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Tips to Prepare for Your Philadelphia In-Home Newborn Photography Session

Hello, I'm AnneMarie
I'm a lifestyle family photographer serving Greater Philadelphia, Delaware, and Maryland. A mother to three children, two goldendoodles, and married for 2 decades.
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Tips to Prepare for Your Philadelphia In-Home Newborn Photography Session

Are you considering an in-home newborn session? I have gathered up my best tips to prepare for your Philadelphia in-home newborn photography session! With these little bits and pieces of tips and tricks that I’ve collected over the last 14 years as a professional photographer, it is a guarantee to make your newborn session flow smoothly, even with the unpredictability of babies! My primary modo operandi  during in-home newborn sessions is to go with the flow, because every baby is different, but there are some simple ways you can prepare to have the smoothest session possible.

mom holding newborn son while laughing with baby's big sister mom sitting on the couch in a neutral dress staring at newborn son mom looking at daughter laughing while climbing on couch in light-filled neutral Philadelphia living room

How to Prepare Your Home for Your Newborn Session

Please do not stress at all about making your home magazine-perfect! You just had a newborn baby and a lived in home is part of your family’s story. However, to help keep your portraits focused on your newest addition, I do suggest having any every-day clutter cleared in the areas we will be photographing. This is just a simple tidy of your nightstands, coffee tables and counters! Any magazines, papers, remotes, toys and such can create distracting elements in your images. Don’t worry about deep-cleaning or anything else.

mom and dad laughing at daughter while sitting on bed holding newborn baby in their Philadelphia newborn session mom cozied up on bed in neutral Baltic Born dress with newborn son swaddled in blanket mom and big sister looking at baby brother while laying on bed during lifestyle newborn session

How to Decide What Rooms To Photograph In During Your In-Home Newborn Session

Think about the rooms in your home that provide the most natural light! Any particular rooms get beautiful morning light shining through the windows? Decide what rooms you would like to feature in your session! Typically, I tend to photograph most lifestyle newborn sessions in the nursery, master bedroom and living room, but we will choose any space in your homes that gives us the best natural light.

newborn boy wrapped in neutral swaddles laying in bedUsing natural window light, AnneMarie Hamant is an expert Philadelphia In-Home Newborn Photographer, posing baby boy sleeping in a white swaddlenewborn baby sleeping while swaddled in white blanketclose up of newborn boys hands

How to Prepare For Baby’s Feeding Schedule During Your Philadelphia In-Home Newborn Photography Session

In order to have a smooth flow to your session, plan on feeding & changing your baby just before I am scheduled to arrive, even if they don’t seem hungry. Feeding newborns usually helps baby fall right asleep prior to the start of our session! And no worries if your babe needs to be nursed or bottle fed again during our time together! It is completely normal and totally expected! We will follow baby’s lead during this lifestyle session as baby’s needs ALWAYS comes first!

 

How to Prepare Your Outfits for Your Philadelphia In-Home Newborn Photography Session

What To Wear For Baby & Family During Your Newborn Session

Choosing the perfect wardrobe for their upcoming newborn session shouldn’t be stressful on a new mother. I like to keep my images fairly neutral, light and airy so the images are timeless and the focus is on your family. Wearing something comfortable (especially since you just gave birth!) and neutral will always photograph best. Be sure to check out one of my favorite online shops, Baltic Born, for the best dress recommendations for post-partum mothers.

I always suggest moms picking out their outfits first and then basing the rest of the family around you. Choose something that makes you feel beautiful, and I suggest selecting earthy, neutral tones to help create calm, family-focused photos. Remember, I do offer access to my clothing styling service for all of my clients. It can be so helpful to visualize outfit possibilities and easily order your wardrobe online for the entire family through the service I include in my booking emails.

Babies should be dressed how you would like them to be dressed in the pictures! Wearing a cute cozy knit outfit or just a neutral swaddle- whatever you like! Just be sure the clothes aren’t too big for baby. (I also bring neutral swaddles and blankets with me!)

sister crawling to newborn baby brother on a bed big sister holding little newborn brother on bed big sister holding newborn baby brother on bed in neutral clothing during a Philadelphia in-home newborn photography session black and white image of big sister holding baby brother while swaddled in a blanket Beautiful, neutral bed to snuggle a newborn baby during a Philadelphia In-home newborn photography session, with mom and big sister looking at baby brother

How to Prepare Big Siblings for your Philadelphia In-Home Newborn Session

If you have older siblings that will be involved in your newborn session, plan to have non-messy snacks on hand as the session can last up to 2 to 3 hours. However, they won’t be needed during the entire session. I always suggest having a grandparent around or your significant other planning to spend some one on one time with the older siblings while I am focused on working with just the baby.

Including Grandparents in your In-Home Newborn Session

Will your parents or in-laws be in town to help you with your new baby? I love to include grandparents in my newborn sessions to remember this special bond, and all the love they have for their new grandchildren.  Grandparents are also a huge help in caring for any older siblings!

grandmother sitting in bay window holding newborn boy during a Philadelphia in-home newborn photography session black and white image of newborn boy swaddled and sleeping

How to Incorporate Special Items & Moments at Your Newborn Photography Session

My last and final tip is thinking ahead if there are any special heirloom items that you would like have incorporated into your newborn session? For instance, a handmade quilt, vintage baby blanket, etc! Or if you are nursing, would you like breastfeeding portraiture included in your session? I love when clients choose something unique or special to them during their newborn session as it makes it their images even more treasured!

AnneMarie Hamant is a lifestyle newborn and family photographer based outside of Philadelphia, PA, and serves the surrounding areas including Kennett Square, West Chester, Glen Mills, Malvern, Media, King of Prussia, Conshohocken, Wayne, Haverford, Villanova, Devon, Berwyn, Ardmore as well as the Wilmington, Delaware suburbs. AnneMarie is an award-winning photographer with over 14 years experience. Her passion is creating playful and relaxed lifestyle family photography both in-home and on location for her clients.

Want to see some of my favorite newborn portraits? Click here to see my newborn portfolio! Then contact me here for more information about booking your newborn session!

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MotherHood

hey there!

I'm so glad you're here!

I am a mother to three children, and a full-time family and newborn photographer serving the Philadelphia and Delaware regions. I have been in business since 2008. I'm a country girl at heart and love capturing families in beautiful natural spaces. I bring my warm personality and energy to every session, and truly love what I do. 

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They are only little for a short while.