Newborn Photos: How to Prep Your Home Without the Stress
TLDR/Quick Answer: Do I need to clean my whole house before a newborn photo session? No — spot-clean what's in frame and let the rest go. A few small adjustments (lighting, decluttering the shot, room temperature) matter far more than a spotless home.
As a Bend newborn photographer, one of the most common worries I hear from parents is whether their home is “photo ready”. The early days with a newborn baby are often busy, quiet, and sleepless all at once. Contrary to what you might think about newborn photos, you do not have to have a perfectly decorated or tidy home for a lifestyle newborn photography session. This is your permission to forget what you’ve seen on Pinterest.
In fact as a photographer, I urge you to not break yourself over a clean home. Here in Bend, many clients choose newborn family photos at home because they allow everyone to settle into a slower pace together. Don’t break that cozy rhythm just for the sake of ‘perfect photos’. Rather, we want to strategically make your home feel comfortable and ready for your lifestyle newborn photography session.
If relieving stress for your photos sounds good to you, reach out to chat about booking a newborn session.
How much should you clean before taking newborn family photos at home?
Spot clean your home for photos - don’t clean everything. Seriously, don’t clean your entire home before an in-home newborn photoshoot. I did that for my second child (ooof), and though my home looked beautiful - we used a fraction of it for our photo session. You’re already going to be tired from caring for your tiny little babe - save your extra energy for the camera and go easy on the cleaning.
Pro tip: A little vacuuming goes a long way. Toss the dirty dishes in the sink, dirty laundry into a closet, and we’re ready to go.
What should I do to prepare for my newborn family photos at home ?
Quick List of What to do:
Clear the clutter out of the frame. Note that I said, “out of the frame” - not “tidy your house.” Don’t pick up all the toys your toddler threw around. Don’t worry about the dog’s chews scattered on the floor. Those are details of your life that make a photo look lived-in and natural.
Think about anything you would really not like in a photo. Necessary home items like a big dog kennel or kitchen trash can are the things that we don’t want to highlight in your photos. When you work with me, these are the things that I help you identify and move when I show up for your photo session. So, if you’re scanning your home thinking, "I don't know what I would move”, well, I’ve got you covered.
How do I keep my baby comfortable during a newborn photoshoot?
Newborn babies have difficulty regulating their body temperatures. If they’re too cold, they may cry and not rest well. If your home is a comfortable temperature for your baby, however, they will likely sleep easily and feel comfortable not being in a swaddle the entire time. This is important for getting cozy shots together, as well as capturing those tiny details of your newborn that will change quickly.
Raise the temperature on your thermostat a few degrees for baby’s comfort, and then style the rest of the family to feel comfortable in that temperature, too. And if your baby does start crying, it’s okay. There’s flexibility in an in-home newborn photo session to take time to soothe your fussy babe.
Pro tip: In the winter, have your thermostat set to 71 or 72 degrees Fahrenheit. In the summer, set your thermostat to 73 or 74 degrees.
What should I have ready for my in-home newborn photoshoot?
One of the biggest benefits of doing a newborn session in your home (not in a studio) is that you have access to your entire stash of baby gear and snacks. Even so, it’s a smart idea to have a few things prepped and ready to go so that transitions or needs can be handled smoothly during your session.
Think about everything that would be most important to have if someone is hungry, there’s a dirty diaper, there’s a diaper blow-out, baby spits up, or you have an older sibling (or siblings) joining in the session. Those are the things you’ll want easily reachable during your session.
The quick list of what you need handy during newborn photos: pacifiers, burp cloths, swaddles, snacks for everyone (especially toddlers), changes of clothes for everyone (yes, everyone), diapers, water to drink, and bottles (if bottle feeding).
How does décor in my home affect a lifestyle newborn photography session?
Color affects both the emotional feeling and lighting quality of your newborn session more than many people realize. Most homes fall into three categories when it comes to feeling and décor: light and bright, bold and bright, or somewhere in the middle (think pops of color).
Take a moment to look around your home. Do you have a lot of light colored furniture, dark colored furniture, or brightly colored furniture? What about your walls? How about accessories? These are all part of the feeling of your home, and lend themselves to your identity as a family unit. We don’t want to erase these things in favor of a particular photo aesthetic. Rather, we want to use them appropriately to support your newborn session with beautiful resulting photos.
What if my living space has light colored or white décor?
White and light colored living spaces will bounce light back onto you for clean, beautiful looking lighting for your lifestyle newborn photography session. (Huzzah!) This is an easy win for your photographer to set you up in your home. No need to do much here - just be aware of this advantage.
Similarly, light colored home furnishings and accessories are easy to work with because they are like blank slates. But since they are white or lightly colored, you want to keep that in mind for styling your newborn family photos at home. Do you want to blend in with your home, or pop a little? There’s no sense in everyone blending into a white couch or carpet!
Pro tip: To highlight your family in your photos, ensure you choose clothing that has some color and pattern to it.
What if my living space has bold or bright colors?
Colors are totally fine in living spaces (I personally love seeing your individual style), but you might need a photographer that is skilled with working with colors and lighting to balance it. Keeping that in mind, it’s a good idea to counter these bright colors with lightly colored clothing for yourselves.
Also take note of where your windows are in your home and where the most sunlight comes into your house. Following the natural light is a great way to be able to capture those beautiful colors you’ve chosen for your home without overwhelming your family for the photo session.
Similarly, bold or bright furnishings need some careful consideration. If you’ve got a hot pink couch, then I’m going to suggest we avoid it for most of your newborn family photos at home.
Furnishings with bright or bold colors reflect that bold light onto your baby’s delicate skin. Newborn babies are often born with strong pigmentation to their skin already (pink, red, yellow, even sometimes purple undertones are all possible), so we don’t want to add more during your photo session.
Pro tip: If in doubt, put a set of white sheets on your master bed. It’s a cozy space to photograph your family, and white sheets will reflect clean light onto your faces.
What’s the best natural lighting for in-home newborn photoshoot?
Lighting plays a huge role in photographing a newborn session well. Clean, bright light will shine beautifully on skin and make everyone glow. Harsh overhead lighting or extremely warm-tone lighting, however, can really throw a session off. Here are your quick tips for getting the lighting right in your home.
How do I get good lighting for newborn family photos at home?
Turn off overhead lights. All overhead lighting needs to be turned off - every single one. (I mean it.) Overhead lighting is the least flattering of all types of lighting, so any lighting hanging above your head or nestled in the ceiling goes off. (You will thank me later. I promise.)
Open all curtains, blinds, and shades. As much as possible, let all the natural daylight into your home. Open all curtains, blinds, and shades to let that beautiful sunshine in. Additionally, be clear to communicate with your photographer about what type of lighting they want to work with - and find out what time of day that happens in your home.
Your home does not need to be perfect to hold meaningful memories. The beauty of an in-home newborn session is that it captures this season exactly as it feels — the slow mornings, the tiny details, the way your family settles into one another. If you’re looking for a Bend newborn photographer who will gently guide you through the process while documenting your family honestly and naturally, I’d love to connect with you.
Hello, I’m Elise
I’d love to photograph your growing family.
I specialize in storytelling imagery in your home for your newborn photos, guiding you through planning and styling so you can simply be present in these first moments as a new family.