What to Expect During A In-Home Newborn Photography Session | Missouri

If you’re expecting a baby, you may be wondering what an in home newborn session actually looks like. These sessions are designed to be calm, flexible, and baby-led. If you dont know what “baby-led” means that’s ok!

Perfection goes out the window during these sessions. Babies truly run the show, and I never force a pose or moment. If your baby is hungry, we feed them. If they need a diaper change, we pause. If they are fussy, we take a break!

Being a parent to a newborn is stressful enough. Knowing what to expect ahead of time can help you feel more comfortable and confident going into your session day.

Feeding, Diaper changes, and breaks are expected

Feeding breaks, diaper changes, and soothing are all apart of the experience. These pauses aren’t interruptions of your session time. If you need to have a private moment with your baby, I promise my session time will pause and re-start when you’re finished and ready!

When I arrive at your home

When I arrive, I’ll take a few minutes to look for the best natural light in your home. This is usually near a window in a bedroom, nursery, or living room You dont need to rearrange your entire house, lived in spaces are perfect and expected.

What you dont need to worry about

You dont need a spotless home or a perfectly sleepy baby. Newborn life is beautifully imperfect. Everyday clutter is normal, and things like dishes can absolutely wait. As long as large distractions (like stacked boxes) are out of the frame, we’re good. Please dont stress about me coming over, I promise this is a judgement-free space!

What to wear (dressing up or down)

What you wear is completely up to you. Some families love cozy, lived-in look, while others perfer something a little more elevated, both photograph beautifully. I always recommend sticking to neutral tones or muted colors. These colors photograph timelessly and keep the focus on connection rather outfits.

Comfort is key, especially for new moms. Soft fabrics, flows dresses, knit sweaters, or relaxed button ups work great. Bare feet are always welcome (just make sure the bottoms are dirty—lol)

Simple Ways to keep baby comfortable

A comfortable baby makes for a relaxed session, and a few small things can go a long way:

A full belly before I arrive- feeding right before the session helps babies feel settled and content.
A clean diaper- starting fresh helps minimize interruptions early on.
White noise or a baby shusher- having gentle white noise playing can be incredibly soothing and helps mimic the sounds babies are used to.
A warmer home temperature-slightly warmer is better than cool/cold. Keeping the space cozy helps your baby stay comfortable since they cannot regulate their own temperature yet.