First, take a deep breath.

Newborn sessions are meant to be slow, flexible, and low pressure. Your baby doesn’t need to sleep the entire time, your house doesn’t need to be spotless, and nothing needs to go perfectly for us to make meaningful photographs. Some of my favorite images come from the quiet, ordinary moments — feeding, rocking, or simply holding your baby close. Here are a few small tips to make things feel easier.

HOW DO WE CHOOSE A LOCATION

Newborn sessions can be done outside if the weather is gorgeous, in my studio space in Arlee (please read about the studio in location ideas), or in your home, because that’s where this chapter of life is really happening.

YOUR HOME DOESN’T NEED TO BE PERFECT

Please don’t feel like you need to deep clean before I arrive. I promise I’m not judging anything. If it helps, the only areas we might use are a bedroom, the nursery, the living room, or a window with good light. Even a quick five-minute tidy of surfaces near windows is more than enough. Your home is part of your family’s story exactly as it is.

KEEP BABY COMFORTABLE

A comfortable baby makes everything easier. Before the session, it can help to feed baby shortly before we start, dress them in something simple and easy to remove, and keep the house a little warmer than usual if possible. We will pause for feeding, changing, and soothing whenever needed. Newborn sessions move at baby speed.

SIMPLE CLOTHING WORKS BEST

For newborns, simple is perfect. Some easy options for clothing are a plain onesie, a soft sleeper, a swaddle or blanket, or just a diaper with a blanket wrapped around them.

Neutral tones tend to photograph beautifully, but the most important thing is comfort.

For parents, soft and simple outfits usually work best. Think cozy and natural — the kind of clothes you’d normally wear while holding your baby at home.

EXPECT BREAKS

It’s completely normal for newborn sessions to include feeding breaks, diaper changes, soothing and rocking, a little bit of crying. None of this is a problem, it’s part of the story. We’ll work around whatever your baby needs at the moment.

SIBLINGS ARE WELCOME (CHAOS INCLUDED)

If older siblings are involved, things might get a little wild — and that’s okay.

Kids don’t need to sit perfectly still for photos. Often the best moments happen when they’re just being themselves. I’ll guide things gently so no one feels pressured.

RELAX AND ENJOY THE MOMENT

The newborn stage passes incredibly quickly.

These photos are about remembering how tiny they were, how you held them, and what life felt like in those first weeks. You don’t need to perform or pose perfectly. Just love on your baby and I’ll take care of the rest.