Why You Should Do An In-Home Newborn Session

Your home is such a special place when welcoming a new baby for so many reasons. And you’ve brought this new love and light into the world, making a place in both your heart and your home for them. There are so many reasons why you should do an in-home newborn session, both sentimental and logistical. Let’s first go through how you can decide if you want those in-home newborn photos (they’re not everyone’s style, I know!) and why you should choose in-home rather than a studio.

Before You Book

Finding Your Photographer

The first thing to do is to figure out what kind of newborn photography you want. If you’re here, you’re interested in or at least curious about more down-to-earth, less posed, more slice-of-life photography. Some in-home newborn photographers do bring large setups for more posed photos but the majority of in-home newborn photographers do relaxed, gently posed sessions for more natural, authentic photos. Some, like me, do a little of both, with things like swaddles and a Moses basket for photos of babe by themselves in addition to simple poses and scenes with the rest of the family.

The biggest things to consider when finding your photographer are finding a photographer whose work you love and images you can see yourself in. Making sure you’re both on the same page as far as expectations is also key. Booking an in-home photographer who does a mix of posed and unposed shots when you’re looking for those picture perfect, Anne Geddes newborn photos is not the move! Make sure you know what this photographer’s style is and how they work. And make sure that those are the types of images you want to create to preserve this amazing time together.

Why In-Home?

I always encourage families to do sessions at home. Why? Two reasons: 1) Everyone is more at ease; and 2) Those spaces are so special. Let’s dive in to why.

Everything is easier at home

The biggest benefit of sessions at home is that you’re in your own space. This is especially huge for littles because getting photos taken is already such a big task! Someone eventually wants a snack or needs a break. Rather than having to pack a whole separate snack bag, your kitchen is right there. If someone needs to get the wiggles out or take a brain break, their toys are right there. And if there’s one thing I notice with preschoolers especially, they love giving little tours to me. Having someone new at their house is so special and fun (and can give you a break to do a feeding off-camera if you’d like/need!).

This is a huge reason I do sessions exclusively in homes rather than in a studio. It’s so much easier to take breaks — for both adults and kids — when you’re in a space you already know. And by staying home, you eliminate a huge stressor on photo day. Getting out the door with a new babe is such an undertaking! I think it took us a good three months to feel like we could leave the house with everything we needed in under an hour. And don’t even get me started on all the stuff we had to schlep out of the house!

Another benefit of in-home is that if babe is taking a long nap before our session, we can just start photos right then with them all swaddled in their bassinet or crib. Whatever their nursery looks like, we can do the photos right then. This eliminates having to wake them up, change them, get them out of the house, and potentially disrupt their entire routine. And the same goes for any littles and their naptimes! In-home sessions, it’s so much easier to pivot.

Your home is your sanctuary

You put so much time and love into making your house your home. And when you’re welcoming a new babe, it’s so special decorating a space that’s just for them, whether that’s a full-on nursery, a little closet in your bedroom, or what have you. Maybe you have a special rocking chair in the living room that was passed down from your grandparents where you rock your older kids to sleep while reading them books. Preserving those objects and those spaces in photos is irreplaceable.

There’s literally nothing as beautiful or bittersweet as looking back on those photos of your babe in their special space as they age. Maybe they move from your bedroom to their own room. And the decor changes. They get bigger and the crib changes to a toddler bed changes to a twin bed. But you’ll always have those photos of how the space looked and how they looked in it.

Staying at home removes power struggles

On a more logistical level, staying at home for your photos (and this is as true for day-in-the-life sessions as it is for newborn sessions) helps remove some power struggles. This can be a power struggle with a partner who doesn’t think you need to bring x or y item to a studio. It can also be a power struggle with a kid who doesn’t want to wear shoes.

When I say “power struggle,” I don’t mean a huge battle, but rather anything that creates friction and makes it more difficult to be present and focus on the task at hand. If you’re at home, that little who doesn’t want to wear shoes doesn’t have to worry about it (assuming you’re a no shoes house like we are!). And you won’t have to worry about what to bring to your session because you’ll already have it! Forget something? No sweat, it’s literally right there!

The look of studio sessions is so lovely and polished. But if I’m honest with you? That just ain’t me. I prefer the raw, the real, and the authentic. And that means being at home, whatever home looks like. Even if only one or two rooms are tidy for guests, that’s good enough. Because that’s life and that’s us.

And maybe that’s you, too! If you want to know more, read more in my guide to preparing for your newborn session to see how we make the magic happen.

If you’re ready to book, reach out below.

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