Relaxed 'At Home' Newborn Photography in Harpenden (With the Family Dog 🐾)

When Your First Baby Has Four Legs!

One of my favourite things about 'At Home' newborn sessions is when there’s already been a ‘baby’ in the house for years… the dog!

They’ve had your full attention, their routines are set and then suddenly a tiny human arrives and turns everything upside down.

It’s a big adjustment - for everyone. And it’s such a lovely part of the story to include.

Before I go any further, it’s worth saying that this isn’t a dog photoshoot with a baby squeezed in! It’s still a newborn session and your baby is always the main focus. I’m there to capture all those tiny baby details you’ll forget way too quickly. The dog just gets to be part of it!

A Little Planning for our ‘At Home’ shoot in Harpenden

To make sure everything feels easy on the day, I do a bit of groundwork beforehand as I pop over a couple of days before the shoot. It’s a quick visit, but it makes a big difference. I can see where the best light is, we chat through which rooms we’ll use, what you might want to wear, and importantly, I get to meet everyone… including the dog.

We’ll talk about how they are around the baby and what might work best on the day, so when I come back for the photoshoot, there are no surprises. You already know what I’m going to do and where we’ll be shooting. I’ll guide you into the best spots for light, where to sit holding the baby and where the dog might fit - all the bits that make a difference in a photo. But once you’re there, that’s it. You don’t need to perform or hold a pose. You can chat, move, cuddle your baby, interact with your dog and just be yourselves.

The Sweetest Kind of Curiosity

In this particular shoot, Dora the dog was part of everything; sitting close, watching carefully, always nearby. We didn’t force anything or expect her to behave in a certain way. Not going to lie, a few treats were involved, if you’ve got a dog you know that a little bribery can be helpful, but to be honest, she needed very little encouragement. Those big brown eyes (and her incredible eyelashes) nearly stole the show!

One of the reasons ‘At Home’ sessions work so well, especially with dogs, is that there’s no pressure. No unfamiliar environment, no strict posing and no expectation for everything to be ‘perfect’.

Capturing the Beginning of a Bond

What I loved most about this session was capturing the very beginning of something special. A relationship between both your babies that will grow over the years. From these quiet early days where there’s lots of sleeping, to toddlers throwing arms around furry necks and pulling tails, to being best friends in the garden.

And it all starts here!

Thinking About an ‘At Home’ Newborn Session?

If you’re expecting a baby and already have a much loved pet dog then an ‘At Home’ session is such a lovely way to include them naturally.

No stress. No forcing anything. Just your family, exactly as you are right now. And that includes every member, with two legs or four!

To get in touch and find out more about relaxed ‘At Home’ newborn sessions in Harpenden click the button below