The Difference Between Lifestyle Newborn Sessions and Studio Newborn Sessions

Studio Newborn Sessions

If you are looking for a newborn session for your baby, you might be wondering whether a lifestyle session or a studio session is the right option for you and your family. A studio newborn session takes place in a photographer’s studio — in my case, my home studio on my first floor — and includes beautiful, artistic images of your baby and family. I incorporate a series of classic newborn poses and always follow baby’s lead to create natural, beautiful images of your baby. Some babies like to curl up one way, others are naturally more comfortable in other positions.

At-Home Lifestyle Newborn Sessions

Occasionally I do “lifestyle” images in my studio, but usually my newborn lifestyle sessions take place in your home. What is a lifestyle newborn session? My lifestyle newborn sessions focus on your family, in your space, and capture the sweetness — and sometimes chaos —of bringing a new life home! The sessions are relaxed, natural, and beautiful, capturing your family as you are. Instead of classic studio newborn poses, lifestyle sessions incorporate tons of baby snuggles. I might photograph you rocking baby in baby’s nursery, your family cuddling on the couch, or baby sleeping in their crib. I use natural light and elements of your home as a backdrop to the session. Your final gallery will include everything from quiet moments of snuggling baby to the excitement of older siblings, and even family pets are welcome to join in the fun!

Lighting Newborn sessions

A note about lighting newborn photography sessions. Whether I’m doing studio or lifestyle sessions, my goal is always soft, beautifully lit, natural images. In my studio, my light is always right, no matter if it is a cloudy day. In a client’s home, sometimes we need to be creative to find the right light. We might need to shift some furniture, and take images in a brightly lit living room instead of a nursery, for example, depending on the light. It takes a little bit of flexibility and creativity sometimes in lifestyle sessions, but I always find a way to get the precious images clients love.

Baby Only Images

I will always take some photographs of baby only, even in a lifestyle session. I like to start with baby in a simple white onesie or a swaddle. Though I don’t bring props to lifestyle sessions, I can always bring a few swaddles if you want a particular color included in your lifestyle session. If baby gets hungry or fussy, no problem! There is time to feed baby, and if you like, I can include images of baby nursing or bottle feeding, which are such sweet images.

more flexible timing

For studio sessions, I always recommend getting baby in for their session within 2 weeks. This is because after two weeks, baby tends to be waking up more and is less malleable and willing to be sleepily posed. For lifestyle sessions, we have more flexibility on timing because of the nature of the session: most of the session is casual cuddles and those can happen just as easily after two weeks, as they can within that fresh newborn period.

Is Lifestyle or studio newborn photography for you?

If you want a more casual, candid session incorporating elements of your home and lots of family images focusing on baby snuggles, then a lifestyle session in your home could be the right session for you. If you want the ease of arriving at a studio with only baby and some extra milk and relaxing as I work with your baby to capture classic, artistic newborn images, then a studio session could be the right session for you. They both are wonderful sessions, and both will result in beautiful images of your sweet baby.

Booking Your Newborn Session

To book your newborn session, or to reach out with questions contact Snow Pixie Photography! I’m always happy to chat with prospective clients, and can answer any questions you might have about whether a lifestyle session or a studio session is right for you!

What is the Potato Sack Pose for Newborns?

Potato Sack Pose is a funny name for one of the classic newborn poses in newborn photography. Many clients love this pose because you can get beautiful images of baby’s face, and it looks magical, having baby propped up like a little egg. When you are hiring a newborn photographer, you want to find someone with experience working with newborns and training in newborn safety. In this pose for example, baby is wrapped with three wraps to provide appropriate support. Additional support is placed around baby’s body and under baby’s elbows, and I always use a spotter (usually a parent) to be just out of camera range watching baby’s head closely. In addition to supports in this newborn pose, care has to be taken to make sure baby is not wrapped too tightly, that baby’s airway is not constricted in any way, and that baby does not get too warm. These are among the things I look for when I am working with babies during their newborn session and doing this pose. I’m going into my 7th year photographing babies, and newborn safety has always been of the utmost importance to me, followed by creating gorgeous images. :)

Newborn Hospital Sessions are Adorable!

I had never heard of “newborn photography” until I gave birth to my twins in a hospital in New York. The day after delivery, a photographer employed by the hospital knocked on the door to our room and asked if I wanted some photos of my new babies. I was delighted and agreed. The photographer took very simple, natural photos of my newborns. She placed them together, lightly swaddled by the white hospital sheets, and photographed them leaning into each other. Somehow, just a day after birth, she captured marvelous hints of their personalities, like my daughter’s sweetness and my son’s playfulness.

Those simple, natural, beautiful images are still some of my most favorite photographs, and I have them framed decorating my home. Looking at those photos, I remember how little my babies were when they were born. I remember the pumping and nursing, the sleeplessness, the magic and awe of holding them in my arms. It’s hard to believe they were once so tiny!

Because I treasure those photographs from my own hospital newborn session, I particularly enjoy capturing the day after birth for clients. Newborn sessions at the hospital are called “Fresh 48” sessions, because they capture your baby in the first 48 hours after birth. I focus on capturing the feel of those early hours, the closeness, the love, the tiredness and the beauty of those early moments. I like to focus on snuggles and tiny details like toes, fingers, and eyes. I capture your family together, including any visiting grandparents or siblings. I of course capture lots of parent/baby images.

I love Fresh 48 sessions so much! They last about 45 minutes to an hour, and I usually provide my clients between 50-90 unique images edited for exposure, color and contrast. If you are thinking of doing a Fresh 48 session, and have questions, feel free to reach out! Here are a few images from my most recent hospital newborn session. This gives clients an idea of what to expect in terms of style during my newborn sessions. As you can see, I keep things simple, organic, natural and beautiful during hospital newborn sessions — just like my clients.

February 2018 (Newborn)

Studio Session

I first met these lovely clients when I did their maternity photography session.  A short time later, their beautiful baby boy arrived, and I got to work with them again for his newborn session.  I held the newborn session in my studio, and like every baby of 2018 (so far!) he slept the entire session. I am on a sleeping newborn streak!  Some of my favorite images from the newborn session are of baby in the box, as well as the family images.  I used a natural flokati that I recently purchased from Rugs USA, and loved it!  

Austin Newborn Photographer

January 2018 (Newborn)

Studio Newborn Session / Two Weeks

I had the sweetest couple and their new baby girl in my studio for a newborn session.  In the last few months I have switched to holding all newborn sessions in my studio and I love it!   I have different sets ready for clients and clients get a choice of all of the props in my studio.  For this little baby girl, we styled her newborn session with pinks and whites, and because her mommy is a hair stylist we did one special fun set-up.  Can you guess which one?  Here are some of my favorite photos from their studio newborn photography session:

January 2018 (Newborn)

In-Home Newborn Session / Baby Boy

This in-home newborn session was so much fun and very special to me, because it was my nephew! I photographed this beautiful baby boy for his newborn session when he was just under two weeks of age.  The baby slept almost the entire newborn session.  I love so many of the images, but some of my favorites are the photos of the newborn against the charcoal background. I also love how the family photos turned out!  As a family photographer, I often hold family portrait sessions outdoors. However, I always include a few family photos as part of my newborn sessions, as I believe it is so special and beautiful to capture images of mom, dad, and baby during those first few weeks after birth.  Here are a few of my favorite photos from this newborn session:

Austin Newborn Photographer

May 2017 (Newborn)

I was delighted to come back and photograph this beautiful family for their baby boy's newborn session.  I had done their maternity session just a month before.  The baby was an angel.  He slept nearly the entire session, and I was able to capture beautiful posed images as well as sibling and family images.  His older sister was a rock star!  Patient, so loving with her new baby brother, and so sweet to work with.  Here are a few of my favorite images from their Newborn Session: