Why You Should Do An In-Home Newborn Photo Session (Instead Of A Studio Session)

Thinking about doing newborn photos but not sure what type of session you want? In this post I’ll go over some reasons why I think a home session is the better option.

Newborn sessions in a studio can be really beautiful…the artificial light looks nice, the backgrounds are clean and pretty, the props are cute and whimsical, and the baby is posed perfectly. A studio session is great for people who want that posed, pretty, and perfect style.

A lifestyle newborn photo session at home can also be really beautiful (in my humble opinion, more so)…the natural light gives interesting shadows and highlights, the backgrounds are real and personal because it’s YOUR home, your baby is in your arms and in positions that are natural, and there is more connection between family members. Also…BONUS…you don’t have to leave the house! No packing everything up and taking your baby out (possibly in the cold) at one or two weeks old.

Some people prefer photos that are controlled, pretty, perfect, and contrived. I prefer authentic…and connected. Real emotions, real natural light, real poses, and real backgrounds. Real life. This is what I prefer, and if you prefer this too then you should definitely consider in-home lifestyle photos for your newborn and family.

Timing of your newborn session…

Let’s talk about time first. Usually, a session in a studio lasts at least 2 or 3 hours, sometimes up to 4 hours. That’s a long time taking photos with a newborn. Yes, there is downtime built into that…time for outfit changes and feeding, but it’s still a lot. I have never done a studio session, so I can’t speak to what exactly is involved, but I do know the sessions are LONG. And when you are on week 2 of having a newborn, are you really wanting to go sit in a studio while someone poses your sweet baby for 4 hours? No? I wouldn’t either. As a photographer, I don’t even want to be photographing anyone for that long to be perfectly honest. It’s one of the reasons I stopped shooting weddings (but that’s another story!).

My in-home lifestyle sessions are one hour. That’s it. I have finished newborn sessions in 45 minutes when the baby is perfect and everything goes according plan, and I have had some go for an hour and a half when the baby is really fussy and needs to eat. But mostly my sessions are an hour. And I get plenty of amazing shots…I guarantee a minimum of 75 but usually end up with more.

You don’t need more than an hour in my opinion…plus, after an hour I can usually tell that most families are over it. There is a point people get to where they are done with the session, and I can usually see that in their eyes and body language. Not to mention the fact that toddler siblings are usually totally over it within 30 minutes.

Lighting during your photo session…

I consider myself a natural light photographer. I use natural light from the sun and that means I need to know and understand how the light hits my subjects, the angles, the shadows, the highlights, and how it flatters or does not flatter my subject.

During my home sessions I look for the rooms with the best window light and do most of the shots in those areas. Most often the master bedroom, living room, and nursery. If they all have great light, I will use them all…if only one or two rooms do then I will mainly stay there. Don’t worry though, I move around and can get plenty of variety in one location.

For a studio session your photographer will set up lights. Some photographers are experts with lighting and really make it look like natural light. But for me, artificial light is just that…artificial. I just prefer the way natural light looks and behaves.

Background…

It’s very likely during a studio newborn session your baby will be on a bean bag with a pretty blanket and soft background. Or in a cute little box swaddled in cheesecloth with an outdoor scene as a background. Or in a little outfit and hat and bow tie with an all white background. Or sleeping on a crescent moon with a night sky as the background. Either way, there will be a background of some kind. It may be paper, material, or some fake scene…it will not be anything real though. Your baby will look so cute, don’t get me wrong…but it will just be your baby, props, and a background. In my opinion, your baby is cute enough on their own…they don’t need those backgrounds and props.

A session at home shows YOU. Your space…your bedroom, your furniture, your artwork, your wedding and family photos, the framed ultrasound photo of your baby on the dresser. The nursery with the rocking chair you have been spending so much time sitting in and rocking your little one. The books and toys you received at your baby shower, and the decor that you picked out just for your baby. It’s authentic and personal.

Some studios have beds and couches to use as props…but why use fake furniture when you can use your actual furniture in your own space? I will always prefer the authenticity of a home over a studio.

Posing Your Baby…

In a studio your baby will be posed. It’s important in most cases for the baby to be asleep so they can be easily manipulated and put into certain positions. Newborns are very flexible, especially when they are asleep. Getting the baby milk drunk so they are sleepy is a common practice, as well as using a heater to keep the baby warm. They will be put into positions where their legs are tucked under them and their heads are on their arms, or they will be swaddled with their feet up by their heads…or naked with their bottom in the air.

To me, this just doesn’t FEEL right. I feel like a newborn should be in their own natural positions or in a parents arms. Not alone and manipulated for 3-4 hours to be posed in different awkward positions.

My posing is easy and natural. I don’t care if the baby is asleep or awake. If the baby is ok on their own I will lay them on a bed or couch to grab some shots, but if they prefer to be held, that’s fine with me too. This is baby led posing and it’s my preferred way of photographing babies. I adapt my photography to what the baby wants to do.

A shoot at home also allows for all members of the family to be involved in most of the shots, or as many as each person wants to be. My goal is to get shots of the baby alone, baby with both parents together, baby with each parent separately, full family, and baby with siblings (together and each individually if they will allow it).

Feeling…

During an in home lifestyle shoot the emphasis is on family connection and interaction with the baby. I want to photograph you in your own space with your new baby in your arms, and I want to capture your new family and the life that you are currently living together....the love, connection, emotion, peace, quiet, struggle, messiness, noise, sleeplessness, and newness (is that a word?). All of it!

Some newborn photo shoots in the studio are just newborn, and some include family. Many times these images look overly posed and contrived to me. Whether the baby is on their own or with parents, I don’t get the feeling of connection, I just get feelings of fabricated perfection.

An important thing to ask yourself when deciding on what kind of session you want is how do you want your photographs to FEEL?

These are all things to take into consideration when booking a session. How do you want your newborn photos to feel? How do you want your BABY to feel during the session? How do YOU want to feel during the session? Do you want your whole family involved or just the baby? Do you want your personal items in the pictures or studio items? Do you want posed perfection or authenticity?

If I seem heavily biased when discussing in-home lifestyle sessions vs. studio sessions…it’s because I am! I’m not a fan of studio newborn shoots, and I much prefer the look and feel of a family in their home with their new baby. It’s real and beautiful. As I always say, all I need for amazing newborn pictures is a baby and some natural light.

Interested in learning more about my sessions or booking one? Click below!