Natural Newborn Prompts for In-Home Lifestyle Photography
Gentle, movement-based prompts for indoor newborn sessions that capture emotional, authentic moments with baby, parents, and siblings.
Kaitlyn Alpers
4/24/20257 min read
There’s something sacred about photographing newborns at home — where real life unfolds in soft light, sleepy moments, and quiet connection.
This list of prompts is NOT exhaustive. There limitless combinations and variations but the goal is give you kind of a gist of how to guide a family through a natural-feeling newborn session. Its less of a list of prompts to check off and more of a flow that you get the hang of.
Once you've read through these prompts and tricks, hopefully you'll see a pattern. Babies and young siblings are unpredictable so it's important to be flexible with prompts and adjust as needed for each baby and child in your session.
One of the best things to tell your clients to help them embrace prompts:
"don't act like I'm taking a picture, act like I'm filming a movie."
Here are some of my favorite natural prompts I use to create movement, emotion, and authenticity during indoor lifestyle newborn sessions. Each one is guided with gentle direction so it never feels forced.
Mom + Baby
Prompt: Rock or sway near the window
I might say, “Just hold them close and sway like you’re dancing in the kitchen, soft and slow. Let your head rest on theirs if it feels natural.”
This simple movement creates beautiful connection and draws attention to those quiet in-between moments — lashes brushing cheeks, a sleepy sigh, a mother’s stillness.
Prompt: Kiss the little features and trace their eyebrows and ears
“Go ahead and kiss their little nose, their forehead, maybe their fingers. Just explore them like you’ve been doing every day.”
These prompts allow mom to stay rooted in that natural rhythm of love and discovery, and the camera simply witnesses.
Prompt: "Lay down with baby on your chest and take deep breaths. Put a hand on their back or trace their spine" Let mom relax with baby for a few minutes. She's tired.
Prompt: Lay baby down in the crib and then pick them back up
"You can humm or sing, give them their paci if they need it."
Prompt: Look at you and baby together in the mirror
"What features of yours do you think they have?"
When it's time to take a break and feed baby, those moments are important to capture too!
Make sure mom and baby are comfortable and in a spot with good lighting.
Dad + Baby
Prompt: Hold baby in your arms and walk into the doorway and then lean against the frame of the door."
Look across the room and laugh at the younger version of yourself that didn't have kids. He had no clue"
Don't be afraid to say weird stuff. Dad could use some loosening up, he's likely doing this because his wife asked him.
Prompt: Baby in arms, walking the room
I’ll gently guide, “Pick them up and walk slowly across the room, like you’re pacing during a nap or showing them around.”
This gives dad something to do and captures natural movement — often leading to the most grounded, protective moments.
Prompt: Talking to baby
“Can you tell them what your favorite thing about them is right now?”
This creates genuine expression, often resulting in quiet smiles or even laughter — and that’s the gold.
Prompt: Put baby over your shoulder and give them gentle pats on the back
"Look straight ahead and then nuzzle your face into baby."
When it's time for an outfit or diaper change, capture those moments too.
You can position yourself behind the parent strategically during a diaper change, or overhead during an outfit change.
Mom + Dad + Baby
Prompt: Snuggle in close on the couch or bed
“Just sit close enough to touch, and look at your baby together like you’re sharing a secret.”
I’ll often give prompts like “lean your head toward each other” or “let your hands overlap” to foster that natural triangle of love and connection.
Prompt: Passing baby between you
This creates natural transitions and allows for candid captures — “Go ahead and gently pass them to each other, like you’re giving each other a break. You can smile at each other or laugh if you’re a little clumsy — that’s perfect.”
Prompt: Lay baby in the crib together and then stand over the crib and admire your baby.
"Reach down and touch their toes or lay a hand on their belly."
You can shoot this from the side, frame baby between mom and dads heads, or even step out of the room and frame everyone in the doorway.
Prompt: Stand together as close as possible, make sure everyone is touching everyone.
"Dad, whisper in mom's ear the first kitchen appliance that comes to mind but in a sexy deep voice"
This makes mom laugh. You can also have dad give mom a little shoulder massage.
Family with Siblings (1-2 kids)
Prompt: All gathered on the bed
“Pile up on the bed like it’s a snow day — cozy and a little chaotic is perfect.”
I might guide movement with a soft, “Let’s all look at baby together,” or “Tickle your sibling’s toes gently.” This keeps energy natural and light while anchoring everyone around the baby.
Prompt: Sibling peek-ins
“Can you show me how you check on the baby?” or “Can you whisper something to them?”
This prompt gives older siblings a purpose and fosters a soft moment of connection — perfect for the in-between ages.
Prompt: Let kids jump on the bed, jump off the couch, capture them climbing back up to jump.
"I'm going to count to 5, can you jump 5 times?"
It's all good content, don't wait for them to sit and smile, this is their story too!
Prompt: If the weather is decent - go outside!
Sit on the front porch, have mom hold baby and dad push sibling on the swings, let siblings run arouns the front yard while mom and dad sit on the steps.
Prompt: Lets make a family train!
"Youngest in front, daddy is the caboose. Let siblings take turns leading the family around the house"
Tell them to go slow because mom is carrying baby and announce the things they want everyone on the train to see.
Young Sibling + Baby
Prompt: Lying down side by side
“Let’s lay baby on the bed, and you get close like you’re telling them a story.”
This positioning brings everyone to the same level and creates gorgeous compositions from above.
Prompt: Toe touches or soft pats
“Can you touch their toes with one finger? Can you help me count their fingers?”
These playful, sensory-focused prompts help younger siblings engage without pressure to “perform.”
Prompt: Let siblings climb on the side of the crib to peer at baby.
"Does baby look like mommy or daddy? What color is their hair?"
Recreating those moments that would happen naturally is really the goal.
Prompt: Have mom or dad kneel down with baby to "show" sibling.
"Baby has something to show youuu!"
You can have mom or dad pretend to have baby talk to sibling in a goofy voice.
Prompt: While mom or dad is sitting holding baby, ask sibling to go up to mommy and whisper something to her or give her a kiss on the cheek
You can also have sibling go whisper something to baby or kiss baby
Hardcore Prompt Tips:
Bring a gift for siblings that can be used in the session. I usually bring a wood toy camera so siblings can help "take pictures". But this could also be an aesthetic stuffed animal or a new toy truck (matchbox makes vintage looking ones!)
Take in all the angles and details for each prompt.
You can get 10 quality shots out of each prompt is your back up and get the whole room, come in and get the moment, sneak in a couple angles, and then zoom in on details like hands, feet, noses, dads hand on moms shoulder, etc.
If sibling is really struggling sometimes you have to get extra creative. Hide little parent-approved snacks (like fruit loops) in folds of the baby's swaddle or clothes and ask siblings to find them. It may not be perfect but it can help a toddler get close and interact with baby.
Sometimes I put on my flash even if I don't need it and flash it at the ceiling because toddlers think that's super cool and it gets their attention on my camera.
Ask sibling to show you their room or show baby their favorite stuffed animal.
Sometimes toddlers just want the new visitors attention but don't know how to ask for it. Take a minute to see their favorite toys and snap some photos of it.
