Beautiful practicalities: your In-Home Newborn Session
There’s something magical about home, isn’t there? And especially during those initial weeks with a new baby. Let's uncover why your home is actually the perfect setting for capturing the precious moments of early parenthood. As a Family Photographer in Bristol, UK, I have a few tips, stories, and reassurances I can share with you as you prepare for your new little one to arrive…
If you haven’t read my previous blog, or you’re wondering why anyone would choose to invite a photographer into their home in the first few weeks of adjusting to a newborn baby, have a read here.
Creating a cosy atmosphere
You’ve likely heard about the phenomenon of ‘nesting’ - the instinct that drives new parents to prepare their home for the arrival of their baby. It's a delightful quirk of nature, a way for you to establish a connection with your baby even before they’ve even arrived! Although lots of families don’t use the nursery until the baby is a little older, getting it ready can be such a joy.
Your in-home newborn photo session might even be the first time you use the nursery! We’ll talk about the areas of your home that we’ll use during your session later, but one of the reasons an in-home session is different is that not only do we capture your little one in their earliest days, but we capture your family in your home, just as it is at the very beginning of your baby’s life.
There’s no rush!
New babies are still adjusting to the world - there’s no expectation from me that you’ll have your routine sorted or you’ll know whether baby will be sleepy, awake, or hungry when I arrive! I only book one in-home newborn shoot on any given day, so I’m never in a rush and I can give you all the time you need. If I arrive and baby immediately needs some food or a nappy change, that’s fine… I’m happy to wait! These are also the times when I capture the details you’ll see in some of the photos on this page; the cards, the gifts, the tiny socks and the onesies left around the place. You might not see it now, but these are the little things you’ll forget before you know it!
Newborns are still finding their rhythm in the world, and there's absolutely no pressure from me to have everything perfectly organised when I arrive. Whether your little one is sleepy, awake, or hungry, it's all part of the beautiful unpredictability of this precious time. I only book one in-home newborn shoot per day, so I’m never in a rush and I can give you all the time you need. If I arrive and baby immediately needs some food or a nappy change, no worries—I'm more than happy to wait. These moments often result in me capturing the details you'll find in the photos on this page—the heartfelt cards, the thoughtful gifts, and the tiny socks and onesies scattered around. Though these may seem insignificant now, they are the little treasures that tend to fade from memory all too quickly. Don’t worry - I’ve got them.
We’ll work together…
Just like in all my sessions, I want to ensure that you have the chance to share all the important details before the big day. I’ll send a questionnaire for you to complete in your own time. This questionnaire covers a variety of aspects: details about your baby, including where they’re most comfortable and specific times of day when they are more alert or sleepy; insights about your space, such as any special places or items you'd like to incorporate into the photos; and information about your family, including who will be there on the day, any siblings or pets to consider, and whether mum would like breastfeeding photos and any preferences or boundaries around that. This way, we team up to make sure your session is a perfect fit for your new little family, building a special day that will be fun and memorable for everyone involved.
Speaking of involving everyone…
Welcoming a new baby is a significant adjustment for everyone, especially siblings. I focus on making them feel extra special during the session, involving them in capturing those precious family moments filled with love. If you want to take the pressure off a little bit, why not invite a grandparent or friend along? This can be a great help, providing play breaks for siblings when needed, and meaning mum can have a little bit of space for breastfeeding photos, or to capture baby sleeping peacefully in the nursery. Don’t worry if you’re not able to do this though… I have a few tricks up my sleeve to capture heartwarming photos that will be treasured forever!
It is such a privilege to be welcomed into your home at such a special time in your life, and to meet your little one so early in their life. I always make sure to be led by you (and by baby of course!) during our session - I use the information you’ve sent me before the day to make a plan, but if this goes out of the window in the first few minutes… well, you wouldn’t even know!
Typically, I like to use the living room, the master bedroom and the nursery. If it’s sunny and warm, we can go in the garden. If baby is gazing at the the light from the kitchen window, that’s our spot! If an older sibling wants to show me their bedroom.. absolutely- we’re on our way! You don’t need to tidy up for me - I embrace the ‘lived-in’ look because your home needs to work for you. I'll always ask before making any changes, but if I notice something that might need a quick adjustment (like those conspicuous blue plastic nappy packs!), I'll discreetly handle it and put everything back in its place before I leave.
“Fantastic newborn photo shoot with Claire at home. We wanted something less posed and formal and that was captured perfectly.
We also loved that you get all the images digitally rather than picking some (!) and then having the tough choice or upsell of the other images. Photos are stunning, highly recommended. ”
We’ll naturally move around your home based on baby’s cues - we won’t wake them if they’re sleepy, but if they need a change of scenery we can go upstairs and cosy up for some heartwarming cuddle photos. There really is nothing to worry about, and nothing phases me - we’ll take our time and work together to create wonderful memories that will literally last a lifetime.
Thinking ahead? You can book anytime in your third trimester, or even once baby has arrived, but for the best ‘newborn feel’ photos, I suggest planning your session for when baby will be 10 to 14 days old. Booking is easy - pop me a message on my contact page or send me a message on instagram. I’m happy to chat. I wish you the absolute best for your pregnancy and I hope to meet your little family very soon!
Claire <3
