Welcome

A NOTE ABOUT THIS GUIDE

I'm so excited for your in-home session! However, I'm sure that you have questions and might even be feeling a little nervous about having a photographer in your home. The goal of this guide is to help you feel super confident going into your session, and to help us make the most of our time together so that you can have those effortless, natural in-home portraits you're dreaming of!

In-home sessions are a completely different experience than working in an outdoor setting. Your images will be totally unique to you, perfectly telling YOUR story and truly documenting what life is like for your family in this season. I can't wait to get started!

- AMANDA

The majority of my in-home sessions are for newborns, which typically can't be scheduled too far in advance! Instead, I'll use your due date to mark your place on my calendar. We'll confirm a session date and time once baby arrives and everyone is home safely. 

Please text or email me as soon as baby arrives, so that we can confirm the date and time for your session!

Scheduling the Session

A NOTE ABOUT

When it comes to in-home lifestyle sessions, good natural light is the KEY to dreamy, bright and airy images! The first step is to determine the room(s) in which we'll be shooting. This is typically the nursery, master bedroom, and/or living room.

When trying to decide, it's best to opt for rooms with the largest windows, and light, neutral-colored walls. Large windows will give us beautiful dynamic natural light, and neutral walls will flatter skin tones and ensure we avoid yucky color casts. 

Once you've narrowed in on a few possible options, I'll have you do some homework! Monitor the space over several days, and take note of when the room gets the most sun. For most rooms, this will be either late morning OR early afternoon, depending upon the placement of windows. This will determine the time your session will take place! Most sessions are held on weekdays at 10AM or 2PM.

Where should the session take place?

CHOOSING THE SPACE

Rest assured that your home does NOT need to be magazine-worthy or immaculately clean! I've created magic in homes that were literally under renovation during the session. Windows and one neutral space is all I need!

However, if your home has little-to-no access to natural light and brightly colored walls, I might recommend an alternate location for the best results. One option could be to conduct the session at a friend or relative's home. You might also consider renting an Air BNB for the day! This is surprisingly affordable, and means you don't have to worry about cleaning up at all. 

Alternate Options

Prepping the Space

There's no need to schedule a deep cleaning or repaint your walls before my arrival! You'd be surprised how much I can hide simply by being strategic. I do recommend doing a quick walk through and removing clutter - I'm a big fan of piling everything into a room we won't be shooting in!

I will likely make some light adjustments, such as rearranging furniture, and removing wall decorations that may be a distraction in your portraits. I'll do my best to clean up behind me and put things back where they came from at the end of the session!
Be sure to have any items of significance, such as ultrasound photos, swaddle blankets, and special toys, already gathered and waiting so that I can photograph them for your gallery. 

Pets and older siblings are absolutely welcome during your session. This is a huge benefit of having an in-home lifestyle session in the first place! Being in their own environment leads to a better experience for older siblings. They'll feel more secure and can wander in and out of the shoot as they'd like. 

I do recommend having one "helper" on set who already knows your pet or older child well, such as an aunt or a grandparent. That person can help manage the rest of the chaos while we photograph you with baby, ensuring a quick session that runs smoothly. 

Pets & Siblings

Outfits

TIPS FOR LOOKING YOUR BEST

When picking outfits I recommend keeping in mind the word “complement” rather than “match.” For example, if dad is wearing a blue and pink pastel plaid shirt, mom may want to choose a long, soft blue dress. It can also be a great idea to choose “color-families,” such as pastels or jewel tones.

While most families opt for more casual outfits for in-home lifestyle sessions, there are still a few tips and things to avoid! Soft neutrals are always best for skin tones - avoid bold colors that may cast unflattering colors onto your skin. Read below for more details for each member of the family.

LADIES

GENTS

BABIES & CHILDREN

find it fast

Softer, pastel colors tend to photograph better than bright colors - especially since bright colors could reflect on your skin. I love bright, neon dresses, but I don’t love the neon reflection they add to your complexion. 

Opt for flowy, loose fitting garments, especially if you've just given birth! A floor length maxi dress is universally flattering on new moms. 

Since we're at home, consider going barefoot for your session! This is a great way to add that lived in, homey vibe to your portraits.

Wardrobe Tips

HAIR & MAKEUP

MANICURE

Outfits

for the ladies

find it fast

I recommend keeping it natural for your in-home session. Soft curls and light makeup can go a long way for natural, effortless portraits. 

One thing that can make a HUGE difference is a pair of false eyelashes. These give your eyes just a little bit of pop, which can work miracles if you're a little more tired than usual! 


Hair & Makeup

HAIR & MAKEUP

MANICURE

Outfits

for the ladies

find it fast

There will probably be times during your session when we’re shooting your hands holding or close up on you holding the baby - which means your hands will be heavily featured in your portraits! 

Be sure to have a fresh manicure in a neutral, non-distracting color, or no polish at all. Chipped nail polish is something we definitely want to avoid!

If you're going barefoot, don't forget to take care of your toes, too!

Manicure

HAIR & MAKEUP

MANICURE

Outfits

for the ladies

You can’t go wrong with a short sleeved dress shirt and jeans or khakis! 

Be careful not to choose a pattern that is too small - it may accidentally make your photo look a little too busy. Softer, pastel colors tend to photograph better than bright colors - especially since bright colors could reflect on your skin. Cozy sweaters layered over button ups are a great way to stay warm and stylish during the cooler months.

Wardrobe

for the gents

I can't stress this enough: keep it SIMPLE for the kiddos! Babies photograph best in plain white onesies so that we can focus on all of their beautiful little features. To add a little variety, add on a pair of neutral pants or wrap her up in a swaddle blanket!

Avoid anything with words on it, huge bows, or crocheted items that are sold in the baby section at Target. These items usually don't fit well and only distract from the natural beauty of your baby.

For older siblings, opt for miniature versions of mom and dad's outfits! Cotton sundresses and polo shirts look darling on kids. Just be sure that their hair is styled to be out of their face!

Wardrobe

for the kids

Prepping your Baby

for a successful session

Keeping your baby content and secure during the entirety of your session is of the utmost importance to me.

The day of your session, it's crucial to have nothing else on your schedule that might upset baby, such as doctor's appointments or visits with new family members. Instead, plan on a leisurely day at home simply soaking in your baby and enjoying time as a family. 

Try to feed baby about 30 minutes before your session time, so that his tummy is nice and full when I arrive. Have him dressed in that simple white onesie, so that we don't have to disturb him with a clothing change. Feel free to keep a bib on if you're worried about spit up! 

Try to avoid applying oils or lotions to her skin, as this can cause breakouts. We'll take a few adorable flakes over an uncomfortable red rash any day!

Babies need to be kept a little warmer than the rest of us, so please increase the heat in your home by a few degrees shortly before I arrive! This will help baby stay nice and sleepy for as much of the session as possible.

Turn up the Heat!

Need some inspiration? Here are a few of my favorite
in-home lifestyle sessions! Feel free to click on each link for a more in-depth look into each session.

Sample Galleries

MCKENNA | LIFESTYLE NEWBORN

EMMA | LIFESTYLE SITTER

NICHOLAS | LIFESTYLE NEWBORN

BECKHAM | LIFESTYLE NEWBORN

Props

keep it S-I-M-P-L-E

I used to be a studio newborn photographer, so I totally understand how tempting it is to go out and buy all the things for your session! However, I can't stress enough how much more timeless and personal the images will be without crocheted animal costumes and giant bows. 

If baby allows, I will photograph her solo in a relaxed, minimally posed way to document her little features. To limit contact, I will direct you on exactly how to pose your baby in a way that's safe and beautiful.

I want to use this opportunity to share this: please utilize extreme caution when attempting to photograph your baby on your own. Many of those cute poses you see on Pinterest, such as the "froggy" pose are actually composite images. Never, ever leave baby unattended, suspend baby from a swing, or prop baby up on her hands without assistance for the sake of a photo. It's not worth risking baby's safety!

Your gallery will be ready approximately two weeks after your session! You'll receive a link to schedule a virtual gallery reveal, so that we can view the images together, make sure everything is absolutely perfect, review steps to download and protect your images, and create any artwork you'd like to purchase.

When to Expect Your Images

I know that this guide is long and hopefully it covers everything you need to know to prep for your in-home lifestyle session! However if there is something I missed, or you need a recommendation feel free to email 
hello@amandawosephotography.com. See you soon!

THANK YOU!