This blog was written for Phoenix Family Doulas by our friend Lindsay Soriano of Lindsay Jane Photography.
Let me guess. You’re sitting there with a brand new baby, running on very little sleep, and on top of everything else you’re navigating right now, someone suggested you book newborn photos. And your first thought was something like: “I can barely get myself dressed. How am I supposed to prepare for a photo session?”
I hear this all the time. And I want to tell you something that might change how you think about the whole thing.
Newborn photos don’t need to be stressful. In fact, when done right, they shouldn’t feel like a photo session at all. They should feel like a really beautiful afternoon with your family.
Here’s how I make that happen.
I Come to You
One of the biggest sources of stress for new parents is the idea of packing up a newborn and getting somewhere. How many diapers do you need? What if there’s a blowout on the way? What if the baby spits up on their outfit before you even walk in the door?
With me, you don’t have to worry about any of that.
I come to your home. Your baby stays in their safe, familiar space. You don’t have to pack a bag, load a car seat, or navigate somewhere new with a newborn in tow. You just have to open the door.
And yes, when I arrive things are usually a little chaotic. One parent is finishing getting dressed, while the other is giving the baby one last feeding. The toddler is mid-snack. That’s completely normal and I expect it. There’s no pressure to have everything perfectly together when I walk in.
Your Home Doesn’t Need to Be Perfect Either
The first thing most parents say when they open the door is some version of “sorry about the mess” or “we tried to pick up some.”
I always smile when I hear that. Because I remember exactly what those early weeks looked like in my own home with a newborn. And now with two kids of my own, I know how it is.
I’m not coming to photograph your house. I’m coming to photograph your family.
When I arrive, we walk through your home together to find the best natural light. I chat with you, ask how you’ve been feeling, how the adjustment has been going. I tell you how great you look (because you do, even if you don’t feel it). I validate whatever you’re feeling, whether that’s exhaustion, overwhelm, or just uncertainty about all of it.
And if there’s something I’d like to move or rearrange to get a better shot, I always ask first. Calmly and kindly.
That conversation, just that simple act of being real with each other, is usually all it takes. The tension starts to lift. Parents relax. And we get to work.
Before you even get to that point, I send detailed prep information so you know exactly what to expect. What to wear, how to prepare, and most importantly, how NOT to stress over the preparations. My goal is to walk through your door and have you already understand that nothing needs to be perfect.
Sessions Are Baby Led (and That’s the Whole Point)
Here’s something I want every new parent to know: your baby gets to call the shots. And this is a big part of why newborn photos don’t need to be stressful.
If your baby wants to be held the entire session, that’s exactly what happens. Because, babies who are held by the people they love most aren’t usually the ones crying through the whole session. They’re calm because they’re safe.
If the baby needs to be fed, we stop and feed them. I keep shooting, capturing those quiet, tender feeding moments that are such a real part of newborn life. Yes, including breastfeeding if parents are comfortable with that, because those images are incredibly meaningful.
If there’s a blowout (and there will probably be a blowout at some point), we take a break for the diaper change. And I take photos of that too, with the baby’s privacy always protected. Because a parent changing a diaper with tired hands and so much love? That’s newborn life. That’s worth remembering.
There is no pressure for your baby to perform, sleep, cooperate, or be anything other than exactly what they are.
Siblings Are Welcome to Just Be Themselves, Too
If you have a toddler or older child, I know the thought of managing them during a session can feel like a lot.
Here’s my approach: I engage siblings right at the beginning, when my arrival is still a fun novelty. We get some snuggly family shots with everyone together. I tell them silly things about the baby. I let them feel included and important.
And when they’re done? They’re done. They can go play, have a snack, watch something, do their own thing.
Although in my experience, they usually come wandering back.
I had one little girl, about three years old, who was being completely silly on the bed while I was trying to photograph her dad and the new baby. Instead of redirecting her or asking her to stop, I just let her be silly for a minute. Then I gently channeled that energy into something fun at the end of the bed.
The photo I got of her mid-giggle with her dad and new baby in the background is one of my favorites from that entire session.
When you stop fighting the chaos and just let kids be kids, something really beautiful happens.
What I Hope You Feel When It’s Over
At the end of a newborn session with me, I hope you feel like you just spent a really lovely time with your family.
Not like you survived a photo shoot. Not like you managed your kids through something stressful. Just like you got to slow down, be together, and enjoy each other during one of the most fleeting seasons of your lives.
The feedback that means the most to me is when families say it felt easy. That they felt calm. That they actually enjoyed themselves.
Because that’s the whole point.
You don’t need a perfectly clean house. You don’t need a baby who cooperates on cue. You don’t need to have it all together.
You just need to be there. I’ll take care of everything else.
One Last Thing to Reduce Stress
Having extra support after welcoming your newborn can make a real difference, not just in how you feel day to day, but in whether things like newborn photos even feel possible.
I’ve walked into a lot of homes during the newborn season. And I can always sense when a family has had support around them. Those families tend to feel a little more settled. A little less apologetic. A little more able to just be present with their baby.
That’s exactly what Phoenix Family Doulas provides. Postpartum doulas in Phoenix who provide both daytime support and overnight newborn care.
Their daytime support gives parents a knowledgeable, caring presence to answer questions, offer evidence-based guidance, and help the transition into parenthood feel less overwhelming. Their overnight care means parents actually get to rest, which anyone who has had a newborn knows is everything.
When overwhelm decreases, space opens up. Space to enjoy your baby. Space to feel ready for something like newborn photos, even if it felt unnecessary or impossible a few days before.
If you’re expecting or newly postpartum and feeling like you could use more support, I’d encourage you to reach out to Kylee and her team at Phoenix Family Doulas. It’s the kind of support I wish I’d known about when I was a brand new mom.
Lindsay Soriano is a Phoenix newborn and family photographer specializing in relaxed, in-home lifestyle sessions that capture the real, beautiful chaos of early family life. If you’d like to learn more about her work or inquire about a session, visit her at www.lindsayjanephotographyllc.com or find her on Instagram @lindsay.jane.photography.
