A no-prep at-home newborn session with a toddler | Charlottesville Newborn Photographer

You might think that inviting a photographer into your home just a week postpartum sounds ... stressful. Crazy, even. How will I get the house ready in time? If my toddler has a meltdown, the session will be ruined!

Let this session be proof that just the opposite is true.

Because this was my second newborn session with their family, they knew that other than getting dressed, they needed to do very little to prepare for my arrival. They didn't need to make the beds, wash the dishes, dust, hide the toys — nothing!

When I got there, I found the perfect spot next to a sunny window, moved the Nugget cushions, and asked Dad to bring in a chair from the dining room. Boom. Session-ready! Mom didn't need to lift a finger.

As expected, their toddler wasn't totally on board with the whole picture thing — and that's ok! I work around it, every time. I give them space to play, take breaks, get distracted with a book, eat snacks. I gently keep trying different tactics until I get those heartfelt images of everyone.

Eventually, I could sense that we it was time to switch things up and move outdoors. This is always a win with toddlers — and a win for toddlers is a win for parents, too. I'm in love with all the images on their beautiful handmade quilt!

So that's it. We only used one small, but ideal, spot in their living room and a patch of grass in their yard. At-home newborn sessions can really be that simple and beautiful!