What is Newborn Lifestyle Photography?
There are two different types of newborn photography. Posed newborn photography which is often achieved in a studio or a studio that is brought to your house by a photographer who offers those type of sessions or a Lifestyle Newborn Photography.
With posed newborn photography, newborns are posed using blankets, baskets and various wraps focusing mostly on newborns alone during the sessions. Those sessions typically take hours making sure the baby is sleeping so he or she can put into various positions. The newborns are carefully posed and then many of the images are created from composites (no, the baby is not holding its head up with her hands :))
With lifestyle photography, the aim is to capture real life moments of everyday. I get to witness daddy as he changes the baby’s diaper, mom as she breastfeeds or bottle feeds the baby, the big brother or sister running away and wanting nothing do do with their new sibling-haha or the dog or cat carefully sniffing the baby.
Here are the reasons why you lifestyle newborn session can work for your family:
Location
I come to you! To the comfort of your home. It is tough to get up and go to a studio once you delivery, especially if there is an older sibling involved. Since I come to you there is nothing for you to worry about. Because we are in your home, where your things are and where you are most comfortable. You can be yourself, you can change if the baby spits up on you. You can feed on demand if that’s what the baby wants, there is no rush as the session is led by the newborn. I will find the best light and the best area for us to photograph the session in. Although I prefer the natural light, I always come prepared with a flash and in all the photos you can’t even tell that one was used. The number one concern is always is “Oh no, we can’t do the session in our house. It is too small/it’s a mess/ I have toys everywhere/ we need a renovation as my place is just not pretty enough for photos” BUT…your home is beautiful. That’s the home to which you brought your baby. We get to photograph in your rooms, but we focus on the love of the baby and YOUR story. Your home story.
Time
With posed newborn photography the photoshoot HAS to take place in the first two weeks. Because they sleep and you need them to sleep in order to put them in all those positions. They can’t be held in mom or dad’s arms like in a lifestyle session. During my lifestyle session it does not make a difference if the baby is asleep or awake. We take the newborns lead, as long as they are happy and not crying we photograph the real beauty of this time in your life. I still prefer to photograph your baby during the first weeks of their life as they change so fast, but if you decide last minute on that newborn session we can still do it later. I’ve photographed a couple of sessions past the newborn mark, somewhere even close to the eight week mark.
Family
Another benefit to at-home lifestyle sessions is that your whole family is there. Not only the siblings, but the fur babies as well. I love photographing dogs and cats with the new family members because they are important part of your family as well, most of the time they were your first baby :) Let’s face it, taking small children to a photography studio is not fun, if they are very young usually they just want to play and not pose with their newborn siblings. Being at home lets them go play with their toys or take a break while we focus on the newborn.
Another very big reason to have your newborn session at home is grandparents. They often come over to help the family and I believe it is so important to get that photograph of them with their new grand-baby.
Details
I love capturing details. The tiny toes, hands, noses and lips. The blankets have a meaning for your family, that sports jersey that you put your baby in or that crib that the grandpa made. I love capturing these little special moments of you and your family.
One of the concerns that families have when I arrive to their house is “What do we do?”
It’s easy. Be you. Love on your family. The goal in any of my sessions is to create images of just the way you are. Your story, the story of your family. I want you to look back at your images 10 years from now and still feel that connection that will take you back to those sleepless but lovely nights and days when you first brought your baby home.
