Preparing your home for a lifestyle newborn photoshoot really doesn’t need to feel stressful. You’ve just had a baby and the last thing I want is for this to feel like another thing on your to-do list.
The good news is that your home doesn’t need to be perfect. A few small, simple tweaks can make a big difference and I’ll always help with final touches when I arrive.
Here’s everything you need to know to feel relaxed and ready for your in-home newborn photography session.
What areas will you photograph in?
Most lifestyle newborn sessions take place in the living room, master bedroom, and nursery. These rooms usually have the best light and work beautifully for relaxed, natural family moments.
If you also have a lovely light filled hallway, kitchen, or French doors, I’ll happily use those too. The more options we have, the better. It gives us flexibility and if there’s a toddler involved, moving between rooms can really help keep their energy and interest levels up.
How can I prepare my home for a lifestyle newborn photoshoot?
These are just a few simple, realistic ways to prepare your home for an in-home newborn shoot. I promise, it’s all straight forward and stress-free!
1. Turn off overhead lights
Overhead lights can create harsh shadows and don’t photograph as softly as natural light.
When I arrive, the very first thing I’ll do before taking my camera out is have a look around your home to see where the best natural light is and which rooms will work best for your session.
2. Lightly declutter key areas
I completely understand that you’ve just had a baby and I would never expect an immaculate house.
A quick, light declutter of key areas can really help, especially bedside tables, areas near windows, and sofas. On bedside tables, popping phone chargers, water bottles, creams, and medicines into a drawer or under the bed works perfectly. On sofas, moving things like dog blankets and TV remotes out of the way helps keep the focus where it should be.
This way, when you look back at your photos, your eye is drawn to your family and rather than everyday clutter.
3. Create a calm and cosy atmosphere
If your newborn photoshoot is during the cooler months, having the heating on can help keep your baby comfortable and settled, especially during feeds and nappy changes.
White noise can also be really helpful. Having a white noise toy or a track ready on your phone can help create a calm, soothing environment for your session.
4. Make space near a large window or French doors
For relaxed baby portraits, I bring a beanbag with me. This gives us a safe, cosy place to pop your baby so we can capture gorgeous details and natural portraits.
I usually set this up near French doors or a large window where the light is best. It’s also the perfect height for involving toddler siblings, whether they’re human or furry!
5. Prepare your bed
If I had to photograph an entire lifestyle newborn photoshoot in one room, it would almost always be the master bedroom.
There are so many lovely moments we can capture here, from cuddling up on the bed together to toddlers jumping around or snuggling near the window. Light coloured bedding without busy patterns photographs beautifully and keeps distractions to a minimum.
If you have a bedside crib, popping it out of the way just for the session can also help open up the space.
6. Clean mirrors
I love getting creative with mirrors during newborn sessions. Reflection shots can be such a lovely way to tell the story of your new little family.
Giving mirrors a quick clean beforehand helps make sure those images are clear and sharp.
If you’re ever unsure about anything at all, please don’t worry. I’ll guide you throughout the session and help move things around on the day if needed.
Your home doesn’t need to look perfect. It just needs to feel comfortable, calm, and like home.
