Welcoming a new baby into your life is a whirlwind of emotion and adjustment. During these early days, you might find yourself contemplating professional newborn pictures. But you might also have concerns. Here, we address some common worries and reassure you that this experience can be relaxed, rewarding, and completely centered around the comfort of you and your baby.
As a Seattle lifestyle family and newborn photographer, (and a mother of 6), I have a plethora of experience working with families like yours. I understand firsthand the concerns and how you simply want beautiful photos to capture this special time.
One common concern: “What if I’m not ready to be photographed so soon after birth?”
It’s completely normal to feel this way, especially when recovering from childbirth and adjusting to life with a newborn. It can feel vulnerable as you’re healing from giving birth, and learning to nurse, all while surviving on very little sleep.
When you book your session, your due date is marked on my calendar, giving a few weeks leeway before or after. This flexible scheduling ensures that when your baby arrives, there’s space on my calendar for your family’s session. You get to decide when you’re ready for the session, be it 8 days or 4 weeks postpartum.
But remember, professional newborn pictures are not about capturing perfection. They’re about highlighting the real and raw beauty of this unique period in your life. As a photographer, I use angles and light to capture you at your best, focusing on the love and joy you share with your new baby. The sessions are laid-back, ensuring maximum comfort for both you and your baby.
Even more, there is no rush to have photos within the first week or two. If you were to hire a studio newborn photographer, they require your baby to be less than two weeks old. However, should you need that time to settle in as a new family, that is more than okay.
Discover more reasons why you don’t want a studio session for your newborn pictures.
Another concern: “My home needs to look a certain way for in-home newborn pictures.”
Rest assured, you don’t need to transform your home into a magazine-worthy space for your newborn pictures.
I look for spaces with the best natural light, typically your master bedroom or living room. Your home is expected to look lived-in, especially with a new baby. If necessary, items can be moved so they’re not in the frame. The focus will be on your family, not your home.
I have photographed babies with their families in a one-bedroom apartment with very little space and a Peloton in one corner of the bedroom. You would never know when you saw the pictures. Again, the purpose is to photograph you with your baby, not to photograph your home.
One question received frequently from parents is, “What if my baby does not sleep for their newborn pictures?”
Newborn photo sessions are completely led by your baby’s needs. If they need to stop for feedings or diaper changes, we pause. If they need to be swaddled and held, that’s wonderful. The flexibility of lifestyle photography means your baby’s comfort and routine always come first.
Should they stay awake the entire time, that is okay. Should they sleep the entire time, that is okay, too. The beauty of lifestyle newborn photography is that there are no awkward and unnatural poses that require a deeply sleeping baby.
Typically babies are awake for part of the session and asleep for a part, giving you a beautiful collection of photographs of your newborn baby.
Can we capture nursing photos?
Again, your baby will likely need to pause for a nursing (or bottle session). Typically I capture a few photos of nursing your baby. This time is truly fleeting in your life. And while you may be finding it challenging in the beginning, it tells a beautiful story of the time you poured into feeding your babies.
Please note, if given permission to share photos from your session, I will always ask before sharing nursing photos. I fully respect should you wish those specific photos to remain just for your family.
And should you prefer nursing photos to not be captured, I can sit and chat without taking photos too. Again, this is about your comfort level and what you would like documented.
Questions regarding “fur babies” come up frequently, too. “Can we include pets?”
Please, do. Your dogs (or kitties, or turtle) are your babies too. They are more than welcome to join you in newborn pictures. In fact, typically, they invite themselves. Like this little guy who did not want to be left out at all!
Many concerns about photo sessions are not about the baby but instead about the rest of the family. I hear often, “My other kids are too busy for photos.”
I have 6 kids, I understand busy and chaos. The beauty of newborn pictures within your home is that your children and your partner can come and go as needed. We can capture photos of siblings, the entire family, and then give them a break.
They can pause for snacks, or watch a show in the other room if needed. I do not expect them to sit calmly during the entire session.
Another concern is, “What if we don’t have a nursery for our newborn pictures?”
Nurseries are fun and beautiful details to capture during your session. However, many families opt to not have a specific nursery. Whether it is due to space, or baby will eventually be sharing a room, the lack of a nursery is not a worry.
As you can see from the photos featured in this article, the entire newborn photo session took place on and around the master bed. Newborn pictures are about your family, not spaces.
With my own last baby, we did not have a nursery. We knew she would be spending the first several months in our room to make the ease for nighttime nursing easier on the both of us. Not having a nursery did not make her newborn photos any less special.
Of course, should you have a nursery, we will capture those details for you.
Ready to Take the Next Step?
Professional newborn pictures capture a special, fleeting time in your and your baby’s life. Addressing the concerns shared in this article can help ensure you feel confident and at ease, making the session a treasured memory rather than a stressful event. After all, these photos will be keepsakes for years to come, precious reminders of the first days with your new baby.
Looking to capture beautiful, intimate moments with your newborn? Explore the options for a newborn pictures session or the mini maternity and newborn session, and decide which is right for you. My goal is to create a relaxed and comfortable environment to capture the tender moments of this new chapter in your life. If you have more questions or concerns, don’t hesitate to get in touch.
