If you ever wondered what happens at a lifestyle newborn session, then this blog post is for you! Lifestyle newborn photography takes a more relaxed approach than typical posed newborn photography. Sessions are held in in the comfort of your family’s home. It puts the focus on not just your baby, but your entire family (even your furry babies!) It captures your home and your life as it is in this new season of life. That is about as special as it can be.
So, what exactly happens at a lifestyle newborn session?
Once you book your session with me, I send you Welcome Guide that goes over all of it. In it, I offer lots of tips, like what to wear, and what to expect.
Once I get to your home, the first thing I will do is take a walk around your home to find the “good light”. Usually the best spots are in the master bedroom, the living room, and if you have one – the nursery. But I’ve also taken photos in the kitchen, the front entryway, and have even gone outside on occasion! There are no hard and fast rules here. I am looking for well-lit areas.
Before your session, I will recommend certain areas in your home to “declutter” but if you haven’t been able to do that, no problem. With your permission, I may clear a nightstand or open the shades. And since babies don’t like to be cold, I may ask you to turn up the heat!
The General Flow
I like to start in the master bedroom. I can get many images here, starting with mom and dad on the bed together. If there are siblings or furry member of the family, they can join us here too. All of the images below were taken in the master bedroom.
The Nursery
From there, I like to move to the nursery, if there is one. The best and most special part about these types of newborn sessions, is they are showing you in the most special place there is: your home. The nursery, with all the details that you spent time on. I am able to photograph them all! New parents changing their baby’s diaper together is literally the sweetest thing I’ve ever seen.
If there isn’t a nursery, that is perfectly fine! You most likely have special little places that like to feed baby, rock baby, and change baby, and I am able to photograph them all.
A Word about Siblings
I usually try to get sibling and family photos right at the beginning of the shoot since big brother or sister may lose interest after time. If you’re worried how baby’s siblings will behave, keep in mind that they are already home with all of their favorite toys and snacks just down the hall!
A lifestyle newborn session is baby-led.
Remember all of my lifestyle newborn sessions are baby-led. If baby needs to eat, or be changed, it’s part of the session.
Lifestyle newborn sessions generally take a couple of hours. In that period of time, I am able to capture plenty of images of your new family showing all the love and connection in the most special place there is – your home.
