At-Home Newborn Photography in Queenstown | Welcoming Baby Makena
A few months ago, I met Lauren and Jamie for a maternity photoshoot with one of my favourite backdrops here in Queenstown, the mighty Remarkables. Their gorgeous fur baby Frankie came along too, making the session feel like a celebration of the little family they were, just before everything was about to change.
Fast forward a few months, and I was lucky enough to return, to their home this time, to meet the newest and tiniest member of their family, their beautiful baby girl, Makena.
There is something incredibly special about being invited into someone's home during those early weeks and months with a newborn. Everything is new, a little bit chaotic, and completely precious. Rather than trying to create a perfectly posed photoshoot, I wanted to document this chapter as naturally as possible, the cuddles, the tiny details, the sleepy moments, and all the little interactions that make those early days so special.
From maternity photos to meeting Makena
One of my favourite things about being a photographer is getting to see families more than once.
When I photographed Lauren and Jamie's maternity session, they were waiting for their little girl to arrive. We spent time together outdoors, surrounded by the Remarkables, with Frankie very much part of the adventure.
This time, the setting was completely different. Instead of mountains and open landscapes, we stayed at home, where Lauren and Jamie could relax in their own space and Makena could simply be herself.
It felt like such a natural continuation of their first session, from documenting the anticipation of becoming parents to documenting their new reality as a growing family.
Why I love at-home newborn photography
Newborn photography doesn't have to mean elaborate props, perfectly posed babies or a studio setup.
In fact, some of my favourite photographs from this session are the simplest ones. There is something beautiful about photographing a family exactly where they are most comfortable. At home, there is no need to rush out the door with a newborn, worry about packing everything you might need, or try to settle a baby somewhere unfamiliar. Instead, we can slow things down.
If Makena needed feeding, we paused. If she needed a cuddle, we had a cuddle. If she fell asleep, we let her sleep.
That relaxed approach allows me to capture the little moments that you might otherwise forget, the way your baby curls up against your chest, tiny fingers wrapped around yours, sleepy stretches, those first expressions and the way you look at each other as you get used to being a family.
Capturing the little details
Those first few months pass incredibly quickly.
Before you know it, your newborn has changed. Their tiny clothes no longer fit, their hands aren't quite so miniature and the sleepy newborn days become a distant memory.
That's why I love including the details in an at-home newborn session.
The tiny toes.
The little fingers.
The eyelashes.
The nursery you've spent months preparing.
The favourite blanket.
The cuddles on the sofa.
These aren't necessarily the photographs you'll frame on their own, but together they tell the story of what life looked and felt like during those first precious days.
A relaxed approach to newborn photography in Queenstown
At-home newborn sessions are something I'm particularly excited to offer more of here in Queenstown.
My approach is natural, relaxed and documentary-inspired. Rather than asking you to recreate a series of complicated poses, I'll gently guide you when needed and otherwise let you interact naturally with your baby.
You don't need a perfectly styled home either.
Your home doesn't need to look like it belongs in a magazine. Life with a newborn is messy and unpredictable, and that's completely okay. I'll look for the pockets of beautiful light, meaningful details and genuine moments that capture your new family.
Whether that means cuddling together on the sofa, settling your baby in their nursery, having a quiet moment in the bedroom or letting your four-legged family member join in, we'll simply document this season of your life as it really is.
From bump to baby
Getting to photograph Lauren and Jamie twice has been such a lovely reminder of why I love this job.
I first met them when they were waiting for their daughter to arrive, surrounded by mountains and accompanied by Frankie. A few months later, I was welcomed into their home to meet the little person they'd been waiting for.
From bump to baby.
From a family of three to a family of four.
And from wondering what their new little girl would be like to watching Lauren and Jamie already completely wrapped around her tiny finger.
Thank you, Lauren and Jamie, for inviting me back to document another incredibly special chapter of your story. And welcome to the world, beautiful Makena. 🤍
Thinking about an at-home newborn session?
If you're expecting a baby in Queenstown or the surrounding area and would love to document those first few weeks or months at home, I'd love to hear from you.
These sessions are relaxed, baby-led and centred around your family rather than perfectly posed photographs. Your baby can be exactly as they are, and you can simply enjoy being together while I capture the moments you'll want to remember.
Newborn sessions can also be combined with maternity photography, creating a beautiful visual story from pregnancy through to those early days with your new arrival.
Based in Queenstown, I photograph families throughout Queenstown, Arrowtown, Frankton, Wanaka and the wider Central Otago region.
