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After waiting nine long months, your baby will soon be here! If you want to capture memories of those very first days at home, but aren’t sure where to start, you’re in the right place. Here are five tips to nail your lifestyle newborn session.
Choose where the photos will take place
As a general rule, the most commonly used spaces are the primary bedroom and the nursery. These are often the most meaningful rooms in your home and help create personal, heartfelt images. They should also be well lit by natural window light. Ideally, you should be able to read a book or look inside a drawer without needing artificial lighting. If these rooms aren’t bright enough, we can use other well-lit areas of your home such as the living room, guest bedroom or kitchen. If your home is generally quite dark, an in-studio newborn session may be a better option for optimal results.
It’s always helpful to send me a few photos of your space beforehand so I can better understand your environment and plan accordingly. Weather permitting, we can also include a few outdoor moments if you’d like.
Before the session, I also recommend taking a few minutes to tidy up and remove distracting items such as tissue boxes, garbage bins, empty glasses, lotions, laundry baskets, clothing, cables or magazines. This allows us to start right away and focus on capturing your new family life without distractions.
Include personal elements
Since the session takes place in your home, it’s the perfect opportunity to include meaningful personal touches. This could be a special blanket, a favourite book or a family keepsake. Blankets are especially wonderful because of their versatility. They can be used to wrap your baby, add texture to your bed or even create a cozy setup outdoors in warmer months. These small personal items help tell your story in a beautiful and authentic way.
You can also include your pet, as long as they are gentle and comfortable around your baby. For safety, I always maintain a safe distance between pets and newborns. We can photograph them observing the baby from a crib, or include them in a family portrait where each parent holds either the baby or the pet. Pets are part of the family, and it’s always a joy to include them if you’d like.
Keep the rooms warm
Just like in-studio newborn sessions, room temperature plays an important role. Your baby has spent nine months in a warm environment and is naturally comforted by warmth. When the baby is dressed, a room temperature of around 23°C is ideal. If the baby is in a diaper or fully undressed, the temperature should be closer to 28°C to keep them comfortable and relaxed.
If you’re planning photos with your baby in a diaper, you can undress and wrap them in a warm blanket about an hour before my arrival. This helps them stay cozy and often allows them to fall asleep more peacefully during the session.
A portable heater can also be helpful to warm up specific areas quickly, especially since central heating doesn’t always reach every corner evenly. In summer, it’s best to avoid air conditioning during the session, as the room can become too cool for a newborn.
Wear comfortable and appropriate clothing
Since your home will likely be warmer than usual, especially with added heating for your baby, it’s important to dress comfortably. Postpartum hormones can also make temperature regulation a bit unpredictable. Soft and breathable fabrics such as cotton are ideal. A simple top paired with a cardigan is often a great choice, as it allows you to adjust your comfort easily throughout the session.
It’s also best to avoid busy patterns or colours that might distract from the focus of the images. You can find more detailed guidance in the blog post « Five photography mistakes and how to avoid them » available on my website.
Embrace spontaneity
Unlike in-studio newborn sessions, lifestyle sessions are all about capturing real life as it unfolds. There are no posed setups on beanbags and your baby doesn’t need to sleep the entire time.
We follow your baby’s rhythm and adapt to whatever the moment brings. If your baby is sleeping, we can capture peaceful moments with you holding them. If they’re awake, it’s a wonderful opportunity for connection and interaction. On the other hand, if they need to be fed or soothed, we simply pause and include those moments as part of your story.
The goal is to document this beautiful transition into parenthood in an honest and natural way. Your baby will only be this small for such a short time, and your daily life will quickly evolve. This session preserves those early moments exactly as they were, in the most genuine way possible.
Last update: April 2026
Would you like to book a session like this? Contact me at lisamarie.savard@yahoo.ca to do so!
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