Boise Idaho Lifestyle Newborn Photos In Home

I’ve known Jayke for over 6 years, so when her firstborn son was born and she asked me to take their lifestyle newborn photos, I was ecstatic. I met Jayke years ago at Abby and Koji’s wedding as a bridesmaid. In home lifestyle newborn photos are some of my favorite sessions to photograph. Capturing new families in their own home feels so intimate and creates beautiful moments to document. It truly feels like preserving a special moment in time. And it helps when someone like Jayke has impeccable home style with stunning light in every room.

In Home Lifestyle Family Photographer

One of the most asked questions I receive as a lifestyle newborn photographer is how to prepare for your session. As a new parent, I know it can feel stressful days after giving birth to prepare for a photoshoot. Especially when you’re adjusting to life with a newborn baby and getting limited sleep.

Here are my best pieces of advice to prepare for your lifestyle newborn session:

Focus on one room in the house and pick the room with the best light. Usually the room with the biggest windows will have the best natural light. East facing rooms with large windows are the best. However, I can typically work with the lighting in most rooms. Pick up clutter and don’t worry about things being perfect. If you just shove all the clutter to the other side of the house or another room, that works just fine for an hour 😉
Feed baby 15-20 minutes before your lifestyle newborn photographer arrives. Ideally, your baby is fed, burped, and content when I arrive. This can be tricky, but I always recommend feeding right before I show up!
Set your home temperature warmer than you think. Babies are happiest when they’re warm! I typically recommend bumping up your heat to 70-74 degrees. T
If you don’t have one already, purchase a muslin blanket. Muslin and linen are the best textures on camera and are beautiful as a backdrop for lifestyle newborn photos. A muslin swaddle like this one is perfect.
Dress in lighter colors for mom and dad!
A word to moms: I know how vulnerable it feels to be in photos so soon after birth. I hear from moms all the time that they only want photos of their newborn baby. However, I promise, you will want these photos later. I like to tell moms that I will include them in a few photos where the focus is still on their baby, but their hands or smile are included.