Looking for a Canberra newborn photographer who offers natural, in-home sessions? Newborn photoshoots have come a long way in recent years. If studio lighting and kitsch props aren’t your thing, then you’re in the right place. In-home newborn photoshoots are the perfect way to commemorate the arrival of your baby in a way that feels natural to you. The sessions are baby focused all while in the comfort of your own space. As a Canberra newborn photographer I have visited countless families. Whether they’re welcoming their first or fourth baby – each session is unique because no two families, or homes, are the same. That’s the beauty of these sessions!
The photoshoot pictured below was a dreeeeamy newborn session. On a mild autumn morning in Canberra, sun streaming through the windows of their 1970s brick home, we spent an hour chatting and taking photos of their new baby girl. We made the most of the house’s gorgeous original features, moving room to room, chasing the light. I captured a mixture of scene-setting wide frames, as well as intimate close ups of little Blair and her parents. My hope is that when Blair’s parents look at these images in years to come, they’ll remember what those first few weeks as parents felt like.
As I mentioned: every newborn shoot is different. The weather could be miserable on the day of your session. Or your baby will be unsettled. Or your toddler will kick up a fuss! But no matter the scenario, we can make some beautiful images.
How to prepare your home for a newborn session:
Identify which rooms in your home get the best natural light. Maybe it’s just one or two spaces – that’s perfect! Put any excess clutter away. I’m all for having ‘things’ in your home. It’s key to expressing your personality, after all! But make it intentional and easy on the eye.
Choosing a time of day for your newborn session:
This ties into the above: where in your home receives the best amount of natural light, and at what time? If your home is really dark in the morning but gets beautiful light in the afternoon, then let’s shoot in the arvo! For the most part I will avoid starting sessions past 4pm, to avoid ‘witching hour’.
Length of a session:
Your photoshoot will go for 1-2 hours. It really depends on a) how many rooms in your home we can utilise, b) if you have multiple children that might need wrangle or encouraging and c) how many times baby needs to feed. I never want to rush or make you feel rushed. Allow 2 hours in your day for our shoot.
When to book your newborn photoshoot:
I encourage booking at least a month in advance. The ideal time to reach out is sometime in your second trimester. Canberra mums and dads – get on it early to avoid missing out! When you enquire I’ll ask when you’re due and schedule you in about 10 days after that (and if baby arrives early or late, we can easily change it!). Contact me here to book!
How old your baby should be for a newborn photoshoot:
If you want your baby to be sleepy, small and squishy I recommend them being 1-2 weeks old. Babies tend to start getting acne and being more alert around the 3-4 week mark. In saying that, you can have photos taken at any time! It’s just worth keeping in mind that a 6 week old might be more unsettled than a 2 week old. Here’s a reel I made that goes through ages in more detail!
What if my baby doesn’t settle?
I have been a Canberra newborn photographer for over 4 years. I have never come away from a photoshoot without beautiful photos! The key is patience. Go into your shoot expecting that your baby will cry and need time to feed and settle. Let go of perfection – this is all about capturing connection. Realistically, a 10 minute window of a happy baby can go a long way when we’re taking photos! Sometimes that’s all we have so I’ll kick into gear and make it happen! As mentioned above – younger babies, in my experience, are much easier to keep asleep and settled. However, if you wake up on the day of your shoot and your baby is clearly unwell, reach out and we can reschedule.
Feeling ready to book a shoot? Download my price guide here and enquire today!
