Should I clean my house before my in-home newborn photoshoot? | Spokane newborn photographer

So you’ve had a baby, booked a newborn photoshoot and now it’s the morning of your photoshoot. Hopefully your photographer has primed you, or maybe you’re doing your own research. Either way, you may be asking. Should I clean my house before my in-home newborn photoshoot? My answer as a Spokane-based Newborn Photographer is a resounding NO. No, you should not clean your house before your in-home newborn photoshoot. Here’s why…

1. YOU JUST HAD A BABY

   I shouldn’t even have to say it, but I will anyways for the moms-to-be who haven't had their first baby, yet. You will likely be very sore from giving birth- I personally felt like I got hit by a truck- I felt it in every muscle of my body. The best advice I was given postpartum was that I should stay horizontal and not use the stairs for the first 4 weeks, and now I am passing that ancient, midwifery wisdom on to you. Please, please do not clean your house before your newborn photoshoot. You will thank you, your baby will thank you. Now given the stay horizontal statement, please do feel free to take a shower and groom yourself so that you feel pretty and confident in your pictures, but absolutely do not feel like you need to be scrubbing bathrooms before your newborn photoshoot. I promise, I will not ask to use your restroom while I am there taking pictures.

2. YOUR PHOTOGRAPHER WILL HELP YOU

   So, you already know the pictures will take place in your home, but you may not necessarily know which room your photographer will want to use. I tend to use the room in the house that has the brightest and best light. I often work in the master bedroom or the living room, but it really just depends on the home. I tell all of my newborn photoshoot clients not to clean their house, because they may not know which room I will use and I’d hate for them to spend their precious energy and time cleaning during early postpartum. I instead offer to help tidy up the room that I decide to use. I help move basinets, adult diapers and breast pumps. I’m a home birth mom, so you can’t scare me. I believe deeply in honoring and respecting the postpartum time and space, this is the most important time to care for a mother, so I will do everything I can to be supportive during my newborn photoshoots.

3. THERE ARE BETTER WAYS TO SPEND YOUR TIME

   Somewhat back to the you just had a baby topic. Your time with your newborn baby is quickly fleeting, they grow so fast! So you should be spending your time focused on snuggling and breathing in the smell if your brand new baby. Your energy is better focused on learning to breastfeed, washing bottles, feeding yourself or just staring at your perfect new baby. Cleaning truly should be the least of your concerns and frankly, mom, you shouldn’t be the one doing it right now. Just enjoy this short season of all the peace in the world snuggling your baby despite a little bit of chaos in the cleanliness (or lack of) in your home. And even if you’re a neat-freak like me, getting some sleep will do more for your inner-peace in this season than cleaning. Go take a nap :)

4. THE IMPACT ON PHOTOS IS MINUSCULE

   You may not believe me when I say this, but the impact of a clean home on your newborn photos is minuscule. When I am taking pictures, the background of your home is not the main focus, your family and your new baby are. It’s not likely that a little bit of mess in the background will even be noticeable if I don’t get it fully tidied up. You’ll look back at the photos and see the little bit of mess and it will remind you of that sweet new season where nothing else mattered.

Interested in a Spokane newborn photoshoot with Britt Harvey Photography? Get more info here.