Bringing home a new baby is a zero expectations kind of thing, if you ask me. I remember trying to just throw Google out the window and roll with the punches when we brought home Gwen, because I don't think you will ever really know what to expect.
Now, this is not necessarily not true for a newborn session in your home, so I thought it may be helpful to talk about what happens and how to prepare. For newborns I always schedule on weekday mornings within the first two weeks after delivery. I note your delivery date in my calendar and then you keep me posted on the arrival and we will firm up a date and time that works best. We try to schedule right after a feed, but also babies do whatever they want, so we will always have plenty of time to break for a snack if needed.
We will start in the nursery and usually do some shots in the living room and master bedroom. All rooms will feature a combination of solo shots, parents and baby + everyone together. I bring along basket, swaddles and wraps which I use along with any you have pulled out for the session.
Things that are helpful to prepare for your session:
1. Remove as much clutter as you can in the rooms you know we will be in. I may ask to shuffle some items around, but it is always a good idea to keep our canvas as free and open as possible!
2. Plan 2-3 outfits for your new baby. I love having variety so this is a great way to pre-plan by laying out some options.
3. Pull out a couple of swaddles that go along with the outfits. Swaddles are not just for wearing! I can use them to wrap the Moses basket mattress, lay around the baby on your bed, etc. so having some on hand that you love will bring an extra personal touch!
4. Think about any keepsakes, small stuffed animals or other accent pieces you may want to include to personalize your session.
5. Coordinate colors! This is the biggest tip for pretty much any session, but ensure all of your outfits balance each other. Don't be afraid to incorporate different prints or textures, just make sure your colors all compliment each other. Also, don't be afraid to send me photos! I love helping with this step and I am so happy to get involved in your planning!
6. Keep your home a little warmer than usual. We will be changing your little one's outfit a couple of times, as well as grabbing some diaper shots so keeping baby toasty is a must!
7. Prep your older kiddos! This is especially important for toddlers, the more you talk about the idea of someone coming to take their photos, the more comfortable they will be when it is actually happening. Also, if you want to plan out treats that is totally fine, but try your best to start the day off just having fun and if we need to throw in some fruit snacks at the end we can.
8. Be flexible and have zero expectations. I feel like as moms we are always feeling frantic and want all of the pictures to be perfect, but trust me your gallery will be beautiful - even if you get a couple crying photos (honestly these are some of my favorites).
