Congratulations on your new baby!! Whether you have already had your baby or you are still pregnant, the arrival or anticipated arrival of your newborn is such a joyous and happy time in life. Booking a Berks County lifestyle newborn session can feel overwhelming and like one more thing on your to-do list if you have never done it- and you may be thinking: What if the baby doesn’t cooperate? Where do I need to go to get these photos? What outfit should I wear? Will I be in the photos?
First, I want you to know that it is a VERY simple process and all you have to do is follow this guide for a stress-free amazing lifestyle newborn session!
If you’re not sure what a lifestyle newborn session is, just check out my blog post here on the difference between posed and lifestyle newborn photography. I offer both options and a combination for families who love both!
The Guide for your Berks County Lifestyle Newborn Session
Block your time
Lifestyle newborn sessions take anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour and happen in your home! Super easy and convenient right?? You don’t even have to pack up the diaper bag! During your booked session time, it’s best to make sure the whole family is home, dressed, and ready to participate. The session will go the smoothest if everyone is ready to jump in for their cameo in the family portion of your photos. If you have young kids (especially toddlers) I usually expect to get about 10 to 15 minutes of time. This is the golden 15 minutes where they’re willing to hang out (probably not even sitting) to participate in a photo session. So, I like to have the whole family available and ready to go based on the participation of the 2nd youngest child. Because toddlers are the true wild cards during newborn sessions!
Prep baby
It’s best to have baby fed, in a fresh diaper, and in a clean outfit or blanket for the start of your session. This is the easiest way to make sure you have a happy baby for their very first photo session. Once I arrive at your home, I’ll scout out your living area, and other rooms where you’d like your photos to be taken. This is the best time to make sure baby is ready to go!
Choose your outfits
But newborn outfits aren’t needed! Baby can be wrapped in one of my swaddles or wear a comfy outfit that will be provided by me! BUT I always welcome families to dress baby in something else if they want. Sometimes parents plan cute matching shirts for sibling shots or have an outfit for their newborn that has sentimental value. By all means have that baby wear those things! We can do multiple outfits too if you want! But don’t stress over dressing baby for a session if there isn’t anything specific you have planned.
Other members of the family should plan their outfits. I always recommend something classic that you will love even in 10, 20 or even 30 years. I typically recommend dressing in something comfortable, with limited prints and no logos. Choose colors that compliment your skin tone. Most people look great in light neutrals and jewel tones. Also take into account the colors that the rest of the family is wearing when planning outfits and try to coordinate colors but avoid matching.
Declutter
A bit- ok so you don’t have to do this throughout your house. And if you are anything like me, you’ll be happy about that. My top 3 places for taking great images in your home are 3(ish) places.
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- Baby’s nursery- We’ll take shots of baby alone in their crib, family shots in front of the crib, parents holding baby in a rocker, and detail shots of the nursery here.
- Your living room- I like to do shots of the whole family (usually posed) on your couch, as well as sibling interactions, and a few of baby in parents’ hands in this location.
- Parents’ bedroom (sometimes)- this one isn’t 100% necessary, but if you want a little more variety in your images this is an added option. Typically, family photos on the bed are the images we’d take here as well as baby laying on the bed. It’s also a safe option to take shots with just siblings, especially if the 2nd youngest child is fairly young.
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So just make sure these 2 or 3 spots are clear from clutter and they’ll be all set for your photo session!
Go with the flow
Sometimes newborns don’t seem to be cooperating. Some babies are hungry or easily startled or seem to hate their swaddle. It’s OK. Sometimes older siblings are wary of the camera or they’re not too sure about the new baby that just came home. It’s OK. Trust me. Just go with the flow and don’t get frustrated. As your photographer, I will still be able to capture sweet moments. The key is to just soak the newness of your sweet baby and growing family. Smell your newborn’s head, kiss their cheek, look into their eyes. Let your toddler kiss their new siblings’ piggy toes or touch their blanket. It’s ok if your baby doesn’t sleep at all during your session. And sometimes it’s even better because you get to see your baby’s personality in your photos.
Now that you know the best ways to prep for your lifestyle newborn session, you can sit back, relax, and love on your family on the day of your Berks County lifestyle newborn session. I’ll be there to capture the genuine interactions for you to keep for the rest of your lives.
