Get my favorite in-home newborn session tips and take a deeper look at this cozy session with the Shepard family.

This Vermont in-home newborn session was incredibly special because Erin reminded me so much of myself when I was in her shoes just a little over a year before we photographed together.

When Erin reached out before having her little one, she was so nervous about scheduling and timing. As a first-time mom myself, I intimately understood the anxiety that can come with the unknown. How can you schedule a session if you don’t know when your baby will arrive? How do you know if you’ll even feel up for it when the day comes? How are you supposed to juggle a newborn and having a photo-ready house?

Here are a few thoughts…

In-Home Newborn Session Tips

From there, here are a few things to remember and consider based on what I like to tell mamas before a session:

1. Reach out to your newborn photographer as soon as you know you’d like to take newborn photos. They likely have a system in place that works best for them and the families they’ve worked with. When I get newborn inquiries, I will note your due date, and we will set a tentative date for 3-5 weeks after that. Then, I ask you to reach out after having your baby to finalize a date based on how you’re feeling.
2. Don’t stress about cleaning your whole house—you have enough to do. We’ll work together ahead of time to choose a room or two (usually a nursery and a living space or kitchen). When I arrive, we’ll make sure those rooms are “photo-ready” together.
3. When I say “photo ready,” I don’t mean spotless. There are so many little things that you’ll want to remember about this season of life—burp cloths thrown over a couch arm, baby toys on the floor, a pacifier on a nightstand—these are the fabric of your story, and you’ll want to remember them as your little one gets older.
4. Little ones generally aren’t on a “schedule” when they’re only 3-5 months old. But, deciding on a few things you definitely want to document can help with scheduling the time of day of the session. (Breastfeeding? Bath time? etc…). More often than not, we’re able to capture some awake time and some sleepy time within a 60-90 minute session.
5. Wear something you’re comfortable in. This can be a strange time with the changes going on in your body. Think more about comfort than what you think will “look good”. Before every session, I send a guide with specific suggestions and outfit best practices—from where to shop to curated Pinterest boards with inspiration.

Want more in-home newborn session tips? Click here!

Cuddling With The Shepards

Here are some of my favorite images from this cozy newborn session.

Plan Your Own Vermont In-Home Newborn Session

I call my family, maternity, and newborn sessions “Storytelling Sessions” because that is exactly what they are.

Together, we plan a session that encapsulates the season of life you want to document. I’ll ask specific questions to help you brainstorm the most important moments, memories, and feelings you want to remember in such a special and fleeting stage of life.

You’ll have a chance to tell me more about the kind of images you’re most drawn to, the things that inspire you, the moments you want to remember most, and share any images you’ve seen and loved. Then, we’ll work together to plan outfits and choose a location and time that best represents your family and the story you want to tell.

Interested in working together? Learn more about my Vermont family photography services here.

(P.S. Come say “hi” on Instagram if you haven’t yet!)