What to know before planning your in-home newborn photo session in Portland, Oregon.
Are you welcoming your new baby soon and know you want a newborn session, but aren’t sure whether you want it in your home or in a studio setting? I’m a big fan of both types of sessions and I think that each one has its own pros and cons; ultimately it just depends on your vision and what you desire for your photos! In this blog post I’m going to cover a few of the key points to think about for an in-home newborn (or family!) session to make sure that you are ready for the session once your baby arrives!
The first, and most important item to consider is the natural window lighting in your home. What areas of your home are filled with sunlight during the mid-morning? Is it in the dining room, living room, nursery, a hallway, or another bedroom? For a few days, do a walk around every room of your home around 10am and see where the best lit space is, and know that that space is where we’ll want to do photos in your home.
Now, because we live in Portland Oregon and the skies can be dark and gloomy 6+ months of the year, I often will bring my own source of lighting that mimics natural light, but I like to think of it as “boosting” the window light, not lighting a fully dark room with a flashlight. Sidenote: Did you know that I actually use artificial light in 100% of my studio sessions?
Bottomline: most homes have decent lighting, even on gloomy days, but the area of your home we use for photos may need to be different than what you first envisioned. Knowing that, let’s move on to the next point!
Second Point: Location, decor, and stuff. Okay, so now you know that we’re going to do the session in your dining room, etc, because it’s the best naturally lit room in the morning. But now you’re thinking, really? There’s like a big table and chairs and I don’t love the way that room is decorated…. are you sure about this, Emilie? Yes, yes I am sure. But you may need to consider moving some furniture around, and clearing clutter out of the room. I don’t mean empty it completely, but if you have stacked diaper boxes and your toddler’s very un-aesthetic LEGOs and orange hot wheels tracks stashed in the corner (me, raising my hand here haha), you’ll want to move those sorts of items into another area of the home for photos. Anything that you don’t want in your photos forever should be moved.
During the session I’ll mainly be working from the window side wall with your family nearby and looking out the window. Anything between the window and the next wall over will show in photos.
If that piece feels totally overwhelming for you, maybe a studio session is a better option for your family!
In-home newborn photo sessions are so cozy, intimate, and special. A few of the other great benefits of an in-home session include:
- Quick access to snacks and bathroom
- No travel to a separate location (huge!!)
- Toddlers and older children can take pressure free breaks in their own space
- More casual feel
- Lends itself to more candid, cozy, playful, naturally inspired photos
- Making special memories both in and of your home
It’s important to remember that I’m not coming to your home to judge your home decor and see how Pinterest-y your kitchen is. You don’t need to be in your “forever” home or have it decorated and cleaned to perfection upon my arrival. I just want to help you find the best light, the best area of your home, and help you know what will cause a distraction in your photos before we plan for an in-home session, so that you can make an educated decision about what type of session will be best for your family in this very, very special time of life!
Portland Newborn Photography | Emilie Phillipson
Hey, I’m Emilie and I am a Portland Newborn Photographer, creating meaningful, soft, dreamy, and naturally inspired art for nostalgic mothers. As your Portland Newborn Photographer, I offer a luxurious, customized experience tailored to you.
If you’re ready to inquire or just have a few questions, don’t be shy, go ahead and send me an inquiry email and let’s get the conversation started!
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