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Almost every mother who wishes to capture the first days of life of their new baby asks the same question: should I pick an in-studio newborn session or an at home lifestyle newborn session? In order to help you, here is a recap of the advantages and disadvantages of both to help you decide which newborn session best suits your needs.
In-studio newborn session
An in-studio newborn session takes place at my studio in the 14 days following birth. Consequently, you have to travel to my workplace to get the photos done. Most of the time, the majority of the photos will be of the baby by themselves. They will be posed on a beanbag, on fake furs, in baskets or any other safe and appropriate prop. Moreover, your little one will be placed in adorable and safe positions while they are sleeping. For instance, they can be wrapped with their legs crossed or placed on their belly with their hands tucked under their head. I will also dress them in pants, rompers, hats and headbands created specifically for newborn sessions.
Since I will take care of the baby for a large part of the session, it’s the perfect occasion to relax a little! You can bring a movie, a book, magazines or even your pillow to nap 😉
Of course, it’s possible to do a few photos including parents and siblings if you want to! I keep the last 30 minutes of the appointment to create these minimalist-inspired family portraits.
Advantages:
- Your baby will be photographed in adorable positions you couldn’t achieve by yourself,
- You can use the various props and set-ups the photographer offers,
- Well-lit studio with ideal photography conditions,
- It’s one of the first occasions to relax after giving birth.
Disadvantages:
- Limited time window (the session has to take place before baby is 14 days old!),
- You need to travel to the studio,
- It isn’t recommended if you want various photos including the whole family.
Here are a few examples of in studio newborn sessions:
In-home lifestyle newborn session
The in-home lifestyle newborn session takes place at your home in the month following birth. I will travel to your house to do the photos. It’s preferable to do the session before the baby is two weeks old to avoid the annoying growth spurts. However, since no prop is used and because the baby won’t be posed, the age doesn’t matter as much.
The photos will take place in your environment, such as the main bedroom, the nursery, the living room, etc. We will mostly focus on photos where family members interact. For instance, the parents cuddling the baby or the siblings giving them kisses. Furthermore, you can invite grandparents if you wish to have memories with them as well. We can also include your pet in a few photos, as long as they’re not aggressive with strangers.
Since we will work in several rooms of your house, it is recommended to clean up before my arrival so we don’t see the mess in the photos, which can be difficult to do after welcoming your newest family member.
Advantages:
- Larger time window (you have until one month after birth),
- Photos including the whole family (possibility to include the grandparents and pets too!),
- The photographer travels to your home.
Disadvantages:
- No posed photos of the baby,
- No studio equipment used (ex: beanbag, backdrop, wooden crate, etc.),
- Photos are only possible in well-lit rooms of your house,
- Highly recommended to clean up your house before the session.
Here are a few examples of at home lifestyle newborn sessions:
No matter which decision you take, one thing is certain: both of these newborn sessions will leave you with wonderful souvenirs of your new baby!
Last update: February 2024
Would you like to book a session like this? Contact me at lisamarie.savard@yahoo.ca to do so!
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