What if I told you that your teeny tiny, brand new baby doesn’t need to leave the house - or even your arms - for a newborn photoshoot!
What if your newborn session felt more like a relaxed Sunday family morning at home than an actual photoshoot?
Would it help you to relax knowing that I had zero expectations of your baby and that these pictures were going to be more about love, connection and real life memories than a perfect baby in a basket.
WHY SHOULD YOU HAVE NEWBORN PICTURES AT HOME?
One of the best ways to take the stress out of newborn pictures is to have your newborn photoshoot at home.
Then you can forget about the last-minute rush and panic to leave the house on time. No need to worry about having to get your baby dressed up or if they will behave for the camera.
At-home newborn sessions are simply all about being yourself in your own space.
1. Session are entirely baby-led
Your baby is perfect as he or she is!
I do not do major posing and I do not have any expectations on how your baby should behave, such as being asleep or alert.
Instead we let the baby guide the session. Feeding, cuddles, changing - all these things just happen naturally as part of the session.
The most important part is that we capture this time in your life.
2. You have permission to let go of perfect
It's easy to anguish over your baby when you see pictures of other babies with flawless skin, fast asleep in a box of wool in the cutest little knitted outfit (you've never seen in any baby shop).
Please don't!
Because it's not real.
What is real is how much love you feel for this tiny, new being. How you could simply snuggle all day long. How tired you are yet how much you cannot stop just looking at what to you is perfection.
My job is not to make this time in your life look perfect, but to show you just how beautiful it is!
3. Myth buster: Your home does NOT need to be clean or even tidy!
Having a newborn is not the time to have a perfectly tidy and spotless home.
It's more like the time the vacuum cleaner might make it too the lounge - and then sit there unused all day!
I know what it's like to have a newborn and how all-consuming they are.
Those first few weeks are so precious. Cuddles and time together are way more important than cleaning up.
So let's be clear here. You Do NOT need to clean the house before I arrive.
I'll be looking for the areas of your home that have the best light for taking pictures and we can easily clean up an area that we want to use while I'm there.
4. Natural newborn pictures will bring back those warm, fuzzy memories
My memories of that delicious newborn period are all wrapped up in this hazy feeling of family, home, cuddles, milk, sleep and wonder.
So I want you to be able to look at these pictures in one, 10 or even 20 year’s time, and remember that feeling of being a new family, cocooned at home in that lazy Sunday morning feel.
To remember the delicious warmth of your baby wrapped in your arms and their teeny-tiny little toes.
And to see anew, how much love was expressed through the touch of a hand or your lips.
Because that - to me - is the magic of having a newborn. And that is what we'll capture together.
WHEN YOU SHOULDN'T HAVE NEWBORN PICTURES AT HOME
If you love the posed pictures of newborn babies
Studio sessions of posed babies is a highly specialised area of photography. I recommend you choose a reputable photographer for this style of baby pictures who knows how to work safely with your baby. I'm happy to recommend some excellent local Dunedin newborn photographers for you.
I believe your baby is perfect the way he or she is, so I prefer a much more natural, organic style of newborn photography that is all about es capturing the emotion and connection so I don't pose babies.
You'd prefer your baby to be dressed in those cute little studio outfits
I don't keep a wardrobe of baby clothes or bring any props to your session as I want your pictures to reflect you.
I suggest you have your newborn in a simple onesie and gather together any favourite special blankets or toys to have on hand.
You're happy to just leave the photographer to do it all
Many newborn photographers are self-described 'baby whisperers'. They have the knack to soothe little bubbas and get them to sleep so they can do their thing.
I even came across newborn photographers' online groups were it was common advice to get the mum out of the room to make the photography process easier. Eeeek! I couldn't think of anything I would want to do less.
To me, there's only one place a newborn belongs - and that is is their parents' arms.
HOW TO MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR NEWBORN IMAGES (WITHOUT THE STRESS, HASSLE & TIME)
Tip 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 . . . get those images you love on display!
You can never here this one enough times.
You are going to get so much more enjoyment and happiness from your images when you put them on display in your home.
You'll see them every day which will not only make you smile, it will keep those feelings and emotions alive (and you'll get to see just how quickly those little bubbas grow and how much they change).
The best way to print, frame and display your newborn images
This is definitely the time to let your photographer do it all for you!
From help selecting the images you love the most, to choosing the best artwork options for your home to hanging the final framed artwork on the wall, this, truly, is where the magic is.
DOES AT-HOME NEWBORN PHOTOGRAPHY SOUND JUST RIGHT FOR YOU?
I'd love to chat with you. You can contact me here.