7 Reasons to Choose an In-Home Newborn Photoshoot

Why does the Sprout & Blossom team love in-home newborn photoshoots so very much? Let us count the ways! Having an in-home newborn photoshoot offers several benefits for the whole family. Especially for the new boss in town: your sweet cheeks little bebe! Spoiler alert — if you weren’t already in love with the idea of an in-home newborn photosesh yourself, we think you’ll change your mind after reading this…

7 reasons to choose an in-home newborn photoshoot

01. it’s more comfortable

It’s true what they say: There’s no place like home! For parents, siblings, and babies alike. Being in a familiar space has an impact on how comfortable everyone feels during a photoshoot. And let us vouch for this with years of experience as birth workers and photographers: Comfort is especially key in those early postpartum days. For so many parents, getting out and about is a whole to-do that can raise alarm bells and put a stressful spin on your special moment. We don’t want that for you — relax, enjoy baby, and we’ll come snap all the cutesy photos right in your home sweet home. Because home is where babies often feel most relaxed, an in-home newborn sesh can lend to a calm and comfortable experience with more laid back emotions and natural expressions. 

02. there’s Less stress

Did we mention less stress? We can’t stress that enough! No need to travel, no need to worry about baby’s schedule, no need to consider how wakeful or sleepy baby is (because c’mon, let’s be real, everyone is still getting to know each other, baby is still getting to know night and day…predictable brand-new babies are almost as rare as unicorns). We embrace the reality that baby calls the shots early postpartum (er, foreverrrrrr?) and want to make your photography session as low-key, stress-free as possible. Forget about how hot or cold it is outside, what the environment is like inside a studio 35 minutes away, what time that storm is supposed to hit…wear or don’t wear whatever you want, whenever you want, right in the comfort of your home.

03. there’s No rush

Speaking of less stress and no schedule…studio sessions can feel rushed for everyone involved, particularly when there are short back-to-back time slots for scheduling. When we come to you at home, you can completely ignore the clock and fully soak in the present moment. It doesn’t matter what baby is up to: naptime, playtime, a moment of passing painful gas — we keep it low pressure with plenty of time booked and a go-with-the-flow mindset.

04. it’s Personalized

Your home is the most personalized setting of all! We can take photos in any spaces you (or baby!) wish, including those most meaningful to you in this stage of life. Perhaps a little nursing moment in your favorite rocking chair, where you count baby’s lashes during each afternoon snooze…or a shared bathtime cuddle, where baby is known to lock eyes on you like you’re the most magical being in the whole wide world (baby’s right, you are). Wherever you and baby wish to be, we’ll follow. You can include any meaningful items, such as an heirloom blanket, the high-contrast book that’s already capturing baby’s attention… Let us capture you in your element, the way you live life with your sweet new baby.

05. there’s Privacy

Home is the most intimate setting of all; you are free to do as you please, wherever you please, without a live studio audience. Breastfeed, change baby’s diaper, heck, change your own diaper — as birth workers and mothers, we so deeply understand and honor this sacred, intimate time of your lives. We’re here to hold space for you, to preserve these life-altering, fleeting moments. It’s just you, your trusted photographer (one of us!) and a camera with images you can keep as private or share as widely as you wish.

06. it’s family-centered (Dogs allowed!)

Baby’s the superstar, we get it. But you know what else you’ll turn glossy-eyed over? Watching all the planets in the family solar system revolve around that star. We’ll capture those sweet sibling smooches, or the way Dad looks at baby when they catch eyes during a diaper change, or how your pup cuddles up to their cutie new human. Yes, the newborn stage is all about baby — and it’s all about all of you, together. Parents, siblings, pets, the live-in auntie who offers a bottle every morning while you take a quick shower: these bonds all matter so much and evolve so quickly. We’re absolutely sure you’ll relish in the treasure of your keepsakes from your in-home, family-centered newborn sesh.

07. it offers The gift of time travel

When it comes to raising children, they say that the days are long, and the years are short. We find it invaluable to document your life in this precious stage, as it truly is, within the comfort of your own home. To preserve the little things you do every single day, a thousand times over, and think you’ll never forget — until suddenly it’s four years later, you’re looking back on your images, and you’re struck with a heartwarming recollection of memories that already feel like a lifetime ago. We can’t express enough how special it is to photograph your growing family with an in-home newborn photosession. You'll come away with treasures that become even sweeter with time: a portal back into those long days that quickly turned into short years. Professional images to have and to hold forever, depicting those early newborn days, right down to the details. 

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meet the fantastic humans behind the lenses!

Randi (she/her)

randi armstrong

Randi is a DONA-certified doula and Birth Becomes You–certified birth photographer. She has been attending births for over 6 years in the Grand Rapids area, and had a baby of her own in 2023. Randi overflows with joy and is so genuine, caring, and respectful.

We are thrilled that in early 2024 she enthusiastically said “yes!” to joining Sprout and Blossom.

Randi takes birth photography and doula clients in partnership with Brianna - our clients get double the support during pregnancy and the postpartum time and one or the other of them attend each birth.

get to know randi

Bri (she/her)

brianna trammell

Bri is a DONA-certified birth doula, birth photographer, and postpartum doula who has been working with S&B since early 2021.

After an empowering birth experience of her own, Bri was compelled to pursue doula work. She now brings her kind, smiley self and her passion for birth and the fourth trimester to each interaction with her clients. Her presence in the birth space is calming and steady, and she desires that all birthing people have a safe and beautifully transformative experience.

Her clients love her and we are so honored that Bri is part of our team!

get to know bri

annica quakenbush

Annica founded Sprout and Blossom in 2016. She has attended over 100 births providing birth doula support, birth photography, and birth videography to her clients. She is a certified doula through DONA International and a certified birth photographer through Birth Becomes You. Annica works with clients one-on-one for somatic (body-based) practices, guided meditation, and breathwork.

The line of care products for sale in our shop was also developed and designed by Annica. Other pregnancy and postpartum products were not meeting all of her ideal requirements (non-toxic fragrance or no fragrance, sustainable packaging, cruelty-free and organic ingredients, and simple but fancy gift-worthy style), so she created exactly what she was looking for. What started as gifts to make birth clients feel cared for has become a trusted local brand.

get to know annica

learn more about our photography offerings

We offer photography for pregnancy, birth, postpartum, newborn, and family. We also offer mini sessions from time to time, so keep in touch with us on Instagram or Facebook to stay updated. We take such pride in journeying alongside clients through such transformative seasons of life. It’s an absolute honor to capture your growing, changing family!

thank you for trusting us with your sacred space & invaluable treasures

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This blog post was written by Shay Gabriel, a content creator at Sprout and Blossom and mother of two who swears she was reborn through giving birth. Shay believes that everyone deserves an empowered perinatal experience, no matter the twists and turns. Her own birth stories are quite surprising tales, and you can find them both here on the blog. 

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