You need only do a bit of prep for an at-home newborn photo session, and the prep is a breeze!

I covered what to wear for your in-home session already, so now that your ‘fit is squared away, it’s time to get your house photo-ready!

What parts of the house will we take photos in?

Before your session, I’ll ask you to send me a quick walk-thru video of your home—not so I can judge how messy your house is, I PROMISE!—so I can see the light situation ahead of time.

Light will be the deciding factor, but in general, most newborn sessions include photos in the:

• Nursery
• Primary bedroom
• Main living area

I can take photos anywhere with good natural light. If you love a spot in your house but the light’s not great, I can take photos there too (I use off-camera flash to boost the light, so we don’t miss ANY of the good spots).

The spots you want to take photos are where you’ll focus your tidying up.

Why prepping your house is important

Easy: it’s all about visual clutter.

At home, our eyes become immune to clutter.

But on camera, every bit of clutter serves to distract from the subjects of the photo: YOU and your sweet new baby.

Prepping the nursery for newborn photos

This room is the STAR of most newborn sessions!

• Hide the gadgets: diaper genie, bouncers, play mats, etc.

When I say ‘hide’, I mean stuff-them-in-the-closet or in a corner. That’s all.

In the photo above, the corner just inside the room to the left was stacked with baby gadgets, so they could stay off-camera.

• Remove the crib bumpers, if you have ’em. I like to take photos above and through the crib rails.

• Take out any brightly colored objects that don’t go with the theme of the room.

• Windex any mirrors in this room and in the other rooms where we’ll be taking photos; I love reflection photos for newborn sessions!

Preparing the primary bedroom

You don’t have to give gratitude and kiss your items goodbye; they’re just going on a little closet vacation for a bit!

Bedside tables

• A lamp or stack of books: GREAT. A mess of charging cables and a Kleenex box? Throw it under the bed for now.
• If your bedside table has an open base, clear all that stuff out, too, especially if it’s white or light-colored. Black items will usually just blend into the shadows and can stay.

Baby gadgets

• Move baby gear into the hall or closet/bathroom (and close the door!). In a pinch, find a corner that’s far from the bed and stack it up (like we did in the photo above!).

The bed

• Make the bed like a snappy military cadet: tight and neat.
• Put all your pillows on the bed (solid color pillowcases, please)!
• I like a solid-colored bedspread if I have a choice, but a good quality print is okay as long as it’s not distracting (fat stripes or a large-scale floral are examples of distracting prints).
• Light colors are better; they reflect more light back onto faces.
• An all-white or light-neutral comforter is perfect, maybe with a textured throw tossed over the foot over the bed.
• If you don’t have a quilt or comforter, a white sheet works too.

• If your comforter is a bright/bold color—orange, magenta, etc.—those colors will create funky color casts on faces. See if you can find another option around the house!
• If your bedspread has seen better days, consider a textured blanket that you can throw over the top just for photos, like this basket-weave one or this textured one.

Prepping the living room and kitchen

We’ll be in the main living area for some photos, and if your home is open concept, the kitchen will be in the background. That means we’ll need to do a bit of prep in there, too!

Tip: Customize the kitchen cleanup based on what’s visible from the main living area! Nobody’s going to see inside your sink!

Kitchen counters

If your countertops are out in the open, take everything off the counter that you wouldn’t want front and center in a photo.

Your dish scrubby, bottle drying rack, bottles, warmer… there’s a ton of accoutrements that come along with a newborn baby, but we don’t want those items to become a distraction.

Pay special attention to anything brightly colored; that’ll be especially eye-catching.

The fridge

The top of the fridge tends to become a dumping ground, at least in my house.

If it’s highly visible when you’re standing in front of the couch, clear it! If the front is covered with magnets and photos, set the decorations aside for your session. Everything can go right back up afterward!

It doesn’t matter where it goes, just move it out of sight for now!

Bouncers, swings, and baby gadgets

REMEMBER: I’m going to help you move things out of the way when I arrive, so don’t stress if you don’t get to everything!

Especially look for ultrabright colors. We want the bright, colorful stuff HIDDEN.

Plastic baby paraphernalia is usually made in obnoxious colors, so anything big or brightly colored should go to another room.

Other fun places to take newborn photos

It’s all about the light and what looks cool, so get creative! You can always snap a photo of it and send it my way, and if I can envision a neat photo there, we’ll make it happen.

For example, the stairway in the photo above. When we saw the kitty perched on the half-wall, I knew it would be a GREAT overhead photo. Stairs are a fun place to take a few shots!

Last-minute prep: what to do just before in-home newborn photos

Shut the door, baby.

Anyone else now singing Sugar Ray in their head? Just me?

Close the doors to your closets and bathrooms. I’ll close doors as we move around the house, but it’s always good to start off with the little things done!

Open the curtains and blinds

Let that light in!

Dark, heavy curtains should be ALL the way open, for sure. Lift the blinds in all the important areas.

Turn off overhead lights and lamps

This time I’m talkin’ artificial lights.

Turn off all the lamps and lights in your house right before your session.

Why? Because most home bulbs give off yellow light, while the sunlight coming in the windows is tinted blue. If light’s falling on your face from a light bulb on one side, but daylight on the other, you look weirdly blue and jaundiced all at once.

You’re ready for newborn photos!

It’s time for your newborn session, and your home is all set!

Don’t worry if you missed something; I’ll notice anything you didn’t, and I’ll help you put items out of sight or make small adjustments as we go.

Now, go put on your comfy clothes and socks and enjoy your session!

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