Planning ahead might not sound very exciting when you're expecting a baby, but it's one of the kindest things you can do for your future self
If you're expecting a baby, you've probably realised that pregnancy comes with an endless list of things to think about. There's the hospital bag to pack, the nursery to organise, the pram to choose, the tiny clothes to wash and somehow, amongst it all, you're trying to prepare for a completely new chapter of life. It's exciting, but it can also feel overwhelming.
Somewhere on that ever-growing list might be newborn photographs. Perhaps you've seen beautiful images online and thought, I'd love that, before quickly adding it to the mental pile of I'll sort that out later. If that's you, I completely understand.
As a mum myself, I know how much there is to think about before your baby arrives. That's actually why I encourage families to book their newborn photoshoot while they're still pregnant.
Not because your baby has to arrive on a particular day or because everything needs to be planned perfectly, but because it's one less decision to make once your little one is here.
Once you've had your 12-week scan and you're beginning to look ahead with excitement, it's the perfect time to pencil in your newborn session. We simply reserve space around your due date and then, once your baby arrives, we'll choose a day that feels right for you. There is no pressure. Just one less thing sitting on your to-do list.
Why booking during pregnancy makes life easier
One thing I've learnt through both motherhood and photographing families is that babies don't follow calendars. Some arrive early, some keep everyone waiting and some decide 3am is suddenly the perfect time to make their entrance into the world.
That's why my booking process is completely flexible. Rather than choosing one fixed date months in advance, I reserve availability around your due date. Once your baby is here and you've had a chance to catch your breath, we'll arrange your session together.
It means you're not desperately searching for a photographer while navigating sleepless nights, feeding schedules and the wonderful blur that those first few weeks often become. Instead, everything is already taken care of.
Do newborn photos really have to happen within the first two weeks?
This is probably one of the questions I'm asked most often. The simple answer? No.
You'll often read that newborn photographs should happen between five and 14 days after birth. While that's generally true for traditional studio photography where babies are carefully posed in baskets or wrapped into sleepy positions, it's much less important for the kind of photographs I create. I'm a lifestyle newborn photographer, which means I'm far more interested in documenting your connection than achieving perfectly posed images.
Some families see me when their baby is a week old. Others aren't quite ready until six, eight or even 10 weeks. All are beautiful. A tiny yawn, the way your baby curls into your chest, those wide-eyed first smiles or the way they gaze up at you while you're feeding them all tell the story of this chapter in different ways. There really isn't a deadline for meaningful photographs.
What if I don't feel ready?
This is another worry I hear all the time. Perhaps you're recovering from birth, exhausted or you're looking in the mirror and feeling like you don't quite recognise yourself yet. I understand all of those feelings because I've been there too. After becoming a mum, I know how easy it is to believe you should wait until you've had more sleep, your body feels more like your own again or life has settled into some sort of routine.
But if there's one thing motherhood has taught me, it's that there's always another reason to wait. And before you know it, those tiny newborn days have quietly become memories. The photographs aren't about looking perfect. They're about remembering how this felt.
One day your little one won't notice whether your hair was styled or whether you were still a bit swollen. They'll notice the way you looked at them, the safety they felt in your arms and just how loved they were from the very beginning. Those are the things worth remembering.
Your home doesn't need to look perfect either
One of the biggest misconceptions about an in-home newborn photoshoot is that your house needs to look like it's stepped out of a magazine. I promise you, it doesn't.
Homes are meant to be lived in, especially when you've just welcomed a new baby. There might be muslins draped over the sofa, nappies on the side and a never-ending pile of washing waiting to be folded. That's normal. When I arrive, I simply look for the rooms with the loveliest natural light and gently move anything distracting if needed. Most of the time we're using just one or two spaces anyway, usually the master bedroom, nursery or living room.
It's your home that will one day bring these photographs to life. Years from now, you'll notice the wallpaper you chose, the tiny Moses basket by the bed or the armchair where you spent those long nights feeding your baby. Those ordinary details become part of your family's story.
A calm, baby-led experience
One of the reasons I love photographing newborns at home is because everything happens at your baby's pace. If they need feeding, we stop. If they need changing, we stop. If they need a cuddle or simply don't want to be put down, that's absolutely fine too.
There is never any rushing. I'm not watching the clock or expecting your baby to perform. The most beautiful photographs usually happen in those quiet in-between moments anyway. My role isn't to direct every second. It's simply to create a calm space where you can slow down, be together and let me quietly document this new chapter as it naturally unfolds.
A little note from Jenny
If you're reading this while you're expecting, firstly, congratulations. I know there's so much information out there telling you what you should buy, what you should prepare and what you should be doing before your baby arrives.
I hope this isn't another thing to add to your list. If anything, I hope it takes something away.
Booking your newborn session while you're pregnant simply means that when your baby arrives, you don't need to think about finding a photographer or wondering whether you've left it too late.
You'll already know it's taken care of.
Then, when you're ready, I'll come to you with plenty of patience, no expectations and the reassurance that you don't need to have everything figured out. You simply need to be yourselves. Because that's what your children will treasure most one day.
Looking for a Surrey newborn photographer?
If you're expecting a baby and are looking for a Surrey newborn photographer who specialises in relaxed, natural, in-home newborn photography, I'd love to help you document this chapter in a way that feels calm, personal and true to your family.
Based in West Molesey, I photograph newborns and growing families across Surrey and the surrounding areas. Most families choose to reserve their session after their 12-week scan, with a flexible date confirmed once their baby arrives. If that sounds like the kind of experience you're looking for, I'd love to hear from you.
