Please don’t stress out about having a perfect house! I usually take photographs in the baby’s nursery, on Mom and Dad’s bed, and in a family room, so I’d recommend focusing your tidying on those rooms in particular. Keep it simple! I recommend that you make the bed, clear side tables of clutter, and put toys away in a closet. If there are cords (iPhone chargers, TV cables, etc.) near your couch or bed, I also recommend you unplug them if at all possible and move them out of the way temporarily

PREPPING YOUR HOME FOR A LIFESTYLE NEWBORN PHOTOGRAPHY SESSION

WHAT TO WEAR FOR AN IN-HOME LIFESTYLE NEWBORN SESSION

And feel free to just throw any messes/clutter/extra diapers in a laundry basket and hide it for your photoshoot! It works every time. I’m also very happy to move around items in your house while I’m there. It’s not uncommon for me to take a diaper caddy or bouncy seat out of the nursery, setting them in the hallway while I’m taking pictures in that room.

Neutrals are timeless - and recommend for parents. Feel free to wear clothes with texture like knits or subtle stripes, but I recommend keeping the color scheme to creams, grays, blushes, and blues in general. For the baby, nothing is as sweet as a white undershirt! I also like to photograph babies in tight-fitting sleepers that snap up the front. I will also bring some swaddle wraps to use for the shoot

WHAT I BRING TO A LIFESTYLE NEWBORN PHOTOGRAPHY SESSION

I will show up at your house with everything we need to create beautiful photographs. Of course, I bring camera equipment with me, including a couple of different lenses and camera bodies. the backdrop of these images will largely be your home: Your rugs, bedding, rocking chairs, and cribs.
I do not bring lighting equipment with me to Lifestyle Sessions, but instead rely solely on natural window light. For this reason we may end up staying in the part of the house that gets the best light at that time of day.

WHAT HAPPENS DURING A LIFESTYLE NEWBORN SESSION

I prompt and pose families throughout the session, so parents won’t have to worry about where to sit or what to do with their hands. I will include shots of the entire family together, siblings-only, baby-only, and mom and dad pictures. I’m very sensitive to the smallest members of the group, and am always happy to take a break for feeding, snuggling, and diaper changes. The flow of the session is largely based on the mood of the baby - and the older siblings. (More about older siblings below!)

MANAGING OLDER SIBLINGS

With every newborn session I do, I find that the babies are pretty straightforward, but the older siblings are the wildcard! For this reason I like to go with the flow of their mood and interests. If they’re eager to see me when I arrive, and excited for the photoshoot, we’ll start with family pictures to capitalize on their interest level before they get bored. If, on the other hand, they need some warm-up time, I’ll start with baby-only or parent-baby shots. Many older siblings are fascinated with the baby, heaping affection on their newest family member. Others want very little to do with their brother or sister. For this reason, I always coach parents to be flexible and let go of their expectations for behavior. This is especially true if the older siblings are toddlers! Unconventional family pictures are often the most precious, and the beauty of an in-home Lifestyle Newborn Session is that I get to capture snapshots of your real life with tiny kids (as wild as it can be!)

HOW TO BOOK A LIFESTYLE NEWBORN SESSION WITH JW BROWN PHOTOGRAPHY

If you’re interested in booking a session, or learning more about my prices and packages, please contact me! I would be happy to send you additional information about my packages, style, and overall approach.