I know, first hand, how stressful it can be to have your newborn session in-home. You’ve just had a baby, you’re beyond exhausted, and your house feels like a tornado went off with breast pads and burp cloths and diapers scattered throughout every room. Getting yourself photo-worthy, along with your partner, baby, and any other children can feel like a marathon all on it’s own. But it doesn’t have to.
As your Edmonton newborn photographer, I will tell you time and time again that you never have to clean your house for me. Dust bunnies and dirty bathrooms will never be apparent in your photos, and as a mother to two young children myself, I will never judge the state of your home. That said, there are a few helpful tips I give my clients to help them prepare for a successful in-home newborn session.
- Tidy, don’t clean. If you have the chance (and only if you have the chance), I suggest tidying the spaces we will be shooting in. This often includes the master bedroom, living room and baby’s nursery. When I say tidy, I simply mean de-clutter anything that you don’t want in your photos. Take a quick scan of your bedside tables – do you have your cell phone, water bottle and alarm clock sitting out? Simply tuck them in a drawer or under the bed to eliminate distractions. My photography style is simple and people-centred; I always want to emphasize your love, with as few distractions as possible. And if you don’t have a chance to tidy before my arrival? Don’t sweat it. I know how hectic those first few weeks with baby are, so I will always do a quick tidy as we move throughout the house.
2. Turn off all lights, lamps and televisions, and open the blinds. Being a mostly natural-light Edmonton newborn photographer, I always ask that clients switch off all lights prior to my arrival. This includes televisions and lights in rooms we aren’t shooting in, as they can cast strange colours throughout the room that are difficult to detect with the naked eye. And if it happens to be a particularly overcast day or your home lacks natural sunlight, don’t fear! I bring along my artificial light to all in-home sessions, which mimics natural light almost as good as the real thing itself.
3. Turn up the heat. We all know how new babies love the coziness of a warm swaddle or mom and dad’s arms. That’s why I advise clients to always turn the heat up a few degrees (or place a small – and safe – portable heater in the room we’re shooting in) so that baby can continue snoozing peacefully. This way, we can easily unwrap baby’s swaddle (if they so allow) to capture those itty bitty details while keeping them comfortable and warm.
4. Think about the story you want to tell. What rooms do you want to shoot in? Did you spend hours upon hours planning the perfect nursery for your newest little family member? Let’s take some photos in there. Do you love snuggling baby while nursing in your bed? Let’s capture that. If you don’t have a strong preference, I’ll take the lead and shoot in the spaces with the best light, but I always want to know which rooms mean the most to you, so that we can be sure to document them.
5. Relax, have fun and don’t sweat the small stuff. Your baby is fussy? No problem. I’ve had babies cry throughout their entire newborn session, and minus a bit of a frazzled mom, we still had a successful session. Your husband hates photos? Your toddler is wild? You’re exhausted? All things I can help with. It’s my goal to make you, mama, feel as calm and comfortable as possible. If this means pulling out my best jokes to win over your husband, using my best teacher tricks to calm your rambunctious toddler or simply allowing you to take a few moments to pause, breathe and nurse your crying baby, I will happily do all that. I want to help you feel beautiful, and to allow you to soak up this precious time. So I will never rush you or make you feel bad about the state of your home or the ‘tude of your toddler. I’m human too, and my only job is to help you capture this magical, messy time in a way that feels natural to you.
Are you expecting? I’d love to capture this magical time in your life. Come say hello to start planning your dream in-home newborn session!
