How to Fund Your Dream Newborn Photography Session by Trading Those Dusty Devices

The newborn phase passes in a heartbeat but it’s those first few days and weeks of your baby’s life that are some of the most incredible in terms of their development. It’ll feel like they’re learning new skills and movements every day.

Newborn photography captures the irreplaceable moments you’ll want to look back on, creating heirloom portraits you’ll treasure for decades. However, here’s a reality any expectant parent faces: preparing to welcome a baby into your life comes with big financial shock.

Between the cot, the car seat, the endless stream of onesies they need, booking a professional photography session can sometimes feel like an impossible luxury. But what if I told you the funding for your dream session is probably already sitting in your home?

Making Use of the Hidden Treasure in Your Junk Drawer

Tech turnover is faster than ever. New smartphones launch annually, tablets get replaced with smaller versions, smartwatches upgrade, and that DSLR you bought with grand creative intentions now lives forgotten in a closet. Most homes are sitting on a small fortune in outdated electronics that still hold significant resale value.

An iPhone 12 in good condition, for example, might fetch £180–£250 on trade-in sites, an old Apple Watch could bring in £120, and that barely-used DSLR camera could sell for between £250 and £400, depending on the make and model. Add a few of these together, and you’ve easily covered the cost of a complete newborn photography session.

A Step-by-Step Guide to Funding Your Session

Step 1: The tech audit: Set aside 30 minutes to hunt through drawers, cupboards, and storage boxes to gather up every unused electronic device in your home. You’ll be surprised by what you find and how much you can sell them for.

Step 2: Prepare your devices: Before you list each item, don’t forget to protect your privacy by backing up any important data and images, then performing a complete factory reset on each device. Clean the screens and cases, locate original boxes if you can, and charge the batteries. These simple steps will significantly increase the resale value while ensuring your personal information stays secure.

Step 3: Assess and sell: The platform you choose matters.To get the best value be sure to  choose platforms that are aligned with what you’re selling. For cameras and lenses, for example, MPB offers excellent trade-in values and professional appraisals that ensure your quote is fair and tailored to the condition of the item. However, for a broader clear-out of smartphones, tablets or even old gaming consoles, musicMagpie provides a fast, ‘one-box’ solution where you can ship everything at once. Manufacturer trade-in programmes, like those offered by Apple or Samsung, are also great if you have items by specific brands. If you have larger items or want to avoid shipping fees, Facebook Marketplace is ideal for achieving a good market price with local collection. It does however require a bit more ‘life admin’ to manage messages, but can often yield the highest return.

Step 4: Create your newborn fund: Once your earnings start trickling in, open a separate savings account specifically for your photography session. Watching this fund grow as each device sells creates visible progress toward your goal and will prevent you from spending the money on general household expenses.

Why Less Tech Clutter Matters

There are many benefits to a thorough declutter, and doing so before baby arrives isn’t just financially savvy. Removing the physical clutter creates more room in your home before it starts filling up with items for the little one. It’ll free up storage for the essentials you’ll need every day, from nappies and baby wipes to baby blankets and changing mats, making organisation so much easier.

Late into your pregnancy and in your early postpartum recovery, the exhaustion will be running deep, so a simplified environment will really help to reduce the mental load. It also encourages intentional ownership, an important habit to cultivate as a parent.

There’s an ethical benefit too, of course. Selling or trading in your electronics extends their lifecycle through reuse, diverting e-waste from landfills and supporting a more circular economy that our planet desperately needs. It’s a meaningful contribution that doesn’t require a complete lifestyle overhaul.

Newborn Photography as an Investment

This isn’t about saving up for more baby gear. It’s about shifting your mindset from quantity to quality; from consumption to legacy. As a new mum, you recognise one simple truth: one stunning framed portrait of your precious baby holds far more value than a dozen plastic toys they’ll quickly outgrow. A drawer of obsolete smartphones takes up much-needed storage space, and newer tech is ready to buy at any time, but the newborn baby phase is truly fleeting and something you’ll want to immortalise forever.

I think it’s also important to note that while your camera roll will quickly fill up with snaps of your baby, professional newborn photography requires genuine expertise. Safe posing, proper positioning, and the artistry to capture your baby’s unique personality demand specialist knowledge and experience. You’re not just paying for photographs. You’re investing in safety, skill, and irreplaceable memories.

Preparation Meets Peace of Mind

The second and third trimester are the perfect window for this decluttering task. You’ll have the energy and motivation to get ready for your little one’s arrival, but still enough time to complete the process without any time pressure. Clearing the nest feels emotionally satisfying during this phase of your pregnancy, but there’s an added benefit of getting started early and that’s securing your preferred dates for your photography session.

Knowing your session is fully funded from the devices you no longer need means you can approach the experience with pure joy rather than financial stress. Your time to enjoy the experience with your newborn.

I’ve seen first-hand how much families treasure these portraits years down the line, and firmly believe that the unused technology we all have can be turned into timeless art. Visit my maternity and newborn gallery to see what your clutter can become, then get in touch to book your ideal dates before the calendar fills up. Those dusty devices are the pathway to preserving moments that will never come again.