Preparing for your Newborn Photography Session
Welcoming a new baby is a beautiful, slightly blurry time — and the thought of preparing your house for photos can sometimes feel like another thing on the list. The good news is that in-home newborn sessions are designed to be relaxed and simple. With 7 years experience photographing hundreds of newborns across Auckland, I’ve found that the best sessions happen when parents don’t try to overthink it.
Here are a few easy things that help your session run smoothly.
1) Don't worry about having a perfect house
One of the biggest worries parents have is that their house isn’t “photo ready”.
The truth is we only need a couple of small areas with good natural light — usually a bedroom, nursery, or the living room. I’ll help move things around if needed and find the best spots once I arrive. Real homes make photos feel more personal and meaningful anyway.
2) Keep clothing simple and comfortable
Soft neutral tones photograph beautifully and help keep the focus on your baby. When you book with me I also send you through a wardrobe guide, which gives some simple ideas for outfits for everyone in the family.
For Mums, I also have a client wardrobe available with over 25 options, which many families love using as it takes the stress out of finding something to wear. For the babies, I bring a range of neutral options including bloomers, onesies and body suits that photography beautifully.
Think soft textures, relaxed fits, and colours that feel calm and natural.
3) We'll let your baby set the pace
Newborn sessions are completely baby-led. Although if you have a toddler sibling we will be balancing it between the two of them to find the best times for everyone. If your baby needs feeding, settling, or a break, we simply pause. There’s no rush. Sessions usually take anywhere from 1 to 2.5 hours, depending on the type of session you’ve chosen, and that definitely doesn't mean I'll be taking photos for that whole time. Often the sweetest moments happen during those quiet pauses.
4) There's no need to feel like you have to perform
Many parents worry about posing or what they should do during the session. I gently guide everything so it never feels awkward or forced. Most of the time it simply looks like you holding your baby, chatting, or sitting together as a family. The goal is always to capture those tiny early days in a way that feels natural and real.
5) Siblings (and fur babies) are always welcome
Toddlers and older siblings are such an important part of the story. The best approach is usually to let them come and go naturally during the session, rather than expecting them to sit still the whole time. We capture a few beautiful family moments early on and then let them relax again. Another option is to do the family/sibling photos near the start of the session if everyone is comfortable, and then the siblings can pop off to daycare, or have some downtime for the rest of the session. All of my sessions include family photos, baby only photos, siblings photos and each parent with the baby.
Thinking about booking a Newborn Session?
If you're expecting and considering newborn photography in Auckland, the best time to book is during your second trimester of pregnancy to secure a spot around your due date. You can find more details about my relaxed in-home newborn photography sessions on my website, or feel free to get in touch if you have any questions.
