How to Prepare for At Home Newborn Pictures

Welcoming a newborn into your family is a beautiful and fleeting season, and documenting these early days with at-home newborn pictures ensures you’ll have heartfelt memories to look back on. As a Jacksonville newborn photographer, I love helping clients create these memories in the most natural, honest, and nostalgic way. Memories that show your family in your most authentic forms. Here are my top tips for preparing for your in-home session.

1. Choosing the Right Time

Newborns are sleepiest within the first two weeks of life, making this the ideal time for having your session. But not all babies are great sleepers, which is totally fine, and even the moments when they’re awake, make for amazing images. If your baby is older than two weeks, having family photos is also a great idea!

2. Keep the Home Cozy and Comfortable

A warm and cozy space is key to keeping your baby happy during the session. I recommend keeping your baby up 1-2 hours prior to your session, and feeding them upon my arrival! I also recommend cranking up the heat in the home as well (between 75-78 degrees).

3. Find the Best Lighting

Natural light creates soft, and beautiful images- so consider where, and what time your home gets the best natural light prior to your session. Rooms with large windows and neutral-colored walls work best. As your Jacksonville newborn photographer, I am happy to help finding the perfect spots in your home for dreamy, light-filled pictures. I have a lot of clients send pictures of the spaces in their home beforehand, and I also take a walk around to get a good feel of where the best lighting is!

4. Choose Neutral, Soft-Toned Outfits

While I am all for coordinating all colors, I do feel that neutral and pastel tones photograph beautifully and keep the focus on baby. Simple onesies, swaddles, and lightweight fabrics are best!

5. Declutter Key Areas

Keeping in mind the areas of your home that you’d like to use, be sure to have them presented the way you want them in photos. I am all for embracing the mess and chaos, and if that is the way you want it, let’s go! But it is just something to think about beforehand.

6. Be Ready to Go with the Flow

Any session that invloves babies or kids, is going to be led by them! Be prepared for breaks to let baby or siblings have a bottle, nurse, or snack. I am a go with the flow type of photographer, and even these moments I love to photograph, because it is a part of your story! So do not feel that you need to rush, or have everyone and everything in order.

7. Include the Whole Family

At home newborn pictures are the perfect opportunity for updated family photos as well. Documenting this sweet time is for the entire family. The emotions and excitement that come with having a new member in the family, create the perfect tangeable memories. The sweet kisses, hugs, and heartfelt connections between the family are worth it!

8. Trust Your Photographer

As your jacksonville newborn photographer, I approach all of my sessions with a storytelling and documentary vibe. I believe as a family, maternity, and newborn photographer, and a mama myself- we go through so many seasons as a family, and the traditional “sit and smile” or super posed images are not for this niche. Kids go so fast and, and their personalities are ever so developing. Documenting these moments in the most honest and natural way are super important. How do you want to remember your family through images?

By following these tips, we can create the perfect atmosphere for documenting the perfectly imperfect at-home newborn pictures. If you’re looking for a Jacksonville newborn photographer to document this precious time, I’d love to chat and help you plan your session!