If you are expecting your first baby and have been thinking about booking an in-home newborn photo shoot in London, this blog post will give you a little glimpse behind the scenes on one of my recent newborn sessions with first-time parents in Hampstead, North London. The baby girl was two weeks old at the time of the session, and it was an absolute joy to capture these very first memories for her parents.
Making the most of natural light
The family’s home had great natural daylight especially on one side of their flat, so we focused much of the session in those bright, airy rooms. I typically use natural light only at newborn sessions as in my opinion it brings a certain softness and authenticity to your photos that simply can’t be achieved with artificial light. It is also a lot gentler for your baby than a big flash or bright studio lights.
A calm & gentle atmosphere
Although the baby girl was a little unsettled at times (as newborns often are), I kept the session relaxed and completely unrushed. I always let the pace be guided by the baby — allowing for feeding breaks, soothing, or simply taking a moment. Sometimes I capture some of these candid everyday moments too – provided that the parents are happy for me to do so. The slower pace to the session ensures everyone stays comfortable, and it creates a calm environment where real connections can shine through. While you are feeding your baby, it is likely that we end up chatting all things pregnancy, birth and night feeds – after all I am a mother myself too so it’s easy for me to relate your experiences.
Capturing a variety of moments
We documented a beautiful mix of images — the three of them together as a new family, tender shots of mum with baby, sweet father–daughter cuddles, and of course, individual portraits of baby girl on her own. I also made sure to capture the little details that parents treasure forever such as those precious tiny toes.
Memories to treasure
The result was a varied gallery full of natural, heartfelt images that truly reflect this family’s love and joy in the early weeks of parenthood. They were absolutely delighted with the photographs – here is what they said in their 5* Google review about their experience with me:
"Pauliina was lovely to work with. Calm, patient, and efficient given we were trying to manage a crying newborn! The photos turned out beautifully. We are very happy with the result and are glad we were able to capture our new baby in her first weeks of life."
It was such a privilege for me to preserve this fleeting, magical chapter of their story. If you’re currently expecting a baby or have recently given birth, and like the sound and look of my approach to newborn sessions, find out more about my newborn photography, download my pricing guide and get in touch to enquire about booking a date.
Pauliina is a London-based lifestyle family & newborn photographer and a mum to two boys. Find out more at https://www.prootsphotography.co.uk/ or follow @prootsphotography on Instagram.
