As an Ann Arbor, Michigan lifestyle newborn photographer, I love stepping into the families home and taking photos of this sweet newborn baby in their nursery and first home. Here are some ways to prepare your home, family and older siblings for an in-home lifestyle newborn session.

My first focus is the mom or birthing person. Are they comfortable after birth? Do they feel healed and not completely exhausted? I know that can take days for some, weeks for others, but taking this time to spend and bond with your baby before newborn photos is something that I think it really important.

Preparing for a newborn session in your home involves a thoughtful considerations to make sure the session runs smoothly and you are ready when the photographer arrives. Here are some ways to prepare, but remember, be gentle with yourself! Being authentic and documenting the moment is part of this process, your home and nursery never have to be perfect!

1. Choose 2 or 3 rooms in your home for photos

First, narrow down where these photos will take place, because your entire home does not need to be clean or clutter free, just the spaces where we will be taking photos. The most common photo rooms are the baby’s nursery, the parents bedroom and a front or family room with good light. Don’t stress about your home, I’m not!

2. Declutter the chosen rooms

Now that you’ve chosen the rooms to take photos in, it’s important to remove any clutter in the space. This doesn’t mean that you have to clean or pick up everything in the space, but it does mean remove things that catch your eye. There are a few easy ways to do this, you can set any items from bedside tables onto the floor between the table and bed or you can grab a basket and put items in it and place it in another room until the session is over. Again, it doesn’t have to be perfect, it’s all part of this time in your life.

3. Gather Supplies

It’s helpful to prepare the items that you’d like to include ahead of time. Select special items, blankets, and etc. that will be included in your session. These do not all have to be baby specific, consider things in your home that are special to you and place them in the locations for photos. Again, don’t stress about what you don’t get done, we will make it work no matter what!

Spare outfits for the baby, including hats, headbands, wraps, blankets and special items for the baby
Blankets or swaddles that reflect your style or color scheme
A pacifier to help soothe your baby if needed/used
Diapers and wipes

4. Outfits for Mom/Parents and Family

Deciding on your outfit is often the hardest part. I find that maternity dresses and flowy clothing items are great for these types of sessions. Finding something the person who just gave birth feels good and comfortable in is paramount! This can also be challenging because most of us don’t fit into our old jeans at 3 weeks postpartum. Find an outfit that you like first, and then if you are coordinating with family, select theirs AFTER you have chosen your outfit. It’s usually pretty easy to find something that coordinates with most colors.

If you want to do family/group photos, a maternity dress or relaxation clothing works great. (flowy dresses in the summer, cozy sweaters in the winter) If you want more intimate photos, then robes, comfy jogger sets, bra and panties/skin to skin, all work great for these sessions. We can also do both!

5. Decide on outfit for baby

First, a white onesie is always classic and simple. This allows the baby’s features to be the focus, not the fancy outfit. Also cloth diapers, or diaper covers are nice to have if you want skin to skin photos. Aside from that, most families usually have an outfit or item that is important to get photos with, so set it out and we can be sure to do it

6. Clear the Schedule

Ensure that the day of the session is free of other appointments or obligations. Allow for flexibility in case the session runs longer than expected due to feeding or soothing needs. I want this to be fun and stress free (as much as possible!) and having some other obligation on the same date can be hard on a newly postpartum family.

7. Relax

Expect that things might not go as planned. Babies can be unpredictable, so maintaining a calm and relaxed atmosphere will help everyone feel more comfortable during the session. The sessions are a relaxed 1 hour for a reason, don’t stress about the time, just enjoy yourself and treasure these memories! You’ll never take newborn photos with this baby again!

8. Communicate with Your Photographer

Share any specific ideas, themes, or requests with your photographer ahead of time. This ensures that they can prepare and meet your vision for the session.

By taking these steps, you set the stage for a successful and memorable newborn photography session in your home.

9. Prepare Your Family

If you have other kiddos, pets or grandparents that will be a part of the session, that’s great! Everyone is welcome and I love giving photos that will span generations. It’s important to prep anyone in the house to be ready to be in photos. With younger kids, it can help to tell them what will happen and what it will look like. But I’m a parent myself and I know toddlers have a mind of their own (just like 13 year olds ;) and we will just roll with it!

How to Prepare for an In-Home Newborn Session