There is something about a baby snuggled up in their parents arms, and being smushed and kissed by their loving siblings that makes my heart sing. Its more then the posed newborn photos perfectly swaddled, in tiny outfits in bowls and baskets , its real and comfortable and beautiful. I love lifestyle sessions for their authentic reactions , your life’s beautiful moments captured in a single shot. In-home (or in-yard) sessions also steal my heart, coming into your home to take photos, in a place already filled with the warm embraces of new marriages, laughter of family dinners, clicks of puppy paws on the floors, first steps of older siblings its THE perfect place to capture the newness of the first days and months of your baby.
But even with so many benefits maybe an in-home session seems so overwhelming in the midst of adjusting to a growing family. Let me help with some great tips!
What to wear and how to prepare
But, what would i wear? Good question! Soon enough i will have a client closet but in the mean time here’s a few ideas!
Dress nice but not to nice, we dont wear suits and gowns in our homes , beautiful dresses and khaki pants and clean shirts work well! Incorporating flowy dresses help create movement , along with different textures in your clothing. Think swiss dots, laces, tassels, rib knit, cable sweaters, gauzy or linin materials. You’ll want mostly solid neutral colours with only pops of prints ( wide stripes and florals are beautiful. Stay away from tiny patterns like checkers, tiny stripes etc )
Keep it light. Avoiding colours that are too bright or dark – they can contrast on skin and add tones and shades where they dont belong. Also avoid logos, or words as they are distracting.
Accessorize. Add a matching swaddle blanket (with texture is even better) hats, headbands also add interest and depth to your photos!
A Lifestyle newborn shoot is relaxed so there’s less taking them and wrapping and posing, more capturing them in mom and dads ( and siblings) arms and just being part of the family!
Natural light
To do in-home sessions i need as much light as possible, I dont often use flashes and like to keep it simple and natural as possible. To do this I utilize open windows and well lit areas so if possible have a few areas near the windows clutter free and window coverings are up or tucked away.
While I do my best to accommodate a time that works best for your family i try to always choose late morning or mid-day to do newborn sessions as the lighting tends to be the best then.
Please dont clean your home
Please tidy your home. Having a baby is a huge adjustment , and having four myself i know the thought of someone coming to your home right after having a baby can seem nerve wracking, but i know what that looks like, maybe a pile of spit up blankets , the coffee cups and breakfast dishes in the sinks a few gifts still not put away, its normal. Just tidy the areas that will be taking photos in , this is often the nursery , Livingroom, Master bedroom or kitchen. I can move anything that i think would be distracting in the photos if your unsure , that’s no problem!
Think of your homes linins and pillows try to have light, neutral colours on beds – blankets and pillows etc as they help bounce light and make your family pop!
Pro tip- keep your house a bit warmer then normal , this keeps then warm even if we undress or take the blankets off!
Older siblings
Many times i get to take newborn photos with older siblings included which is so so fun! let me share a few tips but also feel free to check out my post on “Let’s get your kiddos ready for fun family photos!” for more in-depth tips!
Keep it light and fun. Let them know I’m coming over to play games and take some photos of the whole family and cant wait to see them with their new baby sibling!
They will be silly and may move around and not sit still but that’s ok, especially if they are young! If they are allowed to be themselves without to much prompting i will likely capture some beautiful genuine interactions. Dont worry too much , if i need them to look at me or do something in particular i will ask them too but otherwise , lets focus on keeping it as light, stress-free and fun as possible so we can keep the happiness and excitement in the session!
Feeding and Changing
Try to make sure baby is fed before i arrive so they will be happily awake or sleepy either way. Dont forget older siblings as well, a snack and face wipe before i come makes a world of difference to keep the hangry away!
Changing bebe before feeding is a great idea, because lifestyle sessions are less posed this keeps them fresh in mom and dads arms (as much as you can – we all know babies and kids in general are unpredictable)
Include personal, memorable items
I Love when families include personal items, think jerseys , ultrasounds, special toys, handmade gifts! It helps make that photo have a story and later in life show the importance of the item included!
I always bring blankets, a few light sheets and can even bring a few outfits if requested. Sometimes we dont need them but they come in handy when i do!
I always aim to make newborn lifestyle sessions relaxed, enjoyable and fun. Creating another layer of memories in your home that you will all remember forever!
Nicole @ Dodging Life Photography
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