A real-life guide for families in Boulder, Erie, Louisville, Superior, and the surrounding Front Range.
You just had a baby. Your house looks like it. And somewhere in the back of your mind you’re wondering whether you need to deep clean, redecorate the nursery, or somehow pull yourself together before a photographer shows up.
You don’t.
I’ve been photographing in-home newborn sessions across Boulder County for nearly two decades — in brand new Erie homes with perfect natural light, in cozy Louisville bungalows, in Boulder apartments with one good window and a pile of Amazon boxes in the corner. Every single one of those sessions produced beautiful images. Because in-home newborn photography was never about your house. It’s about what’s happening inside it.
Here’s exactly what you need to do — and what you can let go of entirely.
Interested in a free Newborn Session Prep Checklist?
I put it together to help you prepare your home and family for a calm, in-home newborn session.
Get the free checklist.
You Do Not Need to Clean
This is the thing I say most often and the thing clients believe least. So let me be direct: I am not photographing your kitchen. I am not photographing your bathroom. I am not photographing the corner where you’ve been stacking baby gear for three months.
I photograph light. I find the soft, warm pools of it that exist in almost every Boulder County home — next to a bedroom window, on a couch near sliding glass doors, in a nursery with east-facing light in the morning — and I work within those spaces. Everything outside the frame stays outside the frame.
When I arrive, I’ll take a quick look at the light in your home and choose the best spots to work with. I move items as needed during the session — you don’t need to pre-stage anything or give me a tour in advance.
What About the Pile of Laundry? The Mail? The Baby Gear Everywhere?
Let’s be specific, because “don’t worry about the mess” feels impossible when you’re staring at it.
The laundry pile on the bedroom floor. If it’s next to the bed and in my frame, I’ll move it out of the way when I arrive. If it’s in the corner across the room, I’ll never photograph it. Either way, not your problem.
The stack of mail and random stuff on the counter. Unless your kitchen counter is our primary shooting location — which it almost never is — I won’t go near it. If we do end up near it, I’ll shift things around. This takes thirty seconds.
The baby gear mountain. The bouncer, the swing, the seventeen packages from Amazon, the breast pump still in the box. This is the most common thing I walk into and it has never once affected a session. We work around it or I move a few pieces temporarily.
The unfinished nursery. Half-painted walls, furniture still in boxes, the mobile that hasn’t been hung yet — I’ve seen it all. If the crib is up and there’s a chair nearby, we can work there. If the nursery isn’t ready at all, we simply use other rooms. There is always somewhere beautiful to photograph in a home.
The truth is that most of what feels overwhelming to you is invisible in a photograph. I’m shooting with a lens that sees a very specific frame — not a wide-angle view of your whole room.
Light Is Everything — Here’s How to Help
Many homes tend to have excellent natural light, especially the newer builds in Erie, Superior, and southeast Boulder with large windows and open floor plans. If you’re in an older home in North Boulder or a tighter city space, don’t worry — we work with what’s there.
What makes a room work well: North and east-facing windows are ideal for newborn sessions — the light is soft, consistent, and flattering throughout the morning. A bedroom with a large east-facing window is often the single best spot in a house for newborn photos.
South and west-facing windows can produce harsh, direct light depending on the time of day — but sheers or blinds can diffuse it beautifully. Don’t assume a room won’t work because the light seems too bright or too dim. I’ll figure it out when I arrive.
A few simple things you can do: Open your blinds and curtains before I arrive. Turn off overhead lights — they cast a yellow tone that competes with natural light and affects the color of your images. If you have a room with a large window you love, mention it when you reach out. That’s often where we’ll spend the most time.
I also bring supplemental lighting, so nothing is off the table.
Which Rooms Work Best
You don’t need every room to be photo-ready. Here’s an honest breakdown:
The primary bedroom is almost always the heart of a newborn session. A made bed with a neutral comforter, positioned near a window, gives us everything we need — parent portraits, family groupings, detail shots of baby sleeping. Swap out very bright or busy pillowcases for something neutral if you have it. That’s the one thing worth doing ahead of time.
The living room works beautifully when there’s a couch or chair near a window. A corner of the couch with good light to one side is perfect for relaxed parent-and-baby portraits. Clear the coffee table if it’s cluttered, tuck the burp cloths. Five minutes.
The nursery is optional, not required. If it’s set up, a crib shot or a moment in the rocker can be lovely. If it’s not ready, we simply don’t go there. Many nurseries aren’t finished when baby arrives — this is normal and not a problem.
The kitchen or dining area — occasionally, yes. Open-plan Boulder County homes sometimes have a dining area with gorgeous natural light that’s actually the best spot in the house. I’ll notice it when I arrive if that’s the case.
If You Have the Energy — A Short Prep List
Most clients don’t need to do anything. But if you’re a planner and the act of preparing helps you feel calm, here’s a realistic list for the day before or morning of:
- Smooth the comforter on your bed and swap busy pillowcases for something neutral
- Open all blinds and curtains in rooms with good natural light
- Clear the coffee table and tuck visible clutter in the living room
- Have a neutral blanket or two nearby for detail shots
- Turn the heat up a degree or two — warm babies are calm babies
- Feed baby right before I arrive, and loosen their diaper and clothing 20 minutes before to avoid marks on their skin
That’s it. If you get through two of those six things, you’re fine.
Frequently Asked Questions About Preparing Your Home for Newborn Photos
Do you photograph in apartments or smaller homes? Absolutely. Some of my favorite sessions have been in smaller spaces — apartments, townhomes, cozy older homes. Smaller rooms often have beautiful concentrated light and an intimacy that larger homes don’t. Square footage has never limited a session.
What if my home isn’t Pinterest or Instagram-worthy? Good, honestly. The homes that photograph best aren’t decorated homes — they’re lived-in homes. Real furniture, real light, real life. The images that move people aren’t the ones taken in perfect spaces. They’re the ones taken in yours.
Are there times of day that are best light in my home? Yes — and it depends on which direction your windows face. East-facing windows have the best light in the morning. North-facing windows have soft, consistent light most of the day. South and west-facing rooms can be beautiful but may need blinds to diffuse harsher afternoon light. When you reach out, mention which rooms get the best light and at what time of day — that helps me plan.
If I have the energy, what’s the one most important thing I can do? Make your bed. Smooth the comforter, swap any very bright or busy pillowcases for something neutral. The bed is the single most-used spot in almost every newborn session, and a tidy bed with simple bedding makes an immediate difference.
Where can I find out more about your newborn photography sessions? My newborn photography page covers my full approach, what to expect during a session, and gallery examples. If you’re in the Boulder area specifically, you can also browse Boulder family and newborn sessions here. When you’re ready to check availability, reach out here — I recommend booking during pregnancy as sessions fill up quickly.
What if it’s cloudy or overcast outside — will that affect the light in my home? Overcast days are actually ideal for in-home newborn photography. Clouds act as a giant natural diffuser, softening the light coming through your windows and eliminating harsh shadows. Some of my most beautiful sessions have happened on grey Colorado days. Don’t reschedule because of clouds.
Should I move furniture before you arrive? No. I’ll move what needs to be moved when I get there — pulling a chair closer to a window, shifting a lamp out of frame, repositioning a bassinet. It takes a few minutes and is completely normal. Please don’t rearrange your home the night before.
What if the room with the best light in my home is also the messiest? Tell me when I arrive. I’ll assess it, clear what needs to be cleared, and work with what’s there. A great light source beats a tidy room every time.
Serving Boulder County and the Front Range
I photograph in-home newborn sessions throughout Boulder County and the surrounding communities — including Boulder, Erie, Louisville, Superior, Broomfield, Lafayette, Longmont, Berthoud, and beyond.
If you’re expecting and thinking about an in-home newborn session, I’d love to hear from you. I recommend reaching out during pregnancy to reserve your spot — newborn sessions book up quickly, especially in spring and fall.
Learn more about my approach to newborn photography →
See Boulder family and newborn sessions →
Check availability and inquire →
