You asked a lot about how we handled our own newborn photos, Teddy’s birth announcement, Clara’s four-year picture and her annual video, and what I received for Mother’s Day (spoiler: a deeply sentimental photo book of Clara’s quotes). This post pulls all of that together: a rundown of our DIY newborn photoshoot, a few tips that helped, some favorite family moments, and the gift that made me cry happy tears. With phones and simple cameras, documenting life is easier than ever—so while we may take a lot of photos, we’re probably not that unusual.
We did set our phones aside and use our good camera to take some casual newborn photos when Teddy was just a week old. The image we loved most made the cover of his birth announcement; we used a simple template, added the photo, and had a few dozen printed.
As with most shoots, the setup was much less glamorous than the final frame. The shot above was taken while John stood between a giant box and a plant in our office—proof that good photos don’t always require a studio.
We photographed Teddy at seven days old to capture that squishy newborn stage. Our brother-in-law Todd, who is a professional photographer, also offered to take family and baby photos, which removed some pressure and made the process more fun. John and I both took turns shooting, and we even captured some sweet sister-and-brother moments.
For this casual session we used a few simple tools that helped even though we’re not professionals: a diffuser to soften light, a cozy surface made from blankets and a nursing pillow on our office desk, and a step stool to get overhead shots.
The diffuser made a noticeable difference. One photo taken without it looked harsher, and holding the diffuser softened and evened the light for a second shot. We loved a few of the classic “baby in a basket” images—they look almost womb-like—but after a handful of styled shots we moved to simpler images: Teddy sleeping, John holding him, Clara watching him, and close details like tiny feet.
We used a Nikon D3200 with a 50mm prime (the “nifty fifty”), which is excellent for detail shots and producing a soft, blurred background. For wider room shots we stick with the camera’s stock zoom lens.
We also included items that matter to us to make the photos more personal.
One favorite prop was a blanket that my sister-in-law Ali knitted—her first-ever knit, and it turned out beautifully.
Baby feet intermission: I firmly believe there’s nothing cuter than tiny toes.
I love the photo that highlights Teddy’s hair and John’s wedding ring against a simple light background. It surprised me how much hair he had compared to Clara at birth.
We even caught a rare wide-awake moment at seven days, which felt like a small victory because newborns are so sleepy.
We wanted sibling photos, too, so we used our bed as a relaxed backdrop for Clara and Teddy together.
This next shot melts me every time—she truly adores her brother.
We liked the sibling series so much that a group of them ended up on the back of Teddy’s announcement.
Some of those candid bed-laying photos were taken the following day—completely unplanned moments that felt true to our everyday life.
They’re a funny, adorable pair.
That brings us to Clara’s latest photo project picture. Many readers asked where her four-year photo was after the birthday party—it had slipped our minds amid party prep and newborn life, but we finally took it. It’s amazing to see how much she’s changed since we started documenting her weekly photos; one of our favorite rituals is comparing Teddy’s weekly snapshot to Clara’s from the same week.
We also captured some great outtakes from Clara’s session. The one where she declared, “I look like a flamingo!” is a keeper.
Now for Mother’s Day: John surprised me with a small photobook full of “Clara Conversations”—funny, charming things she’s said. I cried happy tears flipping through it. Every page made me smile and tear up; it was one of the most thoughtful gifts I’ve received, and I have no idea when he found the time to assemble it.
John even left the last page blank so Clara could draw our family—she drew us all holding hands, with Daddy hilariously smaller than Teddy, and added Easter stickers for flair.
Update: John made the book through MyPublisher, which is also where we order our family yearbooks (this book is smaller and thinner than those).
How are you documenting life these days? Is your phone overflowing with photos? Do you make short videos with clips and pictures set to music? Are you printing birth announcements? I keep every announcement we receive in a stack next to the cookbooks in a kitchen cabinet—call it sentimental clutter. Whether you prefer quick phone snaps or more deliberate shoots with a DSLR, capturing these small moments has become one of the most meaningful parts of our family routine.