How To Prepare For Your In Home Newborn Photos
Bayside & Milwaukee Newborn Photographer
Preparing for your in-home newborn session shouldn’t be stressful and by planning ahead will ensure everyone is more relaxed and we are able to capture these ever-fleeting days of your family and newborn at home. Your home is filled with memories and I love to photograph newborns in home.
HOW TO PREPARE YOUR HOME
The perk with scheduling a in-home newborn photo session is you don’t have to get everyone out the door for photos, you get to stay in the comfort of your home. Here’s a few tips to help make sure your home is ready for your photo session.
Determine ahead of time which rooms we will photograph in. I usually recommend a nursery, master bedroom and/or living room, also paying attention to which rooms have the most natural light
Declutter - Decluttering is more important than actually cleaning the house. Look at the main rooms we will photograph in and move clutter out of the way (even if it’s just hiding behind the couch temporarily) or anything that would be a distraction.
Warm baby = happy baby. The morning of your session, adjust the thermostat to make the rooms we will photograph in warmer than you may typically keep them.
HOW TO PREPARE BABY
Your baby will be happiest if they have a full belly, please feed baby right before their session to assure they are content and sleepy. Also, dress baby in their “photo outfit” before your last feed, incase baby falls asleep after eating, then you don’t have to wake them again.
Your baby is essentially the boss of the photo session, if your baby needs to be changed or fed, we will take a break. We will go with the flow of your little ones and be flexible with their needs.
HOW TO PREPARE YOUR OLDER KIDS
Well rested, well fed little ones along with a pre-session pep talk can make a huge difference. Most in-home newborn sessions are scheduled in the morning to make sure everyone is happy and not due for a nap soon.
Offering a healthy snack to your little ones before your session will help make sure they don’t get hangry during your session. I also recommend eating the snack before putting on their photo ready outfit to avoid spills.
Prepping your children with what we will be doing during the photo session, along with do’s and don’ts is very helpful in a smooth running session. I’m also not above a bribe/reward for good behavior. Assure your kids this will be fun and we will definitely laugh.
My last step is don’t stress! I swear kids and babies pick up on if mom and dad are stressed. Remember I’m not there to capture the perfect family, I’m there to capture your family honestly, the good, the crazy and everything in between.
