Newborn Sessions: In-Home or Studio?

Jan 23

Deciding between an in-home or studio newborn session?

There are many factors that go into deciding which newborn session is best for you and your family. Both are very different so I thought it would be helpful to write about both newborn session options. I will start with in-home newborn sessions…

In-Home Newborn Session

In-home newborn sessions are more lifestyle-like and great for capturing the newborn and family in the home setting.

The photos taken in home will be very dynamic as we don’t stay in just one room. I usually capture family photos on a bed and/or sofa, take photos of the newborn in and around his or her nursery, and capture sibling interaction (if applicable). I do bring a basket/bowl or two to take individual photos of the newborn as well.

I have found that if siblings are involved that they may be more comfortable in their home. When the sibling isn’t being photographed, a parent may take them to a different area of the house to take a break.

An in-home newborn session may be a good choice for you if one or more of the following applies:

You prefer to be in the comfort of your own home
You want photos of the baby in his or her nursery
You have a child (or children) that may be more comfortable in their home environment
You like the look of lifestyle photography (versus posed with a plain backdrop)
You have a dog/pet that you’d like photographed with the baby and/or family

Below are some examples from in-home newborn sessions:

Studio Newborn Session

Studio newborn sessions are ideal for getting those posed newborn shots and classic photos with parents and baby with a plain backdrop. In my home studio, I have a newborn posing bean bag with a backdrop stand (it is too large to bring to a family’s home so it stays in the studio). Note, I will not have this set-up for newborn mini sessions as 1-hour is not enough time. Also, in order to accomplish posed bean bag shots, the baby needs to be between 6-12 days old. If the baby is beyond 2 weeks old, they are not as sleepy and may resist in getting in those posed positions.

A studio newborn session may be a good choice for you if one or more of the following applies:

You want to have the posed newborn shots (on a bean bag with backdrop as seen in the photo directly below). Note, this does not apply for newborn mini sessions.
You like the “studio-look” (plain backdrop/nothing in the background)
You don’t care to get photos of the baby’s nursery
You want to get out of your house ;)