The calm before the memories

Welcoming your baby home is one of life’s most beautiful transitions. The days blur together, filled with love, sleeplessness, and new routines. When your newborn session arrives, I want it to feel like an exhale, slow, calm, and completely stress free.

Here are a few simple ways to prepare so you can relax and enjoy the experience while I capture the magic of your first days together.

Preparing your home

There’s no need for spotless perfection. Your home tells your story just as it is.
I photograph using natural light, so I’ll often gravitate toward rooms with good windows, usually the bedroom, living room, or nursery.

A quick tidy in the space we’ll use is more than enough. You don’t need to hide the reality of life with a newborn. The soft chaos of baby blankets, coffee cups, and love notes scattered around all add to the story.

If you’d like to prepare ahead of time:

Open curtains and blinds to let in gentle, natural light.
Keep the room warm and cozy (around 24°C).
Have a few neutral blankets, wraps, or muslins nearby.

Getting your baby ready

Your baby leads the session, always. I’ll capture them as they are, curled, sleepy, or wide eyed and curious.

A few gentle things can help set the tone for a calm morning:

A warm bath before I arrive often helps babies settle into a relaxed, sleepy state.
If you’re breastfeeding, we’ll follow your baby’s natural rhythm and feed on demand whenever needed.
If you’re bottle feeding, a feed just before I arrive usually helps your baby drift off content and sleepy.

Babies are incredibly intuitive. They pick up on your emotions, so try to stay calm and embrace the experience. We’ll move gently through the morning together and go with the flow.

Don’t worry if we pause for feeding, cuddling, or changing. These moments are part of your story and often lead to the most beautiful, authentic images.

What to wear

Soft, neutral tones always photograph beautifully and keep the focus on connection. Think cream, oatmeal, sage, beige, or soft greys. Choose clothes that feel comfortable and move easily, this isn’t a time for anything restrictive or fussy.

Avoid strong colours, busy patterns, or logos.
Layer natural fabrics like linen, knits, or cotton for texture.
Bare feet or simple socks photograph best in cozy, in-home sessions.

Including siblings

If we’re including siblings, we’ll usually start with those photos first, depending on their age and nap times. Getting sibling photos done early helps keep things relaxed, and once they’re finished, they can go off and play without getting bored or restless.

If you have a family member or friend who can take them to another part of the house or out for a little walk once their part is done, it works beautifully and helps keep the focus calm for your baby’s solo moments.

What happens during your session

When I arrive, we’ll spend a few minutes chatting while you finish any last feeds or changes. I’ll take a look around for the best light, and then we begin, slowly and quietly.

There’s no rush. Sessions usually last around 2 to 3 hours, giving us time for everything your baby needs. My focus is always on capturing those tender, fleeting moments, the soft curls, the little yawns, the love that fills the room.

A final thought

Preparing for your session isn’t about creating perfection. It’s about creating calm.
The Snug Sessions are designed to capture real love, honest connection, and the gentle beauty of new life at home. So breathe, snuggle in, and let your story unfold.

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