What happens during a newborn photoshoot at home?
In a hurry? Skip to the quick version
If you've never had a newborn photoshoot before, it's completely normal to feel a bit unsure about how it all works. Will the photographer be there for hours? Do you need to have the house looking perfect? What happens if the baby cries the whole time? What are you actually supposed to do?
I get asked these kinds of questions a lot, and I think the honest answer is that it's much more relaxed than most people expect. There's no set routine, no pressure, and no expectation that anything needs to go perfectly. Here's what a typical photoshoot with me actually looks like, from start to finish.
Before I arrive
You don't need to do very much to prepare. The main things that help are warmth and light.
I mainly work with natural light, so it helps if the rooms we'll use have decent-sized windows. Before I arrive, have a think about which rooms get the best light, usually the one that feels brightest during the morning or early afternoon. It doesn't need to be anything special. A bedroom with a window, a living room with good light, or even a spot near the kitchen window. I can work with most spaces.
Warmth matters because babies settle better when they're warm, especially if we're going to have any time with them in just a nappy for those classic newborn portraits. Putting the heating on a bit higher than you'd normally have it makes a real difference.
Beyond that, a quick tidy of the rooms we'll use is all I'd suggest - clear the surfaces, move anything that would be really distracting, and don't worry about the rest. I'm not photographing your house. I'm photographing your family in your house, and there's an important difference. I've shot in all sorts of homes and the state of your kitchen is genuinely the last thing I'm thinking about.
And please don't feel like you need to be "ready" in any particular way. If you're still in your pyjamas when I arrive, that's fine. We can work around it.
When I arrive
The first thing I do is take a few minutes to see the space and the light. I'll usually have a wander around the rooms we've talked about and get a sense of where the best spots are.
I don't start photographing straight away. I want everyone to feel settled and comfortable before the camera comes out. If you want to make a cup of tea, finish a feed, or just sit and chat for a few minutes, that's completely fine. There's no rush. I build this time into every photoshoot because I know how important it is. If you're relaxed, it comes through in the photos. If you're tense because a stranger has just walked in and started clicking, it shows too.
I also use this time to get a sense of your baby. Are they awake or asleep? Settled or fussy? That tells me where to start and how to pace things.
How the photoshoot unfolds
Every photoshoot is different because every baby is different. But the general shape is usually the same.
We start with whatever your baby is doing. If they're asleep, I might begin with a few quiet portraits on my beanbag I bring along - your baby in your arms, or lying on your bed, or being held by both parents. If they're awake, we go with that - I'll photograph the two of you together, the eye contact, the little expressions, the way you hold and interact with each other. Both are equally beautiful.
The photoshoot moves at your baby's pace, not mine. If they need a feed, we stop and feed. If they need a nappy change, we pause. If they're unsettled and need a cuddle and a walk around the room, we do that. None of this is a disruption, it's part of the photoshoot, and often part of the photos too. A parent soothing a baby, gently rocking them, feeding them by the window - those moments are real and tender and they photograph beautifully.
I gently guide things as we go. I might suggest moving to a different room for a change of light, or ask you to sit in a particular spot near the window, or suggest a simple change of position. But I never direct anything heavily. It's always about working with what's happening naturally and nudging things gently when it would help.
The family photos
The main part of the photoshoot is about your family together with your new baby. This is where most of the time goes, and it's usually where the photos you love most come from.
These might be the two of you on the bed with the baby between you. One parent holding the baby close while the other watches. A quiet feed by the window. Hands - yours and theirs. The little details you'll forget faster than you think: how small their feet were, how they curled into your chest, the way you looked at them.
I don't ask you to pose. I might say "bring your heads a bit closer together" or "just look down at the baby for a moment" but it's always simple, natural things. Most of the time, I'm just watching and capturing what's already happening. The love is already there - I'm just making sure it's recorded.
If there are siblings, I usually include them in this part of the photoshoot. I find it works best to involve older children early, when their energy is fresh, and then let them go and play while I focus on the baby and parents. A three year old meeting their new sibling, carefully holding them, or just sitting nearby watching - those photos are always special.
The individual baby portraits
Alongside the family photos, I include a few simple portraits of just your baby. I bring a beanbag and set it up near the best light in your home, and we do a few quiet, classic images of your baby on their own.
These are the ones that tend to go on the wall - your baby curled up, peaceful, tiny. I keep them very simple. No props, no elaborate setups. Just soft light, a clean background, and your baby as they are.
If your baby is very young and sleepy, this part is usually straightforward. They settle on the beanbag and I work quickly and gently while they sleep. If they're a bit older or more alert, we might need to be patient and wait for a settled moment, or we might get a different kind of portrait - eyes open, looking up, full of expression. Both are lovely.
I never force anything. If your baby isn't happy on the beanbag, we simply move on. The individual portraits are a nice part of the photoshoot but they're not the whole point. The family images are always the heart of it.
Feeding, nappy changes and all the rest
I want to be really clear about this: feeds, nappy changes, crying, sick, poo explosions - all of it is completely normal and happens at almost every photoshoot. None of it is a problem. None of it means the photoshoot isn't going well.
I've been photographing babies for over a decade. I'm a parent myself, and I know that newborn life is messy and unpredictable. That's fine. We work around it. We take breaks when they're needed and pick up where we left off.
Some of the loveliest images I've taken have come from those in-between moments - a parent soothing a crying baby, feeding quietly in a chair by the window, gently changing a nappy while talking softly. These are the real moments of early parenthood, and they're worth capturing.
How long does it take?
I allow around an hour and a half for a newborn photoshoot, but I keep things flexible. Some sessions are done in an hour, some take a little longer. It depends entirely on your baby and how things unfold.
I never rush. If we need to pause while you feed and settle the baby, that's fine, it's built into the session. The goal is always to leave with a set of images that capture this time honestly and beautifully.
What to wear
You don't need to overthink this. Something you feel comfortable in, in soft, simple colours, is all you need. Avoid big logos or very bright patterns, and keep it relatively plain so the focus stays on faces and connection.
Light, neutral tones tend to photograph beautifully in natural light - creams, soft greys, whites. But honestly, what matters most is that you feel like yourself. If you're comfortable, it shows.
For baby, a simple white or cream vest or wrap is lovely for the individual portraits. For the family photos, whatever they're wearing is fine. Babygrows are perfect.
After the photoshoot
Once the photoshoot is finished, I'll pack up and leave you in peace. The editing takes around two weeks, and then I'll send you a link to your private online gallery where you can see all the images.
From there, you choose the photos that feel right for you. You'll have a week with the gallery to browse, share with family, and pick the collection that works for you.
The quick version
Put the heating up and have a think about which rooms have the best natural light. That's your main preparation.
You don't need a tidy house, a camera-ready baby, or a plan. We work with whatever the day brings.
I don't start photographing straight away. We chat, settle in, and let everyone get comfortable first.
The session is led by your baby. We stop for feeds, nappy changes, and cuddles whenever they're needed.
Most of the session is about your family together - the holding, the closeness, the quiet moments between you.
I include a few simple portraits of just your baby, usually on a beanbag with soft natural light.
The whole thing takes around an hour and a half, but I keep things flexible.
Afterwards, you'll receive a private gallery and choose the images you'd like to keep.
If you've got any questions about how a session works, or if there's something specific you'd like to know, I'm always happy to chat. Get in touch and we can talk through what would work for your family.
Newborn & baby photoshoots in Bristol
Newborn & baby photoshoots in Bath