Wellington Newborn and Family Photography at Home!

My at-home newborn sessions are perfect for parents who have recently welcomed their newborn into the world. The reason I offer this type of photography and not studio photography is that being at home feels truly authentic and natural, while also making it so much easier for parents to get professional photos!

You may still be figuring out your baby’s routine while possibly feeling like you haven’t quite had enough sleep. I’ll be able to take away the pressure of having to be somewhere and the logistics of planning an outing with a newborn. If you have a toddler or younger children, they may feel most comfortable and settled being at home for these photos. We can also include any pets, which is a nice bonus!

I also really love that these sessions are taken in a space that is personal to your family, so in years to come your little one can see the home they grew up in (I know I feel nostalgic looking at my old family photos). Your space doesn’t need to be stylised or overly tidy. I’ll use 1-3 spaces that have minimal clutter and can help clear away anything that isn’t suitable when I arrive. I can make any home work for photos if there is enough natural light.

I like to capture moments of your family interacting in your everyday life setting while keeping things relaxed and easy-going. When your little one needs a feed or if your toddler wants a snack we can pause photos and since you’re at home you’ll have everything you need right there. We can also use any props or special blankets in the photos so you’ll get a lot of variety (Grandparents and Aunties love seeing their knitted gifts being put to good use).

At this point in time, I don’t offer studio portraits for newborn photography but if you're wanting natural and less posed photos taken in your home, this kind of session might be what you're looking for! These sessions are available all year round, so you can pick any time to update your family photos (weekends are limited during summer so do get in touch to find out more about my availability).

Here are some reviews and testimonials from families I’ve photographed! You can also check out my Google reviews for more up-to-date feedback.

“Jaymee took some family photos of us with our 4 month old. We are so happy with how they turned out and will treasure them for many years to come. Thank you Jaymee for your prompt communication and turnaround, as well as your fun and easygoing nature during our shoot.”

“We are so happy with our photos and would 100% recommend Jaymee and go back to her again. The shoot was super relaxed and we were really impressed with Jaymee’s quick turnaround, great communication and professionalism.”

“Jaymee took some incredible photos for us. But not just that, she was friendly, calm and created a great atmosphere, which really helped make the session in our home with two young kids a success!”

Tips to prepare for your in-home lifestyle and newborn photo session

Family sessions at home capture a mix of unfiltered real moments, done in a stylised way. These sessions are a personal favourite of mine if you have a newborn! I’ll be able to capture your family in an authentic way and you’ll feel more comfortable being in your own space.

PREPARING YOUR SPACE

A home is made to be lived in and no one is expecting every room in your house to be clean or tidy, especially if you have kids. There is absolutely no pressure to prepare your entire house for photos but having one or two spaces ready to use before your photographer arrives is key. Often your bedroom, living area, or a children’s bedroom is a great space to use for a lifestyle session. You may want to put away some toys or hide clutter but you definitely won’t need to clear everything out of the space, you still want it to look like your home and not something out of a flashy magazine.

PREPARING YOUR NEWBORN AND TODDLER

Let your children know a photographer is coming to your home for some fun and they will be taking some pictures. Asking your children to sit quiet and still usually doesn’t work and it can make your photographer seem like a scary person coming into their space. Make it fun and playful, prepare some activities that you can all do together. Let your kids run around and your photographer can interact with them, we love building trust with them and making the process enjoyable for everyone. Relax and try not to stress over their behaviour on the day.

For your newborn, do what you need to do. Stick to your feeding routine and don’t be afraid to feed during your session if you need to. You’ll likely plan to have your photos taken at a time when your baby usually sleeps but come the day of your photos their sleeping habits might be out the window. Your photographer will be able to adapt and allow you to settle your newborn if you need extra time.

WHAT TO WEAR

You’re at home so you want to be comfortable but pick outfits that make you feel confident. Coordinate your outfits with each other and with your space, think of using similar tones and complementary colours. I personally love earthy and light tones, whites and creams are particularly great for a newborn session. Avoid busy patterns and text on shirts. At the end of the day, if you want to be in your PJs and your baby wants to run around in their nappy, that’s completely ok too! The goal is to capture authenticity.