible as possible for our clients.
We’ve both been there as the mama of newborn. We know how taxing it is to try to get out the door for anything with a 7-10 day old baby, much less, get out the door with hair and makeup done, an outfit on and all the rest of the family looking ready for photographs.
But, we also know that some of you may be thinking, “I’m not sure if my house is the place for our session”. Maybe you're unsure about how your space will photograph, maybe you're concerned about it being “ready” for picture day, or wonder if you have enough window light, etc. Don’t stress!
We’re answering all your newborn session questions today so you can get a better feel for what to expect!
What if I don’t have a magazine worthy home in terms of decor and style?
The highlight reel of Instagram can definitely make us all feel like our space has to be picture perfect to be worthy of being included in our session. But the truth is, most of us don’t have picture perfect homes. Your home absolutely does not have to be decorated to a “t” for your session. We promise!
The first thing we do upon arrival is do a light and location assessment so we know exactly how and where we need to set up to document your family in your space. Sometimes this looks like using available window light, it may also mean bringing in our studio lighting set up for all or part of your portrait session.
Does my house need to be spotless and totally picked up for a session? That sounds really overwhelming.
No way! Keeping any space spotless with kids and/or a newborn is practically a pipe dream. We all “live” in our homes and know that the twilight zone of newborn days makes it extra hard to keep the clutter (and dust bunnies) at bay. We will work around your lived-in rooms to create the perfect spots for your photographs. This might mean shuffling some laundry from the couch to a guest bed, or decluttering a section of kitchen counters to photograph part of your session. Do not, we repeat, do not feel the need to have a perfectly cleaned home for your session!
What if I need to nurse/feed the baby in the middle of the session?
Newborn sessions are scheduled with this in mind. We highly recommend trying to feed the baby right before your session time so they are happy and full for pictures. But, we also get that when baby is hungry, baby is hungry and there is no working around that! All in-home newborn sessions are scheduled to allow time for feeding if needed.
If my baby comes early (or late) how does this affect my session date?
This is always a possibility in the world of newborn photography. This is part of why we take extra care to not overload our calendars around your due date. If your little one decides to arrive early or late we will move things around where necessary to provide you options in the 7-14 day window post delivery. It’s also a bonus that there are two of us at Loft Creative. If for whatever reason one of us in unavailable for your session the other one can schedule it!
I have other kiddos, can my spouse and kids be in the photographs?
Yes, absolutely! Newborn sessions are about both the baby AND the family. We will photograph you all together and other various combinations - kids with baby, mom with baby, dad with baby etc.
Is there anything I can do to prep my house and family for our newborn session?
Yes, absolutely! Below are a few tips:
Bump up the air. This is a big ask of course. As your hormones are all over the map, the last thing you want is to turn up the air. But, newborns love to be warm, so we suggest turning the air just a bit to keep them from getting chilled during the session.
Prep your littles! If you have little kids, welcoming a newborn is a big change for them, and they can definitely be acting out in those first few weeks/months as they adjust to life with a new sibling. We get that, and we also get that they may not be the biggest fan of picture day. We would love it if you started talking to them a few days before the session about the fact that a photographer is coming to take their picture. You can make this fun by practicing smiles, talking about the camera and how it’s going to save memories for your family etc.
Definitely check out our post all about Prepping Your Littles for Your Portrait Session.Do not stress! Inevitably something unpredictable will happen. Either a toddler will be uncooperative, or your newborn will have a blow out. These things happen, and we fully expect them to happen. Our newborn sessions are very laid back. We will work around the puddle of tears your toddler cries when you are holding your newborn, or wait for the baby to settle when he or she spits up on their outfit. All of it comes with the territory, so do not stress when these things happen.
What should Mom wear for the session?
Great question! Postpartum bodies can feel so foreign as a mom. Your regular wardrobe probably doesn’t fit yet, and your maternity clothes may feel a little awkward. We want you to look and feel your best for the session.
Empire waist dresses, or flowy tunics are always a great choice for an in-home newborn sessions. A simple google search will pull up a plethora of options!
***We say it often to our clients, but starting with mom’s outfit and then choosing baby and other kids and/or dad’s outfit to coordinate around you is the absolute best way to approach session outfit planning.
What should we have for the baby to wear?
We bring an array of bows for our newborn baby girls, as well as gender-neutral swaddles for your session. We also recommend having a onesie, or a few other outfits that coordinate with Mom’s wardrobe choices on hand for your session.
If you re still reading, good for you! That was a lot of info. If you have any other questions about newborn sessions at Loft Creative please feel free to reach out!
If you are an expecting mother and want to schedule a newborn session we suggest you schedule your session sooner than later to guarantee availability in the portrait calendar for your session.
