Lyndsey Aberromby Photography
What Is an At-Home Newborn Photoshoot Really Like?
The first few weeks with a new baby are a blur of feeds, cuddles, naps and very little sense of time. There’s something really lovely about photographing a newborn at home. You’re in your own space, there’s no rush, and everything can happen at your baby’s pace. I photograph newborn babies at home, across Hertfordshire and the surrounding area. I come to you, usually in the first few weeks after your baby arrives, and we spend around an hour and a half taking photographs in a relaxed, natural way. There isn’t a strict shot list or schedule. We work around your baby.
Most parents I speak to are thinging about the same few things before their photoshoot: is the house tidy enough, what if the baby won’t sleep, and what if the toddler won’t sit still.
Here’s what an at-home newborn photoshoot is actually like.
What actually happens during an at-home newborn session?
When I arrive, we don’t need to dive straight into taking photos. We’ll have a chat (and I’ll happily have a cup of tea if you’re offering!) while I have a look around and see where the nicest light is. There’s no rigid running order. Feeding, changing, winding and settling your baby are all part of the session, and we’ll follow your baby’s lead for what happens when.
Often we start with some photographs of your baby with you, while everyone gets used to me being there. From there, we just see how things go. Your baby might decide they need feeding ten minutes after I arrive. They might need changing twice. They might want to be held for a while before they’re happy being put down. All very normal.
As we go, I’ll photograph some of the tiny details too — hands, feet, eyelashes, the curl of an ear, as well as some photographs of your baby on their own. If there’s anything in particular you were hoping for (I ask in advance, or if you think of something on the day let me know), we’ll make sure we’ve covered it. You don’t need to know what to do or how to pose. I’ll guide you when you need it, but mostly your job is just to look after your baby and enjoy the time with them.
Your baby doesn’t have to be asleep
This is another thing people sometimes worry about. Newborn photographs definitely don’t have to mean photographs of a sleeping baby. Awake babies are lovely to photograph too, the slightly unfocused newborn stares, the big yawns and stretches and all the tiny expressions. If your baby falls asleep, brilliant, we’ll make the most of that too. Most babies are awake for some of the session and asleep for some of the session, so we get the best of both. But if they stay awake for most of the session, or indeed sleep their way through, that’s absolutely fine. I’m there to photograph what they’re like at this tiny stage, rather than trying to make every baby do exactly the same thing.
You don’t need a tidy house — or a big one
This is something I hear a lot, and it’s not something you need to stress about. You do not need to clean your whole house before I arrive. I have kids, and I remember the newborn phase! I usually only need one or two areas with good natural light. That might be your bedroom, the baby’s room, your living room or simply a sofa near a window. If there’s a pile of washing in the corner, we’ll move it. If there’s baby stuff everywhere … well, you’ve just had a baby. I would be far more surprised if there wasn’t.
You don’t need a beautifully styled home either. Light is much more important to me than your decor, and often really simple spaces photograph beautifully. I’ll work out where we’ll photograph once I arrive and can see the light, so there’s no need to decide all of that beforehand.
These aren’t just photographs of your baby. They’re photographs of the ordinary days, the little details, and who you all were together.
What if you’ve got an older child too?
Having a toddler or older sibling involved is a fun part of a photoshoot. I definitely don’t expect them to sit nicely and smile for an hour and a half. We’ll usually photograph siblings together in little bursts throughout the session. They can come and go, play, have a snack and join back in when they’re ready. Sometimes we might get the classic sibling cuddle. Sometimes your toddler will give the baby a two-second kiss and then disappear to find a toy. We’ll play games, we’ll get them involved and make it enjoyable for them as well.
Family photographs don’t need everyone sitting in a row looking at the camera. Often the photographs that turn out best are the ones where nobody is looking at me.
What should you wear?
Keep it simple. Wear something you feel comfortable in and can easily move, sit and feed your baby in. Soft, fairly plain colours tend to photograph really well. You don’t need to match each other perfectly and you definitely don’t need to buy everyone a whole new outfit. I normally steer you away from very big logos and really busy patterns, but if that’s what you’d normally wear then don’t rule them out. And if you’re looking at your wardrobe a few days before the session thinking I have absolutely no idea, just send me a message. I’m happy to help.
Your home becomes part of the photographs — and that’s a lovely thing
This is one of the reasons I love photographing newborns at home. Your baby’s first weeks happen in very ordinary places. The bedroom they first came home to. The sofa where you’ve spent hours feeding them. Your own bed with everyone piled onto it. The corner of the room where their older brother or sister climbs up beside you. Right now, those spaces probably don’t feel particularly special. But in a few years, they’ll look completely different.
Having your home in the photographs means they aren’t just photographs of what your baby looked like. They’re photographs of what your life looked like at that point too. And I think that’s what makes them feel so personal.
When should you book your newborn photoshoot?
You can get in touch while you’re still pregnant. The earlier you get in touch the more likely I’ll be able to fit you in. I’ll pop your due date into my diary so I know roughly when to expect your baby, but we don’t need to choose an exact photoshoot date before they’re born.
Once your baby arrives, just send me a message and we’ll find a day that works. I deliberately keep some flexibility in my diary for newborn sessions, and your baby doesn’t have to be photographed within a rigid five-to-ten-day window. Lots of babies have their photographs taken in the first few weeks, so if you need a little time to find your feet first, that’s absolutely fine.
At-home newborn photography in Hertfordshire
I’m based in Berkhamsted and photograph newborn babies at home across Hertfordshire, Buckinghamshire and the surrounding area.
I regularly travel to families around Berkhamsted, Hemel Hempstead, Tring, St Albans, Chesham, Amersham, Harpenden, Watford and North London, as well as further afield. If a relaxed photoshoot at home sounds much more like your sort of thing than packing everyone up and heading to a studio, you can find all the details about my newborn sessions here.
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Find out more about in-home newborn photography in Hertfordshire, Buckinghamshire & North Lonodon
I photograph relaxed family sessions across Hertfordshire, Buckinghamshire & North London – focussed on connection, personality and real family moments.