West Michigan Photographer

In-home Newborn Sessions in West Michigan

newborn baby with family's hands all around it during a newborn session

Those first weeks at home have a very specific feeling to them. Time moves strangely. Days blur together. The house is quieter in some ways… louder in others. There’s less structure and a lot of moments that don’t feel important until you look back and realize they were everything.

You don’t need to prepare your home beyond how it normally exists right now.

We’ll work in the spaces you already live in — your bed, the couch, a nursery chair — following the best light as it shifts. I’ll guide you for angles and light, but the focus is on images that feel alive and real. I may straighten a space we’re using, but there’s no expectation of a spotless home.

Mom and newborn baby standing in window light in bedroom during newborn session with Alissa Saylor Photography

Newborn sessions are baby-led, always

If your newborn needs to eat, we pause. If they need to be changed or soothed, we take a break. If they’re wide awake and curious, we photograph that. If they fall asleep in your arms, we let it happen. There’s no expectation for your baby to do anything a certain way, and there’s never a rush to move on from a moment that feels tender.

Siblings are always welcome

Siblings are more than welcome and given space to be themselves — to peek, to hold a tiny hand, to climb onto the bed beside you, to wander in and out as they need. Those unscripted interactions often become some of the most meaningful images.

🤍 Hey Momma!

IF YOU’RE PLANNING A NEWBORN SESSION… I MADE YOU SOMETHING TO HELP YOU FEEL PREPARED.

Newborn fog is the real deal, so I created a beautiful one-page checklist with all the essentials for your session (and none of the overwhelm) — plus a few postpartum pampering tips to help you look and feel your best. Just a little guide to help you feel confident and prepared. Save it or print it!

My style isn’t about documenting perfection — it’s about telling a real, living story

The way you instinctively hold your baby close.
The way your home feels in this season.
The small, ordinary moments that are easy to forget once the fog lifts.

Most families are surprised by how calm the experience feels. There’s no pressure to entertain, no shot list of moments to “get through”. I’m there to notice what you might be too tired to notice yourself… the beauty woven into the connection and closeness.

If you’re wondering how to prepare for a session in your home, there truly isn’t much you need to do.

Before your session, I’ll share a few simple tips to help the day feel smooth and comfortable for you and your baby. I’ll also bring most of what we’ll need, including a small selection of neutral-toned swaddles, bows, and blankets.

If there’s a routine or moment you find yourself loving right now… feeding in a certain spot, snuggling on the bed, pacing the hallway in the early hours… you’re always welcome to share that with me. Otherwise, we’ll let the session unfold naturally, guided by your baby and the rhythm of your home.

This season doesn’t need to be clean or perfect to be beautiful.

It’s already enough.

Baby loosely swaddled in dark green blankets for in-home newborn session with Alissa Saylor

Hey there momma! Are you ready to create something beautiful together?

I’ve spent 16 years photographing newborns, babies, and all the tender, messy, beautiful seasons of motherhood. My sessions are slow, connection-focused, and fully baby-led… no props, no pressure, just your little one as they are.
Whether we’re in my natural-light studio in Manistee or in the comfort of your home, my hope is that you feel supported, relaxed, and cared for every step of the way.

Learn about newborn sessions

Book Your Session

Reply...

Behind the lens

ABOUT Alissa

At home in a small Michigan town near the lake — raising four beautiful, wild-hearted kids and holding close to the fleeting moments that matter most.

Life around here is a little loud, a little messy, and with a lot of love...  and that’s exactly what draws me to photography. I’ve spent over 16 years capturing connection, chaos, calm, and everything in between… Because it’s not the big milestones we ache for... it’s the quiet, constant things woven into them.

From the blog

THE LATEST

What's Your

Some moms hoard photos, some make books, some save baby socks. Find out what your memory-keeping habits say about you.

Memory-Keeping Personality?

More 

The Portrait
Style Guide

Displaying Photos at Home

Read Post

Tips For the Best Golden Hour Photos

Resources

© Alissa Saylor Photography