6 Questions to Ask Before Lifestyle Newborn Sessions

being able to create beautiful and honest images is our job as lifestyle newborn photographers.  but in order to create images in the best way that we can, we have to make sure that we are in the best environment.  we need to make sure we set up our sessions successfully so they run as smoothly as possible.  being a lifestyle newborn photographer, i take pictures in client’s homes.  this means that every session allows me to photograph in a brand new environment that i have never photographed in before.  while this has it’s challenges, i have found that having clear communication before session day really makes or breaks my success with in home lifestyle sessions.  i am adamant about having clear communication with my clients before their session to ensure that i, and they, know exactly what to expect once i arrive at their home.  to be as prepared as you can, here are 6 questions to ask before lifestyle newborn sessions.

need help know what photos to take?  check out my 10 tips for photographing a lifestyle newborn session.

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6 Questions To Ask Before Lifestyle Newborn Sessions

when thinking about what questions to ask before lifestyle newborn sessions, i thought of all the things that would make me nervous for the session.  if i am nervous about it, i want to be prepared so i know what to expect or so i can prepare myself better.  without fail, i ask the following 6 questions before my lifestyle newborn sessions and it makes photographing the session not only less stressful, but so much more successful.

Question #1 : When Is It The Brightest In Your Home?

because i am a natural light photographer, light is always my biggest concern.  since i don’t use flash or artificial light of any kind, i am completely reliant on the natural light of my client’s home.  being successful with natural light is so easy, if you just ask the question.  after choosing a date with my client, i have my client watch the light in their home for me to help determine the best time of day to schedule their photos to be taken.

after deciding what rooms we will photograph in, i have my client turn off the lights in those rooms and watch the light over the course of a couple days.  i have them note when it is naturally the brightest in the room without any sunshine physically coming into the room on the walls or floors.  usually clients find that the early afternoon is the brightest, but light is different in every home.  knowing when the light is the best helps to ensure that i can create the bright and soft images that reflect my photography style.

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Question #2 : Do you need help with wardrobe?

most of my clients tell me upon hiring that they love how honest and bright my newborn photography is.  what people don’t realize is that wardrobe can play a huge role in the tone of photographs.  i always offer wardrobe help with clients by recommending that they only wear soft neutrals like whites, creams and light grays.  i explain the importance of avoiding bright tones and how it can create unnatural skin tones on their baby through color casts.  i also send them a pinterest board that i created just for newborn clients, giving examples of what photographs well.  pinterest boards with wardrobe examples can be very helpful for clients, as it’s very visual.

for additional inspiration on how clients should dress their newborn, check out my post on how to dress your baby.

Question #3 : Does your newborn have siblings?

if there are siblings to incorporate into the photos, it is very important that i know that ahead of time so i can not only prep posing, but so i know how to structure my session.  my session flows differently when siblings are involved, as i like to photograph them first so that siblings can be photographed and finished quickly to avoid combating behavior later in the session.

for more tips on how to incorporate siblings into newborn sessions, check out my 8 tips for photographing newborns with siblings.

Question #4 : What’s your feeding schedule?

among the questions to ask before lifestyle newborn sessions, i always ask about feedings.  because most newborns are on an “on demand” feeding schedule, i build more time into the session for feeding breaks.  it is always easier to stop and feed a baby than to try and photograph one who is fussy.  in the long run, it’s quicker to stop and feed.  while my clients know that i am flexible with feedings throughout the session, i do request that they feed their newborn right before i arrive for their session.  feeding their newborn right before i arrive helps calm and prepare them for the session, allowing us to start photographing right away to make the most of our time together.

Question #5 : Is your nursery set up?

before my lifestyle newborn sessions, i like to prepare my clients for what areas in their home i will be photographing in.  this ensures that those spaces are clean and photo ready once i arrive, as i never want a client to be surprised or stressed about the state of a room.  when discussing their upcoming session, i tell my clients that i generally focus on photos in the master bedroom and nursery, if set up, and around window light.  this gives the client an idea of what rooms they should have ready to go, and what rooms they don’t need to stress about having photo ready.

because i give full disclosure on where i will be photographing in my clients home, it is up to my client to have those rooms ready.  from time to time, i will help declutter a nightstand that will be in the photo or move a piece of furniture that is unbalancing my photo.  but most of the time, clear communication about what rooms i will be in fully prepares clients to have their home photo ready.

Question #6 : Do you have any “must have” photos?

while my clients always give me artistic freedom to photograph their newborn, sometimes they request a particular photo from my portfolio that they have seen me do before.  because my clients hire me because they have fallen in love with my work, i be sure to ask if there was a particular photo of mine that they really wanted me to do.  i always like to ask this because sometimes clients have a particular baby announcement in mind and want a particular photo that will work well with that, such as a close up of the baby’s face.  it’s always better to ask the client and incorporate their wishes into the session that to have a client wishing they had a particular photo.

to ensure that client’s are requesting photos that reflect my photography style, i send them a pinterest board of my newborn portfolio to pin for inspiration.  this minimizes clients pinning images from other photographers, which places unrealistic expectations on me and my photography style.

having clear communication and knowing as much about my clients as i can prior to my lifestyle newborn sessions make my sessions run so smoothly and make my images that much more successful.  when thinking about what questions to ask before lifestyle newborn sessions, think of any potential surprises you might encounter on the day of the session and clarify before booking.  it’s always better to know too much than too little and be as prepared as you can.

What Photography Gear To Bring

and because i know you are probably wondering about my gear, here is a little peek into what i bring with me.

i always carry my wide angle lenses, the sigma art 24mm f/1.4 lens and the nikon 24-85mm f/3.5-4.5 lens.  having a wide angle lens allows me to fit more of the surroundings of my clients home, as well as more people, inside of the frame.  the purpose of lifestyle newborn sessions is to document families within their home, so having a wide angle lens is a key factor in doing that.  i also bring my sigma 50mm f/1.4 lens, as it is perfect for both family and individual portraits.  it’s low aperture also allows me to get some detailed photos of the baby, surrounded by soft bokeh.  because i photograph my lifestyle newborn sessions with more than one lens, i carry two camera bodies, my nikon d750 and nikon d610 so that i can have a lens on each camera body and reduce wasting time by switching out lenses.

lastly, i find it helpful to bring a tripod.  this allows me to set up my shot where i would like it, while allowing me to run back and forth between my clients and my camera.  when photographing newborns with siblings, i find that i am constantly running towards the client to get my older sibling posed just right, then running back to capture the moment.  having a tripod helps ensure that my shot is always set up where i want it, despite my movement.  having a tripod also helps combat low light scenarios, as it helps to steady my camera and allow me to keep my shutter open longer without camera shake.

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