Preparing for your lifestyle newborn photoshoot
Huge congratulations on your new arrival! I'm thrilled to be part of this special chapter in your family's story.
This guide is to help you prepare for your lifestyle newborn photoshoot, capturing the real, collective 'you' as a family. It's all about how you interact together, your connection with each other, and your shared moments of love and connection.
Preparing your home
Natural light
Choose the room or rooms in your home that receive the most natural light. We’ll turn off all the interior lights. Don’t worry if it seems a bit dark, it will look a lot brighter in the photos.
declutter
Don't stress about getting things spotless. Choose a couple of areas that would be good for the photos, and enlist a family member to tidy those up. Sweeping surface clutter in to a drawer does the trick. (Not you, Mama - you’re working hard enough already!)
Keep it cosy and comfortable
Maintain a warm temperature in the room to keep your baby cosy and content during the shoot. You should feel comfortable in a T-shirt. Go warmer if we’re planning some unclothed photos of your baby.
Preparing baby
Opt for simple and comfortable clothing, such as onesies or swaddles.
If you can, feed your baby just before your session so they’ll be ready to sleep. Brand new babies wake up and cry when they’re hungry - these are the days of sleep, feed, poo, repeat! I’m here for all of that but we’ll aim to start with some snuggly-sleepy baby portraits, and then capture life as it unfolds.
Keep wipes, blankets, covers, nappy sacks etc to hand for quick clean ups.
Be prepared to break for feeds and nappy changes - I expect several such breaks, don’t stress about it. I can also capture some intimate moments between baby and mama at feeding time, if you’re comfortable with that.
Preparing yourself
Dress for comfort
Wear light and breathable clothing to ensure you're comfortable during the session. Soft and neutral colours often work well together (on you and baby). If possible, avoid bright white, pure black and dark navy.
Embrace fun and spontaneity
Don't feel tempted to constantly look and smile at the camera. Instead, focus on each other and baby and let the genuine moments unfold naturally.
Be connected and present
With my family photography, I aim to emphasise the authentic bond between you as a family. Lean towards each other, hold hands, and snuggle in your usual way.
Trust in the process
Allow yourself to be guided, but remember that my directions are just starting points, not poses you have to hold. I’m aiming to capture what happens in between: the way you genuinely connect and interact with each other.
And remember that baby will probably do whatever we don’t expect or plan for, and that’s also fine!
This is an opportunity to record your love, connection, and the vibe that defines your family in this moment. Relax and enjoy the experience of creating memories together. I can't wait to work with you and your lovely family!