Hey mommas, let’s start with: Congratulations! You’ve done it, you just carried your little one for 9+ months and now it’s time to celebrate. On your list of things to do post-baby, besides survive, is probably to find the right photographer to capture your little. Researching a local photographer who fits your style can be stressful especially if you’re not sure what to look for. I’m going to bet as you’ve started Googling photographers you’ve come across some phrases like:

• Lifestyle Photography
• Fine Art Photography
• Portrait Photography
• Family Portraiture 
• Editorial Photography

There are so many different ways that a photographer brands themselves to help clients understand the style of photography they use. These phrases are great, but if you’re not sure what you’re looking for – it can feel a little overwhelming.

I’ve put together a blog that will help alleviate the stress of your search. So, pour yourself a glass of your favorite drink, because you deserve it, and keep reading to learn more about Lifestyle Newborn photography and if it’s the type of photography that’s right for you and your family.

What the heck is Lifestyle Newborn Photography?

Simply put, lifestyle newborn photography means that your photographer focuses on capturing the connection between you and baby in a more comfortable environment like a home. 

When we use the word lifestyle, we really want to capture you as is. Of course, there are different degrees of lifestyle – from a total journalistic point of view where the photographer is a fly on the wall to a more directed point of view, where you’re given prompts to help capture more natural moments, with candid reactions.

My approach has always been a happy mixture of candids that capture genuine reactions & prompts, that encourage natural interactions between subjects. (Of course, I layer in some classic portraits in there with big smiles for your mom to print!)

For example, I let your baby lead the session. If your little one comes in super sleepy and swaddled, then we are going to spend the first ten minutes capturing them cuddled up in a blanket – so we can document how small they are. This means we are photographing, hands, feet, little smiles, noses and all the features you don’t want to forget. If they get fussy and wake up, then bring out the food, momma! I’ll snap some photos of you feeding (with your permission) to capture a more candid moment between you two. Then we will move on to another prompt once baby is ready. 

Overall, for newborn sessions, lifestyle means less posed and more photos of you interacting with your mini. My goal for each lifestyle session is to make sure I am documenting your growing family authentically, but still ensuring you walk home with photos you feel confident and beautiful in. 

A lifestyle newborn session might the right fit for you if:

• You desire more natural and candid photos that focus on the connection between you and your baby
• You prefer less posing direction and want to focus on the snuggles, kisses and hugs that come from having a newborn
• You prefer a more minimal approach to photography – you enjoy photos that focus on the little details and emotions that come from being a new parent
  

A lifestyle newborn session might NOT be the right fit if you:

• Want photos that have traditional posing of baby sleeping, in a basket, a bucket or other stylized scenes 
• Want photos with lots of props and outfit changes to match different sets

When should I book a newborn session?

This is the beauty of lifestyle, I get mommas booking between 2-6 weeks. Oftentimes with more stylized and posed newborn photos – we want your baby to be very little, meaning 1-3 weeks since they sleep so much. 

But for lifestyle sessions it’s common to have babies be more alert. Parents will wait a little longer until they have more weight on them and have a better understanding of their sleep and food schedule before they want to take photos. Plus waiting a little longer gives you a little more time to heal and feel more comfortable.

How long is a lifestyle newborn session?

You can expect lifestyle newborn sessions to be roughly 90-minutes. We really let your baby mood dictate how fast or slow we go. I’ve found that an hour and a half is the magic number that allows us time to capture all the moments we want, while giving you time to feed or comfort the baby.

Should I book a studio or do it in my home?

Once again, the beauty of lifestyle! Location is truly up to you! If you don’t want to do a little tidying up post-birth, and want to remove the stress of having a clean home for photos – then book a studio. 

But if you’re ready to have guests over, then party at your house! For in-home sessions, you’ll want to do a few things like:

• Clear off counters
• Hide clutter
• Make sure your home get’s lot of natural light

For future clients, don’t worry – I have a list of local studios to work with or I have a short guide on how to prep your home to be photographed! I also only use lifestyle studios like the Creative Space Studios in Dublin or The Sunlight Space in Los Altos. These studios come with furniture to make the space feel like a home.

Final thoughts

If you could walk away with any piece of knowledge from this blog, let it be: a lifestyle session focuses on the connection between you and your baby, we’re documenting love. 
Looking for a lifestyle newborn photographer? Reach out to book now!