What to Expect for Your Houston In-Home Newborn Session | Katy Newborn Photographer
Dear Marlowe Photography • Houston, TX Newborn In-Home Lifestyle Photographer
So you’ve set your heart on a Houston In-Home Newborn Lifestyle Session with Katy Newborn Photographer, Dear Marlowe Photography. You love how organic, natural, and at ease these sessions translate and you simply melt over the authenticity of emotion and simplicity of setups we delivery. Everything is exactly what you envision for your very own In-Home Newborn Lifestyle Session. Added bonus? You never even have to leave your living room. Sit back, relax, and snuggle up your whole wide world right in the comfy cozy of your very own bed. Pretty freaking awesome, right? But we know what you’re thinking in that new Mama brain of yours:
“How the heck do I prepare for a picture perfect session IN my home WHILE simultaneously trying to care for a newborn, siblings, pets, partner, and of course, the continually forgotten self? Is a Houston In-Home Newborn Lifestyle Session even right for my family and for my soooo not magazine worthy home?”
Welp, we’re here to divulge the details, including how to handle the clutter, chaos, and catastrophe all guaranteed to go down behind the scenes of the perfectly perfect images we’ll create together.
first things first. FIND A PHOTOGRAPHER WITH A STYE THAT MATCHES YOUR home.
It’s so very important to consider both your personal style and your home aesthetic when deciding on your Katy Newborn Photographer. After all, the images that will be taken IN your home will also live on the walls OF your home. If your decor lends itself to a more neutral, natural palette, then a Katy Newborn Photographer with a light, clean, airy style may best fit the feel you are aiming for. Perhaps your home is adorned with more colorful, eclectic accents? Strive for someone with a vibrant body of work and bold eye for mixing patterns, tones, and textures. Is your home dark and dimly lit? Then you’ll ABSOLUTELY require someone with artificial lighting experience AND the proper lighting gear. BUT most importantly of all? You’ll want to invest in a photographer who understands all angles, amounts, and applications of light and can photograph your Houston In-Home Newborn Lifestyle Session in the way that best compliments your space. As one of the top Katy Newborn Photographers, we have any home covered—no matter how much or how little light may grace your walls.
when should we book our session and how old should baby be?
There’s a reason our Houston In-Home Newborn Lifestyle Sessions fill up fast—we’re good at what we do. While it’s never too early to book, we do recommend reaching out around 6 months prior to your expected due date just to ensure our calendar has space, especially considering babies have their own agenda in mind and can always come early or late. Our business time of year is September through November and March through April so be sure and take this into consideration if you are expecting a Fall or Spring baby. One of the great things about a Houston In-Home Newborn Lifestyle Sessions is that we can photograph your new addition anytime within their first several weeks. If you are hoping for photos of your sweet, new baby sleepy and dreamy with all the newborn details such as flaky skin, tiny fingers, and brand new baby looks, then it's best to do your session within the first 2 weeks. If you're more keen on having baby awake, interactive, and a bit grown into their looks (plus allowing Mama some much needed time to feel more like herself) then we advise your session take place anytime within the 4-6 week mark. Of course any time in between works wonderfully as well!
WHAT TIME OF DAY IS BEST FOR OUR SESSION and how long will our session last?
When determining your session start time, consider the direction your home faces and what times of day your master, nursery, and living spaces have the brightest, most even light. This, while factoring in any feeding or sleeping schedules, will determine what time is best to begin your Houston In-Home Newborn Lifestyle Session. While lighting equipment CAN help in darker rooms and unevenly lit areas, a room with bright, natural light undoubtedly makes for the best quality images so lighting is key for success . Most families tend to opt for a mid-morning session so as to allow for time to fight through the chaos of getting ready and to accommodate any much needed snacks for baby, siblings, and yes, even dad. While newborns are unpredictable, toddlers have a pretty good routine down and you will want to consider their schedules as well, avoiding any session times that may precede naps. Sessions do tend to utilize the master and nursery areas most, but any pocket of your home is fair game should the lighting call out to us or should the space have special meaning to you and your family.
But how long do these sessions last? Well, Mama. That all depends on the new boss in town: BABY. At every newborn session, we follow the baby's lead. This means that sometimes sessions can take as little as one hour and sometimes as most as three. We have a loose order in which we navigate through our session, keeping the workflow completely flexible depending on feed times, cuddle breaks, and toddlers being toddlers. We give direction and guidance, helping positioning you in the most ideal light and forming the best visual composition. Ultimately, our job as your Katy Newborn Photographer is to create a comfortable space with the opportunity for connection to happen naturally.
BUT WAIT. I’M GONNA HAVE TO CLEAN—AREN’T I??
Mama, settle down. This is a judgement free zone. With two jobs, two kids, and two dogs, cleaning is not often a word you find on our to do list nor in our vocabulary. Tidying up ALWAYS helps our session flow more smoothly, however, you hired us for a reason, and as your Katy Newborn Photographer, we’re here to help in any way possible which includes staging your space so you don’t have to. Tidy bedside tables, a freshly made bed, and windows free from obstruction is really all we ask for on your part. We’ll continually scan the space for anything that may obscure your image or take away from the moment but overall, we just ask that you relax and focus on the people—not the things in your home. As our Houston In-Home Newborn Lifestyle Sessions lend themselves to loose posing with candid moments in between, we sometimes welcome a more natural (and not so perfect) environment.
WHAT DO WE WEAR AND SHOULD WE CHOOSE MORE THAN ONE OUTFIT?
As a client of Dear Marlowe Photography, you have access to our Client Closet of designer and boutique finds for the whole family. First and foremost, we encourage you to choose pieces that deliver comfort. We understand all births and recoveries are different and dressing your body for what feels best will make you feel your best and ultimately, translate into your best photos. Make the most of your Houston In-Home Newborn Lifestyle Session with at least one wardrobe change; this helps capture the most variety of your session and allows you to dress both up and down. We suggest a casual number like jeans and a loose blouse followed by something with a little more flair like a lace overlay dress or flowy chiffon skirt. Stephanie of The Heart of a Hippie Blog gives us a great example of keeping her family’s wardrobe cohesive while mixing up colors and textures to best fit each space.
CAN THE SESSION BE JUST FOR BABY?
Our Houston In-Home Newborn Lifestyle Sessions guarantee a minimum of 50 digital proofs. As we do not specialize in posed imagery or elaborate props, capturing 50 images of just baby can prove difficult. Our goal as a top Katy Newborn Photographer is to capture the connection and love between you and your growing family. From the tiny details of a crazy baby hair in daddy’s hands to the big picture of Mama and her tribe overlooking the crib—these are the moments that matter most, the one's we promise you’ll regret not capturing more than you’ll fear being a part of. The short answer? These pictures are meant for you too Mama. And all the helping hands of your beautiful family.
WHAT OTHER DETAILS SHOULD I KNOW ABOUT?
Stop apologizing. Let go of the stress. Believe us when we say we’ve been there. And above all, allow us as your Katy Newborn Photographer to capture the very best memories possible from Houston In-Home Newborn Lifestyle Session.
Dear Marlowe Photography specializes in pregnancy, newborn, and family photography with services to the Houston area, including Katy, Cypress, Richmond, Fulshear, Sugar Land, Pearland, Spring, The Woodlands, The Heights, West University Place, River Oaks, Rice Village, Bellaire, and Friendswood.
Hey there, and thanks for stopping by to check out my blog! I love featuring my clients’ images and telling their story from beginning to end. I hope that this blog post, among others, will give you a glimpse into what to expect should you invest in Dear Marlowe as your Newborn, Maternity, or Family Photographer in the greater Houston metro. While my very favorite images are posted here on my blog and within my website, if you are interested in booking and would like to see a full gallery, never hesitate to ask!
I can promise all of the images you will receive will be totally frame worthy!
If you are you interested in a custom portrait session with Dear Marlowe Photography and would like more information or would like to reserve a date,
please click HERE or shoot us an email at hello@dearmarlowe.com
You can find investment information HERE.
I find such joy in capturing a family’s story and would be honored to serve as your photographer!
