Preparing for an in-home newborn session starts long before I arrive at your door with my camera. One of the things I love most about photographing newborns in their own homes is that every family’s space, story and style is different.

My goal is always to create images that feel natural and personal to your family while making the process as easy and stress-free as possible during those early newborn days. This can be tricky since I approach these sessions different than a lot of photographers who work in people’s homes (…and I have to bring sort of a lot of stuff to make it happen!)

Here are three unique things I do ahead of every in-home newborn session that help me show up well, thoughtfully and prepared to create images that you’ll want to hang on your walls for years to come.

Want to chat newborn photos?

I FaceTime With Atlanta Families Before Their Newborn Sessions

It’s a little old school, but we’ll get on the phone. We’ll have an initial chat about your story and vision AND I’ll request a FaceTime call with you.

It gives me the chance to see your home, the lighting in different rooms and the spaces where we might photograph your baby and your family together.

This helps me plan ahead so the session feels relaxed when I arrive. I have a huge styling inventory and a big benefit to working with me is that you have access to it! So let’s look at your home’s aesthetic, what color you like (or hate), what walls will hold your art?

It also gives us a chance to connect before the session. I don’t want us to feel like strangers when I show up at your door as your newborn photographer. I want it to feel like welcoming in a friend. 

I Ask About Heirlooms and Sentimental Pieces

“Can I include a blanket my grandmother knit for the baby?”

“We have some newborn outfits my partner wore when she was a baby, is there any way we can use them in our session?”

“We have this outfit our Nana crocheted but it’s not a color we have in our home or can really coordinate with, what do you think?”

Yes. Of course. I have a solution!

I love including family heirlooms in my in-home newborn sessions. We don’t have to go overboard and try to photograph your baby in every hand-me-down or knitted baby blanket you have. But a few thoughtfully chosen family heirlooms bring your story to life, bring your baby’s history full circle. 

It’s those pictures you’ll see in the baby album one day, your kiddo snuggled up next to you and say “Grammy made that little sweater for you when you were inside Mommy’s tummy. We’ve loved you since before you were even here!”

Send me photos! If I can see them beforehand, I can usually help coordinate baby sets around them. 

I Send a Newborn Session Guide and Check-In Questionnaire

Every family receives a newborn session guide before their baby arrives. It walks through everything from what to wear to how the session will flow once I arrive.

**My favorite part about my newborn session guide for Atlanta families – I created a Gentle Start page right at the top. It’s the top five things to do to prepare for your session and I always tell parents: “If that’s all you have time to read, great! You’ll still be ready.”

So don’t stress, don’t see a newborn session guide land in your inbox and think “Crap, I don’t have time to read ten pages before she gets here!” I’m a busy mama, I got you – gloss over that first page and rock on. 

Closer to your due date, I also send a short check-in questionnaire. Babies rarely arrive exactly when expected and life with a newborn is beautifully unpredictable. This allows families to update me if plans have shifted or if they need extra flexibility around timing.

My goal is always to support families in a way that feels calm and flexible. The newborn stage is tender and fleeting. Your photography experience should feel the same way.

Wondering if an In-home Newborn Session is Right for You?

I’d love to be a resource for you, even if you’re in the “I’m considering it stage” – you’re welcome to check out my Newborn Experience page HERE and read through a blog post on the topic HERE. 

And of course, if you’re looking for a safe, trained, has-her-heart-in-it Atlanta newborn photographer, reach out!

Let’s Connect

Quick note: one thing I love about my photographer community is how much wisdom and connection is shared. Emily, the artist behind Scarlet Oak Photography, is so intentional about lifting up her community and it’s one thing I really admire about her – if you’re in the north Atlanta area and are looking to connect with a photographer who does beautiful, classic studio work, look her up. And check out her latest blog post all about Alpharetta date night ideas. You can find it HERE.