HOW TO PREPARE FOR NEWBORN PHOTOS
Welcoming a new baby into the world is one of life’s most beautiful and transformative experiences. A lifestyle newborn session captures that magic — not in a posed studio setup, but in the warmth and comfort of your own home. If you're wondering how to prepare for your session, you're not alone! Here's a helpful guide to ensure you feel calm, confident, and ready for those unforgettable moments.
1. Understand What a Lifestyle Session Is
Lifestyle newborn photography focuses on authentic, unposed moments that tell the story of your family. Think snuggles on the couch, your baby in their crib, siblings peeking over the bassinet, and gentle, natural light streaming through your windows.
It’s not about perfection — it’s about connection and how these early days feel.
2. When to Schedule Your Session
One of the best things about in-home newborn sessions is how relaxed and flexible they are. Unlike posed studio sessions, your baby doesn’t need to be sound asleep or molded into specific positions. That said, I typically recommend scheduling your session around two weeks after birth. At this stage, babies are still snuggly and generally content — making it a sweet spot for capturing those early moments.
If you'd prefer to wait a bit longer, that’s perfectly okay too! Older newborns can bring more eye contact, stretches, and personality to the session — every stage is beautiful in its own way.
3. Preparing Your Home (Spoiler: It Doesn’t Need to Be Perfect)
You don’t need a magazine-worthy home for beautiful photos — just good light and love.
Please don’t feel the need to deep clean your house! A quick declutter of 1-2 spaces is plenty. Popular choices to photograph include the nursery, master bedroom, and/or living room.
Let the natural light in by opening the blinds and curtains before your photographer arrives!
If you have light or neutral-colored bedding/blankets/swaddles, those can help reflect soft light beautifully, especially in darker homes.
4. What to Wear
Keep it simple and comfortable! The focus of your session should. be on your sweet baby, so I recommend choosing soft, neutral tones and classic styles that won’t distract from those intimate moments.
Parents: Light knits, cottons, or linens in white, beige, soft gray, or pastels photograph beautifully.
Baby: For babies, a simple onesie or swaddle is perfect. Have a backup handy in case of messes!
Siblings: Coordinate, but don’t match exactly. Aim for comfort and simplicity.
5. Feed and Comfort Baby Before the Session
A full belly and a warm cuddle go a long way. Try to feed your baby shortly before your session begins so they’re content. But don’t stress if they need to feed or be changed during the shoot — we take plenty of breaks!
6. Relax and Go With the Flow
Babies are unpredictable — and that’s okay! Lifestyle sessions are meant to be laid-back. Your photographer will guide you gently, but the focus is on capturing natural connections, not stiff poses.
Take a deep breath, snuggle up, and enjoy the time together as a family.
Final Thoughts
Preparing for a lifestyle newborn session doesn’t have to be stressful. With just a little planning and a lot of love, you’ll walk away with timeless images that tell the story of your family’s new beginning — exactly as it is.
