Beautiful Newborn Photoshoot at Home in Farmington CT

What to know about and how to prepare for a newborn photoshoot at home

There are many reasons why someone may choose a home newborn photoshoot:

you feel safer and more comfortable in your own house
you feel it’s too much work and too stressful packing for the newborn
your spouse has to work from home, and sparing half an hour for pictures is way easier than sparing a few hours
you have a large house filled with light
you love your home and your family in it, and want to keep your home in the pictures
you want more of a relaxed, lifestyle shoot, with natural light
you have a toddler or an older child as well, and they would feel more relaxed and natural at home

The list could go on, and many people have one or more reasons to go with a home based newborn photoshoot.

Here are 5 things to know about the home newborn photoshoot:

1. You can still use the props and create studio quality images. When thinking of home photo sessions, most people imagine a lifestyle interaction with the newborn baby and natural light photography. And this is what it is! But, for the baby alone shots, you can have it either way! I always chat with my families ahead of the photoshoot to figure out what style they are looking for, and then bring the lights and props if needed.

2. You need to keep the right temperature. The best temperature for photographing newborns is around 75-80F. This is when they feel comfortable naked. So, you need to make sure to crank up the heat in winter, lower your AC in hot summer. The good thing is that you don’t have to worry about the whole house, just the rooms where the session would take place.

3. You don’t need to worry about cleaning the house. I know how hectic it is with a newborn, and know that sometimes parents don’t have enough energy to worry about the house as well. But, it’s best to clean up the rooms where the session would take place. Just to keep the clutter away a bit. By no means does it need to be pristine but hiding the diaper bags and trash helps a bit 🙂

4. Avoid having guests during the session. The fewer people in the house, the calmer and smoother the session goes. It’s best to pick another day for visitors.

5. Large windows and light filled rooms if not a must, are a big plus. If you want light and airy family shots, full of soft natural light, there need to be large windows in the house. Artificial lights while can simulate natural light, won’t be as soft and airy. Pick the brightest room in your house for the family shots, and baby-alone pictures can be done in any other room if needed.