A beautiful Studio + Outdoor South Jersey Maternity Session | South Jersey Newborn + Portrait Photographer (Copy)

Sarah Young April 25, 2026

Congrats! You’ve booked your maternity session! Now come the hard questions - Where do I wanna do the session? What style do I want? I got you girl

When it comes to the style of maternity session you want, it all comes down to preference! This specific client was actually SURPRISED by her husband with this session, so because he had absolutely NO idea what to choose or what she would like, we did a little bit of both!

We started of in my South Jersey studio where our client was greeted by a make up artist-also planned by her husband (amazing right!) and then proceeded to head outdoors to catch the sunset!

Choosing a style can be hard but it doesn’t have to be! I love being able to offer multiple options for my clients as well as a large variety of putfits that fit every style. These are YOUR photos YOUR journey, I am just here to bring your visions to life! Take a look at some of my favorites from this session

How to Prepare Your House for a Life-Style In Home Newborn Session | South Jersey Newborn + Portrait Photographer

Sarah Young February 17, 2026

While I LOVE a newborn studio session, Lifestyle sessions are becoming extremely popular and I have to say they REALLY have my heart. Lifestyle in-home photo sessions are about documenting your family right where your life is actually happening. Its about real, raw moments.

Preparing your home for a lifestyle family session doesn’t require perfection. Your home doesn’t need to be spotless or styled. It simply needs to feel like yours. Some of the most meaningful family photos come from ordinary moments. When you allow yourself to relax and trust the process, your images naturally reflect the connection, warmth, and real life you want to remember.

One of the most common worries parents share before a lifestyle in-home session is about their home. Many families tell me they’re stressed about clutter, unfinished nurseries, or spaces that don’t feel “photo ready.” Moms, listen up… you JUST had a baby nobody and I meant NOBODY is judging you! Let me gently reassure you that your home does not need to look perfect! You don’t need to clean the entire house. We only use a few areas, and I help you choose them. I will focus on things like light, close ups, intimate moments rather than the “scenery” of your home.

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Simple Prep Tips

Yes, a little light tidying can help. Decluttering is the key. Moving laundry baskets out of view or putting unwanted items such as random boxes or dirty dishes away. There’s no need for deep cleaning as the photos won’t show these details. I’ll guide you through everything, and I might move things around as we move between rooms, but I absolutely promise you that noone is focusing on these things!

Things you can keep in mind:

Declutter table and kitchen counter
Open blinds and curtains for more light
Tidy nightstands and floors near windows

That’s it! No deep cleaning required.

What to Have Ready for Newborn Session

During your session, you’ll be feeding your baby, holding them close, rocking, swaying, and simply being together. These moments don’t require a perfect backdrop. They require presence, comfort, and trust—and that’s what makes in-home newborn sessions so special. My goal is to really capture the emotion and realness of bringing home your new baby and the start to your new journey as a family. So what do you need ready?

A window with good natural light
A comfortable spot for feeding and cuddling
A laidback mindset

If you’re considering an in-home family session in South Jersey just, know that your home is already enough. I’ll guide you every step of the way so you can focus on what matters most—being together.

Tips for Including Siblings in Your Newborn Photography Session | South Jersey Newborn and Portrait Photographer

Sarah Young January 25, 2026

Big love begins in the smallest moments

Photographing your newborn and their sibling captures the beginning of a bond you’ll want to capture forever, but if you’re a mom of more than 1, you might be a little anxious about how your older kiddos will behave during the photo session. Toddlers are full of energy and this is new time for them too. The idea of getting them to cooperate for newborn photos can feel impossible, but . take a deep breath- it is possible to get beautiful sibling portraits! I specialize in newborn photography AND family portraits, so I’ve learned a lot about encouraging toddlers and kiddos to participate and enjoy photo day!

Below are some tips that YOU can do to make photo day a little bit easier!

Give them time in the spotlight.

An older sibling of a newborn has often just become an older sibling, which means they’re still getting used to having a baby in the house. They may feel that their parents don’t pay as much attention to them with all the needs of their new sibling (We KNOW this isn’t true ;) ). Take time to make sure your older kids feel involved in the photo session, both in photos with your new baby and photos of the whole family together. Hype them up about important their job is as the cool new sibling and how important it is to let them hold baby! Your newborn session is a great way to let older siblings know that it’s not just about your new addition, but about your growth as a family.

Encourage them to snuggle up.

Your older child may feel unsure or uncomfortable around the new baby, and a photo session can be a great way to help them loosen up and get to know their new sibling. Some of my favorite photos are images of the older sibling holding, kissing, or snuggling the new baby. Encourage them to gently touch the newborn and to get close, which can lead to a lot of giggles and smiles and some great photos.

Let them do their own thing.

One of the most important things is not to force your older child to participate in the session. The last thing you want is a tantrum or a grumpy face in your photos! Instead, encourage them to participate without forcing them. I always suggest to maybe have their favorite song or show on standby and they can watch while/if they take a fun picture with their new baby!

You may be surprised how much they enjoy being involved on their own, and giving your older child space to explore and relax can result in more natural, genuine images of your family.

Talk to them beforehand.

It’s so important to let your older children know what to expect from a photo session. Whether they love to be in front of the camera or are a little bit shy, talking to them in the days before your shoot about how things will go can really ease their minds and make them more comfortable with the photographer. Be sure to sit down with your older child throughout the week before your session and talk to them about how you’re going to have photos taken and the importance of listening to both you and the photographer.

With a little preparation, you may find that they’re excited to participate, which makes for wonderful photos!

A Beautiful Jersey Beach Maternity Session | South Jersey Maternity and Newborn Photographer

Sarah Young June 11, 2025

As a photographer, I think stressing about the weather takes up half my time - Weather definitely can make a break a session, and if you know anything about New Jersey, you know it can be so unpredictable, but I always am determined to get that session in regardless.

This particular day was a RAINY/foggy one. Even my drive down to the Jersey Shore was drizzling. Would you believe that we stuck it out and still got THESE amazing photos?

While, yes, I absolutely love a good golden sunset, sometimes the cloudy days can give such a beautiful softness! There is beauty and magic in everything, you just gotta see it! Take a look at some of the absolute magic we made and don’t forget to reach out about your own beach session this summer!

Is My Newborn Too Old For A Photography Session? | South Jersey Newborn Photographer

Sarah Young May 28, 2025

As a South Jersey Newborn photographer, I often get the question- Is my baby too old for newborn photos? -

Short answer? NO! Not at all!

Most newborn photographers typically photograph newborn portraits in the first two weeks of baby’s life, however, life happens and sometimes we can’t get the session in until later. 2 weeks is BEST because newborns at this age tend sleep more deeply and are more comfortable in curled-up poses. They still have their day and night schedules mixed up at this age, so they sleep nice and cozy for our session.

But what if your baby is older than two weeks? What if they needed some NICU time, or life got ahead of you and you forgot to schedule something sooner- DONT WORRY. There is plenty of time after the two week mark to get beautiful portraits of your baby.

Is three weeks too old for newborn photos?

Absolutely not!

At three weeks, most babies are still pretty sleepy. Some are starting to have longer wake times and be more alert to their surroundings, and some still pass out cold after a feeding.

If your 3-week-old newborn is awake for a portion of their session, we will likely get better eye contact with the camera and most 3-week-old babies are still comfortable in curled-up positions.

Is four weeks too old for newborn photos?

Nope!!!! At this age, your baby will likely be awake and alert for a good portion of their session, but that’s okay! I’ve actually had plenty of 1 month olds get a good nap in! Some one month old newborns still like to be curled up, but if they seem to be more into kicking/stretching, we can focus on a more wrapped session.to help keep them calmer

Is six weeks too old for a newborn session?

It’s pushing the “newborn” look a bit, but still 1000% doable! At six weeks, we can still get beautiful newborn portraits. I can usually get your baby to sleep for at least some of the session but we may need to focus on more “awake” shots. Family portraits with mom, dad, sibings etc and some cute awake poses on their backs. I often will even suggest an in home lifestlye at this age as well- to keep it even more laid back.