Tempe Newborn Photographer: Preparing For Your In-Home Newborn Photo Session
Preparing for your in home newborn photo shoot may sound overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be! Getting in the right mindset is just as important as picking the right outfits or tidying up your home. Here’s the advice I give my clients that makes for the most meaningful and joyous family photos.
I’m here to tell you why it’s important to have your family photos in your home and how preparing for that doesn’t have to be a huge and daunting task. Read on for easy and stress-free tips on how to prepare yourself, your home, and your family for your in-home newborn photoshoot.
First, Why Your Home?
In-home newborn photos is something I’m 100% fully vested in. Here are several reasons that outline my philosophy.
1. This is where the magic happens. This is where you are raising your kids to be the best little humans possible before they step out into the world. It’s a very important and meaningful place.
2. Your home is also a safe place. You and your kids (and fur-babies) feel comfortable here. They can be themselves here without judgement.
3. Kids don’t feel the need to “perform” for the camera at home. I’ve found that because they are in their comfortable and safe place, they let their guard down and I see who they truly are.
4. Last, your home, apartment, or condo has personality. From the design and architecture to your favorite books and latest travel photos framed on the wall, your space tells me more about who you are and who your family is and what is important to you. And I want to capture that too.
Now let’s talk about how you can best prepare for this photo session you’ve invested in.
Tips for Home Preparation for Photoshoot
Take a deep breath. Know that a positive attitude is much more important than an impeccable home or perfectly matching outfits. The real secret for a successful session is your ability to roll with the punches. Having a newborn teaches parents very quickly that we have very little control over… well, anything. Embracing this notion during your photoshoot will make things go smoother.
Be flexible. It’s helpful to remain flexible and open to surprises other than hoping that everything goes according to plan. Because spoiler alert: It won’t! On the other hand, the unplanned moments can make for the most beautiful images. Still the point is be flexible.
So how to put yourself in the right mindset?
Take a moment to collect yourself before taking photos.
Ask the photographer for a break if things feel too crazy.
Focus on your new baby. Take in all the little details to help you refocus on them versus being in your head.
It doesn’t have to be perfect. As far as I’m concerned, there is no such thing as perfect. And your house, condo, or apartment isn’t either. So just let it go (cue Elsa in her frozen castle). I want your house to look lived in and loved, like a real family hangs out there. To me, the untidy tells a bit of a story, your story. And one last thing to note about this: it is my job to tell your story through my eyes, so if there’s a bit too much clutter then I’ll help you move it, or I’ll change angles so it won’t show up in the photos.
Before going on a mass tidying and cleaning session, let’s talk. I typically have a pre-session consult with every family I work with to get to know you better and vice versa, and figure out a session game plan. Besides talking about what is important to you (wardrobe and everything else) we talk about your living space. It doesn’t matter if it’s small or large, messy or clean, updated or not! We figure out which rooms we’ll mostly be shooting in for the session. These are the rooms you will want to focus on – not the entire space! Pick 1-3 rooms you’d like to use for your at-home newborn photos and don’t worry about preparing the rest of the house.
If you’ve been working on that beautiful nursery, now is the time to show it off. Otherwise, the parents’ bedroom is often a great spot for baby portraits and family photos. I suggest light and simple bedding to avoid clashing with outfit options and letting you shine in the photos.
Finally, the living room tends to work well and is the area of the house where you’re likely to be hanging out anyway.
I’ve also seen other rooms work such as the kitchen or patio. I’ll help you select the best areas within those rooms based on lighting and other factors. Don’t worry about cleaning up your whole home. Most areas won’t appear in your newborn photos, and you don’t need to do it for the sake of your photographer. Newborn photographers have seen it all!
After the arrival of a new baby, you will suddenly have more stuff in your home than ever before and less time and energy to clean it all up. Focus on the areas you want to feature and tidy those up. Put away items such as:
Laptops
Computer cables
Dirty socks/laundry
Dirty dishes/bottles
Phones
Phone Chargers
Lamps on, recessed lighting off. Recessed lighting creates weird shadows on faces and gives skin a yellow tint, so feel free to turn them all off. Lamps, however, are cozy and give warmth to a room, so please have them on. Open window shades in the rooms we’ll be shooting in. And don’t worry – if you feel like your home or apartment is really dark – maybe too dark for photos, it is my job to have a solution for that.
We may move furniture around. Many times I move furniture based on the light in your space or to make a pleasing composition (like moving a plant or coffee table or rocking chair).
I will ask you if kids can do certain things they normally may not be allowed to do, like stand on a table or the kitchen counter, jump on the sofa or bed, or sit on a windowsill. I will always ask you in private first if it is okay! If it is not okay, don’t hesitate to tell me so! You are the parent and always have first say.
Be prepared to snuggle. This is my absolute most important tip for preparation…why didn’t I put it at number 1? Anyway, I digress, I love to take time during my sessions to have the family snuggle all together on a bed. Typically the best bed is your bed – the biggest one! It is helpful to have clothes and other items cleared off the bed before. If you have a fun colorful quilt or a clean and simple bedspread or duvet, put that on top. Your bed doesn’t have to be made, though, unless you cringe at the thought.
Pets are invited in on the fun! They will be really curious about me and what we’re doing. They’ll maybe bark at me (totally okay), lunge at me (has happened before), jump up on me (yep, that too and I have a doggie that has no manners in regards to this as well), be scared of me, or smile at me. I love all of it. They are part of the family, so let’s get them in the photos. Just have some treats handy!
Have fun and enjoy the session. The session really is an adventure we get to go on together. I will direct you on where to be, how to sit and what to do. If we need to move stuff or tweak a few things in your rooms, we’ll do it together! I’m up front and will tell you what’s working and what’s not. Enjoy the process and enjoy having a fun, relaxing time with your family and I’ll do the rest! I know telling someone to relax, especially when they have a big camera pointed at their face, is easier said than done. But this is important because your mood will show up in your photos. Additionally, you’ll only love your final images as much as you enjoyed your experience. The two things really go hand-in-hand.
To summarize, the trick is to stay as present as possible. How do you do this? Focus on your partner. Focus on your baby. Take time to slow down and enjoy your family. Look at your new baby’s little face, their little hands, their little feet. Watch their expression change as they sleep or feed. I’ll work my magic while that baby work’s their newborn magic on you. Thank you for choosing me and I can’t wait to do this!
Tempe, Arizona Newborn Photographer | Shannon Ly Photography
If you haven’t booked your in-home newborn session yet, send me a message now and let’s chat!
