Hi Mama,
If you're reading this then that probably means you're planning for a baby, pregnant and looking for a newborn photographer or you just had a baby and need a photographer ASAP... SO CONGRATULATIONS! I wrote this blog post to help you feel prepared for your upcoming session and result in photos you love and will cherish for a lifetime.
I get it, the idea of having a photo session in your own home feels a little overwhelming. The most common concerns I hear are:
- My house is dark and doesn't get good lighting.
- I don't like my decor.
- Do I have to clean my whole house?
So I want to clear up some of these misconceptions and offer you some of my top tips for your in-home lifestyle newborn session.
NUMBER ONE: "GOOD" LIGHTING IN YOUR HOME
I have a few thoughts on this topic so wanted to break it down for you. First, "good" lighting is relative. What I mean by that is what you as a homeowner may views as good lighting may differ than what works best for a photographer. In my past 10 years as a photographer, I have never once walked into a home and said "sorry, its too dark, this won't work" haha. All you need is a few good windows, a brightly lit corner, or an open front door. Your whole house doesn't need to have light streaming into every window. I shoot a majority of my newborn sessions in the master bedroom and nursery but if your guest room gets the best light, then that's where we will be. Maybe the light is best in your dining room or a random hallway... and I believe you can make magic and capture genuine photos just about anywhere. I don't go into sessions with exact poses I want to capture but instead let the session flow with the home and the people in it. Finding a photographer who understands light, how to use it, and has the ability to get creative is so important!
NUMBER TWO: DECOR
Let me start by saying this - unless your Joanna Gaines or some influencer who relies on having a perfectly staged house... NO ONES HOUSE IS PEREFCT. That Pinterest version of your house is not what makes it a home. We really need to normalize homes and what they truly look like. So mama, what your house looks like truly does not matter. Its the people its filled with, how you interact with one another and all the little things that make your family who they are. Embrace it all!
But I am also a human who has Pinterest and IG and have definitely been there... I get it. But would you guess that in a lifestyle newborn session maybe 10% of your home is actually in the photos? For example- the session below. We took 90% of the photos in the master bedroom and the guest bedroom. They had a gorgeous home but very little of it is actually on display. Instead, focus on one or two areas in your home you love and let me worry about the rest.
NUMBER THREE: CLEANING YOUR HOME
Let's just refer back to number one and two shall we? I would never expect every square inch of your home to be clean because A- you live there and B- you just had a baby! Show yourself some grace mama! I could care less that there are dishes in the sick, sibling toys spewed across the floor or crumbs from breakfast on the counter. Literally none of that matters. All I ask of any client before a session is tidy up 3 areas of your home, the master bedroom, the nursery and one area in your home you love. Noticed I didn't say CLEAN, I don't want you scrubbing the floors and dusting every inch. Instead, clear nightstands, make the bed, and clear anything on the floor. It shouldn't take you more than a handful of minutes and definitely shouldn't feel stressful.
At the end of the day mama, the focus is on your new baby + all that love you have for them. I want to capture that genuine emotion, the joy-filled moments, the tiny baby details. It's not about your home at all, but what your family looks like just as you are.
If you'd like to get in touch about booking your own in-home newborn session in the Dallas, TX area, let's chat! I can't wait to meet you...
