Nottingham Family Photographer

Newborn Photography 101

How to Prepare for a Natural Lifestyle Session at Home

How to prepare for a Natural Lifestyle Newborn Photography at home

Welcome to my comprehensive guide on lifestyle newborn photoshoots at home!

As a professional photographer who specialises in capturing the precious moments of a newborn’s arrival, I understand how important it is to document these memories in a beautiful and meaningful way that you will cherish for a lifetime.

In this guide, I will take you through everything you need to know about a lifestyle newborn baby photography at home, from what to expect during the shoot to how to prepare for it. But first, let me explain what makes this type of photography unique.

To learn more about the beauty and significance of capturing these moments, visit Celebrating New Beginnings: Captivating Moments in Lifestyle Newborn Photography.

Father kissing baby’s forehead during a lifestyle newborn photoshoot at home in Nottingham, with mother holding the baby lovingly.
A newborn baby lying awake on a soft fluffy blanket during a newborn photoshoot at home.

Natural Lifestyle Newborn Photography in Home Eastwood

Unlike traditional newborn photography, which often involves posed shots in a studio setting, lifestyle newborn baby photography captures the natural and intimate moments of you and your newborn baby at home. It’s about creating memories that reflect your family’s unique personality and style, rather than just getting the perfect shot.

For additional inspiration, explore this Newborn Photoshoot at Home blog post to see how relaxed and natural sessions can be.

By choosing a lifestyle newborn photoshoot at home, you will be able to look back on these photos and remember the little details that made your newborn baby arrival so special – the way they yawned, the way they curled up in your arms, the way they looked up at you with those big, beautiful eyes.

I hope this guide will be helpful in preparing for your upcoming family photo session and that you will cherish the memories captured to treasure forever.

Welcome to the world of lifestyle newborn photography!

First and foremost, I would like to welcome you to this guide and thank you for considering me newborn photographer to capture the precious moments of your newborn baby arrival at home. 

In this guide, I will give you a brief overview of the benefits of a lifestyle nottingham newborn photo session at home.

Parents smiling at each other while holding their baby during a relaxed lifestyle newborn photography session at home in Derby.
Black and white photo of parents smiling while holding their baby during a lifestyle newborn photoshoot in Nottingham.
Father cradling newborn baby during a lifestyle newborn photography session at home in Nottingham.
Black and white photo of parents smiling while holding their baby during a lifestyle newborn photoshoot in Nottingham.

What is most important in a Natural Lifestyle Newborn Photography at the home?

Lifestyle newborn photography is different from traditional photography sessions in that it focuses on capturing natural and candid moments of the newborn and the family in their home environment. This approach results in beautiful images that are more intimate and meaningful, as they reflect the family’s personality and lifestyle. Examples of lifestyle newborn photography can include the baby sleeping in its crib, the new parents holding the baby, or the family gathering together in the living room.

The most important thing in a newborn session is to show the unique bond between you and your baby and the feelings that overwhelm you. You know best how exciting a moment is the arrival of a new, tiny householder in your home. That’s all that comes to your mind about this event, I want to create memories and capture them in beautiful photos.

Family relaxing with their newborn baby on a bed during a lifestyle photoshoot at home in Nottingham.
Parents gazing lovingly at their newborn baby during a natural lifestyle newborn photography session in Nottingham.

What's the best time for a newborn photo session?

A newborn session most often takes place during the first dozen or so days of a baby’s life. During this time, the baby is still moving and arranging itself just like in the mother’s belly. It will only be like that for a short time after your arrival in the world, so it’s worth keeping those moments for longer.

The first days of life have one more advantage – in many cases, the baby is extremely calm then and sleeps most of the day. Maybe he won’t even realise something is up because he’ll just sleep through the session.

Curious about capturing fleeting newborn moments? Check out Memory Can Be Fleeting: Fortunately, There Is BabyPhotography.

How to prepare for Natural Lifestyle Newborn Photography in Home?

You don’t have to make any special preparations, clean the apartments or dress up in a special way.

In fact, it is enough to clean up the area where we will take photos – bury unnecessary items, and cover the bed with a nice bedspread. If it turns out that something enters the frame, I will postpone it myself, I will rearrange it so as not to interrupt your moments together.

It is important to note that the focus of the photoshoot will be on the baby and its surroundings, so don’t worry about having a perfectly clean house. The newborn photo session will be relaxed and natural, and I will work with you to ensure that everyone feels comfortable and at ease.

For wardrobe inspiration, visit the Client Wardrobe Catalogue for Nottingham Photography, which provides a range of options perfect for family photoshoots.

For more tips on styling, read What to Wear for a Family Photoshoot.

Family sitting on a bed, holding their newborn baby during a natural photography session at home in Nottingham.
Mother lying next to her newborn baby during a lifestyle photography session in Nottingham.

What's the best time for a baby photo shoot?

During the Natural Lifestyle Newborn Photography in the home, it is best to dress in neutral colours – white, grey, earth tones, beige, subdued greens, and denim. The same principle applies to the bedding or bedspread shown in the photo.

Forget about flashy prints, neon colours and shiny fabrics – they will unnecessarily distract from what is most important in the photos.

What you really need to take care of is your attitude. Parents often ask, “What if my baby starts crying? What if it’s cranky or you have to rewind it? ” Well, we’ll wait for a better moment and that’s it.

Photographing babies is characterised by the fact that their main characters can be unpredictable. You have to come to terms with the fact that your baby will behave as he wants. And not necessarily as we wish. And that’s totally fine! We cannot expect anything from a little boy. We can, however, make good use of what He gives us.

Father holding his newborn baby during a lifestyle newborn photography session at home in Nottingham.
Family smiling at their newborn baby during a cozy and relaxed lifestyle newborn photography session in Nottingham.
Father holding his newborn baby during a lifestyle photography session, focusing on the natural bond between them in Nottingham.
Newborn baby resting on mother’s lap during a lifestyle photography session at home in Nottingham.

What to Expect During Your Photoshoot

Newborn baby resting on father’s shoulder while the mother watches lovingly during a lifestyle photoshoot in Nottingham.

Before Your Shoot

Before the photoshoot, we will work together to schedule a preferred date that works best for you and your family. Additionally, I will provide you with some tips for preparing your home for the newborn photo session, including suggestions for what to wear. It is important to note that the focus of the newborn sessions will be on the baby and its surroundings, so don’t worry about having a perfectly clean house.

During Photoshoot

As a Newborn Photographer, I will work with you to plan the shots, taking into account your vision for the newborn baby photos and any ideas you may have. I will provide suggestions for locations within your home and how to optimize lighting to achieve the best results. Additionally, I will create a timeline for the newborn sessions to ensure that everything runs smoothly.

During the newborn baby photography photoshoot, I will direct and guide you and your family to capture natural and authentic moments. I will provide suggestions for poses and help create a relaxed atmosphere to help everyone feel comfortable and at ease.

Close-up of a newborn baby’s tiny feet being held by parents during a lifestyle newborn photography session in Nottingham.
Mother holding her sleeping newborn baby close during a lifestyle newborn photography session at home.

After the photoshoot

After the newborn photography session, you will receive an unedited gallery to select your favourites. I will edit the selected photographs to ensure that they look their best. The editing process can take up to two weeks. I offer different delivery options, including digital downloads and prints, so you can choose the option that works best for you.

For more information about how the post-session process works, read our Guide to Choosing the Best NottinghamPhotographer for Your Occasions.

Additionally, I have included reviews and testimonials from previous clients so you can see what they have to say about their experience with me.

The Best Experience Ever

"Amazing experience for great price! Worth every penny! If you're looking for a professional photographer - don't hesitate and book your session here! "
Black and white photo of parents smiling while holding their baby during a lifestyle newborn photoshoot in Nottingham.
Ola Gruszka

Other things to take care of are:

  • Changing and feeding the baby before the session

  • Correct room temperature

  • Mute the phone

  • Relaxing music, baby white noise

Father holding his baby on his shoulder while the mother smiles during a lifestyle newborn photoshoot.

Natural Newborn Photography - What to Avoid?

For a natural and meaningful session, avoid unnecessary props or poses that look uncomfortable for the baby. Interested in breastfeeding portraits as part of your session? Visit Breastfeeding Photography for ideas and examples.

Lifestyle newborn baby photoshoot at home - what should be agreed upon with the photographer?

If you want, we can meet live before the newborn session and discuss your expectations and the details of the session over coffee. If you do not have time for it – we will do it by phone or messenger. The conversation is very important to me because it helps me – a newborn baby photographer feel your atmosphere. It allows us to get to know each other better and when I arrive in your apartment, you feel more at ease – I am no longer a stranger.

What is the session for newborns?

After coming to your home, I don’t start taking pictures right away. I am giving all of us time to get fully relaxed. I also get to know your baby and let him get used to this new, baby photographer in his house.

When we are all ready, you sit down comfortably, take your little one in your arms and hug your perfect baby. You do what you always do when the three of you only hang out. And I try to be invisible and document your moments together.

Parents sitting together on the couch holding their newborn baby during a relaxed family photoshoot at home.
Father wiping his newborn baby’s face during a lifestyle photography session at home in Nottingham.

If there are difficult moments – I wrote the above – we wait without stress until the baby relax. We are in no rush.

You will be surprised when your newborn photography session is over. This magical time together passes imperceptibly and, unfortunately, very quickly.

Testimonials

My Happy Clients!

One of the things that I appreciated about Marta was how comfortable she made us all feel right away.We came to the photoshoot quite stiff and not sure on how to carry ourselves accordingly but she quickly reassured us and made us all feel more relaxed and made the session not just taking pretty pictures but a fun and memorable experience.It was a pleasant day full of smiles and laughter and I would definitely recommend Marta if you're looking for professionalism filled with passion.
Rachelle Zefi
newborn photography session

I have included information on pricing and package options, as well as a description of the booking process and how to contact the baby photographer to schedule great fun sessions.

In summary, a lifestyle newborn photoshoot with the newborn baby photographer at home is a wonderful way to create memories of your newborn’s arrival. With this comprehensive guide for expect babies parents, you now have all the information you need to prepare for and enjoy a newborn baby photo session that will result in beautiful images and meaningful memories to treasure for a lifetime. If you are interested in booking a Nottingham newborn photographer or have further questions, check out my blog for more tips, stories, and ideas. I look forward to helping you create memories to treasure for a lifetime.