It’s really common for people to tell me they are worried about having a newborn photoshoot. I mean, let’s face it, you’ve just had a baby and life is usually a bit chaotic in those first few weeks. So I’ve put together the top 5 worries that most people have about newborn shoots.
These are all things previous clients have told me they were worried about before their shoot, and I’m going to tell you why you really don’t need to worry about any of these things.
5 Most Common Worries About Newborn Photoshoots
My house is a mess.
First and foremost, so is mine. I am a mum to two boys, I have a messy house that no matter how much I try to tidy it, there’s always stuff everywhere and jobs that need to be done. That is without a newborn keeping me tied to the sofa, or keeping me up all night. I still remember the newborn days really well and how utterly exhausting they are. If I come to do a newborn shoot in your home, I am not coming to judge how tidy it is and honestly I really don’t care. A sink full of dishes, dusty sideboards and a bathroom that could probably do with a once over, won’t have any effect on your photos and I probably won't even notice anyway because homes should be lived in.
It’s my job to make sure your photos look fabulous and I absolutely promise you, your house does not need to be show home standard to get great newborn photos.
2. I’m not looking my best after growing and birthing a human.
I think this is probably the most common worry for new mums, and again, I really get it. I did not feeling at my best after the birth of either of my boys. But the photos I do have from those early weeks I absolutely adore now.
Not only that, your children will cherish these photos in the future too and their children after them. I'd love to see a photo of my grandma cuddling my mum as a newborn. That would be incredible.
During your shoot I will try to make you as comfortable as possible, you won’t have anything to do but snuggle your delicious new baby, which in turn will make you all full of oxytocin, the happy hormone, and will make you look radiant. Plus, we can chat ideas of the best clothes for you to wear so that you feel your best. And if your worried about your mummy tummy or anything else, tell me and I'll make sure we work with it. Promise.
Having said all that, if you really don’t want to be in the photos with your baby we can always work around that, I would never force you to do anything you’re uncomfortable with.
3. My other kids will be there and might not cooperate.
Did I mention I have two boys? I also worked for 9 years as a therapist for children with autism, so I’m well versed in working with kids. My go to trick is to always have treats or bribes to hand, I'll ask what your kids favourite treats are before the shoot and might just turn up with some for bonus points.
Truthfully, I’ve had numerous newborn shoots where the older sibling just did not want to play ball. That’s part and parcel of my job and it's for me to worry about, not you.
4. My partner isn’t keen.
Most partners that aren’t keen are worried I’m going to rock up and make them be all cheesy, when they’d much rather be doing something else with their free time. I get that. But I won’t.
I don’t really pose families if I can help it. I will direct you into the best light so we can get the best photos, and I might give you some direction but I prefer more natural photos so there will not be any looking straight down the camera and saying cheese.
Alternatively they sometimes just don’t understand why you want to get photos of your new baby when you could just take them yourself on your phone right? Again, I get that, it’s an investment. But the photos you get taken professionally will always be better quality than a phone snap. I know what to look for, I know how to capture you all at your best and they will be a treasure you can pass down to your family in years to come. Plus what happens when your phone dies and your photos are gone forever!
5. What if my baby is really fussy.
This is another really common one. And I want to reassure you that it’s really not a problem if your baby is fussy. I expect it.
I expect that you might need to change a nappy or five. I expect them to have the longest feed of their life as soon as I turn up. I expect all the little curve balls they will throw at us. And I’m ready for them. We can work around all of it. And if that day baby does not want to be put down for even a millisecond, then we follow their lead, and we will still get beautiful photos. That’s the beauty of having a more natural newborn shoot over a studio shoot, we can go with the flow and it won’t spoil anything at all.
I hope some of that has eased your mind a little bit but if not and you still need to chat it over just reach out to me and we can talk.
When it comes to booking a session with me, I like to chat to you on the phone beforehand anyway, so that you can really get a feel for what I am like as a person. I think it’s really important that you feel comfortable with me and that you know you can ask me anything at all beforehand. I want your newborn session to be a lovely memory, not a stressful experience, which means you've got to want me in your home and feel a connection with me. It makes the whole thing easier for both of us.