If you’re searching Google for “newborn photography near me”, chances are you’re expecting a little one and can’t wait to have your precious moments documented. Congratulations, sweet mama. Here at KKP, we believe that investing in newborn photography is among one of the best investments you can make- one that will surely only grow in value with each passing year.

After all, it’s true what they say- babies don’t keep.

Cozy, in-home newborn sessions are perfect for capturing real life in those first, hazy days as a new family. Imagine looking back at these photos 20, 30, 50 years from now and remembering what it was like to bring your baby home- the place where you will spend so much time together over the coming years. There is a reason why these sessions are so popular- what is more sentimental than capturing your family’s story in the place where it unfolds?

Newborn Photography Near Me: What to Expect

Most in-home newborn sessions take place in the following areas of the home:

• master bedroom for snuggly, laying down shots
• main living area, kitchen or dining room for a casual, “this is our everyday” feel
• baby’s nursery, to remember their first bedroom

Of course, it all comes down to light and your personal preferences. Some families spend weeks and months preparing the perfect nursery and want it documented, while others don’t plan to do anything until after baby is old enough to sleep in their own room. That’s the beauty of these sessions, they are so personal and unique to you, your family and your beautiful story.

Newborn Photography Near Me: When to Book

The beauty of in-home newborn sessions is the flexibility we have around scheduling them. While most newborn sessions take place between two and three weeks of life, we have photographed newborns anywhere from 6 days old, all the way to a month and even older. There are benefits to both approaches.

Benefits of Young Babies (1-2 weeks old)

The younger baby is, the more likely they are to sleep throughout their session. When babies are first born, they often have their days and nights confused – that is, they sleep during the day and are awake throughout the night. This allows us to capture a very sleepy little one, which does make things move a little more efficiently when it comes to posing and moving quickly through the session. They also change a lot in the first month of life, so capturing them early allows you to remember exactly what your new baby looked like when they first entered your world.

Newborn Photography Near Me: Benefits of Older Babies (3-4+ weeks)

There is a reason why most parents opt for the 3 week period to capture baby. By now, you’ve gotten into a good rhythm with sleeping (or adapting to lack of sleep), changing bums, soothing baby, and feel a bit more like yourself after delivery. Babies also tend to get pack on a few pounds by the three and four week mark, so they have a bit more chunk to document, and are more easily content to go a bit longer between feeds. By this point, jaundice is usually out of baby’s system – allowing them to be captured as you’d like to remember them, not little yellow versions of their cute self.

Three and four week old babies still tend to sleep contentedly, too, so you don’t have to worry about not getting those sweet, snoozy shots.

Edmonton Newborn Photography: Preparing for Your In-Home Newborn Session

Preparing to have your newborn photos done at home can feel stressful, but we work hard to make sure that you’re as relaxed as possible. Here are a few simple things to prepare before your session- and you can leave the rest up to us!

• Declutter the spaces we’ll be shooting in (aka, tuck away phone chargers, water bottles, etc). By clearing the space of any unnecessary distractions, you’re allowing you and your beautiful family to be the focus of the portraits. Don’t worry about cleaning – the photos won’t show dirt!
• Open all curtains and blinds, and turn off all lights. But if you forget, I’ll always do this before getting started!
• Feed baby as much as possible leading up to our session, so their tummy is nice and full and they’re snoozy just as we’re about to begin. But don’t stress- we’ll always stop for snack breaks as often as baby needs!
• Have some quiet activities for older siblings, and don’t expect too much of your older kiddos. Toddlers will come and go as they please, and by managing your expectations for the level of involvement, it reduces the pressure. I promise, we’ll get the important shots with big brother or sister without any stress on their part.
• Relax, have fun and love on your family. This is the most important one. By allowing yourself to relax and enjoy the beautiful little one that you’ve made, you will allow us to capture the most genuine, stunning portraits.

For more tips, such as preparing for your newborn session, check out this blog post.

To see this sweet family’s maternity session, check out this blog post.

Expecting in 2023? Our KKP First Year Collection captures every important milestone in baby’s magical first year of life. From their first days at home to their first wobbly steps, and every big moment in between, our First Year Collection is the most popular among sentimental mothers. We have a few remaining spots for 2023. Let’s plan your Edmonton newborn photography session! Learn more about the KKP Experience here, and come say hello! I can’t wait to preserve your most special moments with the ones you love.

All film scanned by The Canadian Film Lab
Hair and Makeup for mama by Luxe Beauty
Mama’s dress and baby’s swaddle are from the KKP Client Closet
All images by Edmonton Newborn Photographer, Kahla Kristen Photography