Date

06/16/21

Trying to figure out what type of newborn session is right for you? Take a look at some of these tips to make sure you schedule the right kind of session for your family.

Is Your Home Right For A Lifestyle Newborn Session

The Woodlands Family Photographer

Ashley Newman Photography

Oh, you’re the shape of my days Oh, you’re my holy place And I know Everything’s good Everything’s just as it should be When you’re alone with me This is real, this is life, this is beautiful. Thank you, Smith family, for letting me be a part of your beautiful, amazing family. Playing with t-rex, kisses on baby Theo’s feet and yogurt smoothies. These are the days that go too quickly.

Lifestyle newborn photography is my heart- if you are a relaxed, cozy and connected family, then it may be the perfect way to document your new baby. I love how natural and organic it feels. And even better, you can literally do a session like this no matter how old your baby is.

Is Your Home A Good Fit?

Comfort Level: First, consider you comfort level! A lot of people are thinking about COVID and germs these days. Many new parents are considering in-home sessions to avoid busy studios or high-traffic places. An in-home session is perfect, because you get to stay in the comfort of your own space while we come to you!
If you would rather not having a photographer in your home, this is not the session for you. On a personal level, I am vaccinated against COVID-19, I will always wear an N95 mask when I come into your home, and I practice standard health and hygiene care. Your health is incredibly important to me, especially with a new baby!
Lighting: Simply put, does your house have good light? And if you like to keep it darker, can blinds or shades be opened to let natural light in?
My best advice is to pay attention to these three rooms- the nursery, the living room, and the master bedroom. Check your rooms about midday, open up blinds or shades if you need to, and make sure you have plenty of light coming in. If you are not sure, send photos of those three spaces to me and i can tell you if the space will work or not 🙂
Posing: This is a huge one- do you want this posed newborn photos where your baby is all curled up in a bucket? Or are you the kind of family that would rather just snuggle on a bed together? I generally wrap and pose your newborn for our session, but the way I work is baby-led, which means I follow your baby’s lead. Some babies do not want to be wrapped, some are too old to be wrapped. Think about your vision for the photos and make sure a lifestyle session (more organic and raw) is what you want.
Style & Decor: Consider the style of your home. Our house is older and has some weird little nooks and spaces. There are parts of my home that are dark and would never make for good pictures inside. If you are ever in doubt, I am happy to look at photos and let you know if the space will work.
Another thing to think about it the wya you have your house decorated. If you have darker furniture and decor, that could make it harder. More neutrals and lighter colors tend to photograph better. (Check out the session below! This family had a wall of windows and a lot of neutral and white furniture!).
Tidiness: Another thing to think about is how much cleaning and tidying you want to do. I mean, let’s be honest, you just had a baby. If the thought of having to pick up, tidy areas of your house and prepare to have a photographer come into your home makes you want to punch someone in the face, let’s maybe consider outside photos, huh? But in all seriousness, I will be coming through and moving furniture, and helping to take some distracting items out of the frame for the photos. So I’m here to help, (i get it, I have three children so clutter is my middle name) but cleaning up definitely takes up time and adds to your load- especially after having a newborn.
Plan B: If all of these things have convinced you that perhaps an in-home session is not right for you, never fear! We have options! Thankfully, Texas is pretty warm most of the time, so we can always do an outdoor newborn session. I honestly LOVE them so so much! No matter what you choose to do, it’s just important that you capture it.

Ok, so are you ready to see a family that pulled it all off?! Your home doesn’t have to be perfect. Your family doesn’t have to be perfect. Just capture it all in it’s wonderful, beautiful chaos.