You need only do a bit of prep for an at-home newborn photo session, and the prep is a breeze!

I covered what to wear for your in-home session already, so now that your ‘fit is squared away, it’s time to get your house photo-ready!

What parts of the house will we take photos in?

Before your session, I’ll ask you to send me a quick walk-thru video of your home—not so I can judge how messy your house is, I PROMISE!—so I can see the light situation ahead of time.

Light will be the deciding factor, but in general, most newborn sessions include photos in the:

• Nursery
• Primary bedroom
• Main living area

I can take photos anywhere with good natural light, including a front entryway, stairs, or kitchen.

These well-lit areas are where you’ll focus your tidying up.

Why prepping your house is important

Easy: it’s all about visual clutter.

At home, our eyes become immune to clutter.

But on camera, every bit of clutter serves to distract from the subjects of the photo: YOU and your sweet new baby.

Prepping the nursery for newborn photos

This room is the STAR of most newborn sessions!

• Hide the gadgets: diaper genie, bouncers, play mats, etc.

In the photo above, the corner just inside the room to the left was stacked with baby gadgets, so they could stay off-camera.

• Remove the crib bumpers, if you have ’em. I like to take photos above and through the crib rails.

• Take out any brightly colored objects that don’t go with the theme of the room.

• Windex any mirrors in this room and in the other rooms where we’ll be taking photos; I love reflection photos for newborn sessions!

Preparing the primary bedroom

You don’t have to give gratitude and kiss your items goodbye; they’re just going on a little closet vacation for a bit!

Bedside tables

• Tabletop surfaces should be clutter-free.
• Maybe a lamp or small stack of books, but anything else should go adios.
• Tuck the phone charger cords out of sight… make it look nice and neat.
• If your bedside table has an open base, clear all that stuff out, too, especially if it’s white or light-colored. Black items will usually just blend into the shadows and can stay.

Baby gadgets

• Move any baby gear into the hall or closet/bathroom (and close the door!). In a pinch, find a corner that’s far from the bed and stack it up (like we did in the photo above!).

The bed

• Make the bed like a snappy military cadet: tight and neat.
• Put all your pillows on the bed (solid color pillowcases, please)!
• I like a solid-colored bedspread if I have a choice, but a good quality print is okay as long as it’s not distracting (fat stripes or a large-scale floral are examples of distracting prints).
• Light colors are better; they reflect more light back onto faces.
• An all-white or light-neutral comforter is perfect, maybe with a textured throw tossed over the foot over the bed.
• If you don’t have a quilt or comforter, a white sheet works too.

• If your comforter is a bright/bold color—orange, magenta, etc.—those colors will create funky color casts on faces. See if you can find another option around the house!
• If your bedspread has seen better days, consider a cheapy blanket that you can throw over the top just for photos, like this one or this one.

Prepping the living room and kitchen

We’ll be in the main living area for some photos, and if your home is open concept, the kitchen will be in the background. That means we’ll need to do a bit of prep in there, too!

Kitchen counters

Take everything off the counter that you wouldn’t want front and center in a photo.

Your dish scrubby, pots and pans drying in the sink, bottle drying rack, bottles themselves, bottle warmer… there’s a ton of accoutrements that come along with a newborn baby, but we don’t want those items to become a distraction.

A small vase of flowers or a small green plant can stay.

PRO TIP: Just before the session, wipe down the countertop. I love a good countertop reflection!

The fridge

The top of the fridge tends to become a dumping ground, at least in my house. Make sure it’s nice and empty! If the front is covered with magnets and photos, clear it for your session. Everything can go right back up afterward!

The empty space above the kitchen cabinets

If your cabinets go all the way to the ceiling, you don’t have to worry about this one.

But if you have space up there, it’s a common dumping ground. Remove anything big that’s visible from the height of a typical adult.

It doesn’t matter where it goes, just move it out of sight for now!

Living room bouncers, swings, and baby gadgets

The human eye is drawn to the brightest part of a photo, and a bright pink or orange bouncer in the background of a photo would absolutely be a distraction. No bueno.

Especially look for ultrabright colors. We want the bright stuff HIDDEN. Plastic baby paraphernalia is usually made in obnoxious colors, so anything big or brightly colored should go to another room.

Prepping the rest of your house for newborn photos

Stairways

You probably wouldn’t think of it first, but stairs are a fun place to take a few shots, if the lighting’s there.

If you’ve got stuff hanging out on the stairs on its way to some other destination, tuck it away.

Shut the door, baby.

Anyone else now singing Sugar Ray in their head? Just me?

Shut the doors to your closets and bathrooms. I’ll close doors as we move around the house, but it’s always good to start off with the little things done!

Let there be light!

Open the blinds in all the important areas. Let that light in!

Dark, heavy curtains should be ALL the way open, for sure.

If you have white sheer panels as part of your window treatments, I’ll love you forever. Keep those in place; they soften the light coming in and they’re super dreamy.

Turn off overhead lights and lamps

This time I’m talkin’ artificial lights.

Turn off all the lamps and lights in your house right before your session.

Why? Because most home bulbs give off yellow light, while the sunlight coming in the windows is tinted blue. If light’s falling on your face from a light bulb on one side, but daylight on the other, you look weirdly blue and jaundiced all at once.

You’re ready for newborn photos!

It’s time for your newborn session, and your home is all set!

Don’t worry if you missed something; I’ll notice anything you didn’t, and I’ll help you put items out of sight or make small adjustments as we go.

Now, go put on your comfy clothes and socks and enjoy your session!

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