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. :)

Best Newborn Session Props

An experienced newborn photographer will know what props to use during your session to maximize and capture your baby’s fresh newborn cuteness. Props, in my opinion, are mostly there to support your baby in sweet poses, however they can also add to the aesthetic beauty of the overall image. If there are specific props that you want included, mention them to your newborn photographer so they can tailor the session for you.

My go to props are a shallow, wide bucket and a tiny baby bed. I’m partial to neutrals, so I love a white prop, or a natural or dark wood. You cannot go wrong with neutral colors, as they are timeless. I can get a wide variety of poses and angles using both of these props. They are also adorable additions to any session. Here are a few images using my favorite newborn posing props. The addition of different colors, layers and textures on top of the props completely changes the look of the images, and is a beautiful way to tailor the session to your client’s desires.

My newborn studio is stocked with a full inventory of layers, textures, colors, and props, and my clients are welcome to use anything they see during their session!

September 2018 (Newborn)

I had the pleasure of photographing this sweet baby and his lovely parents for his newborn session!  His daddy is a Dallas Cowboys' fan so we had to use some Dallas Cowboy newborn props.  We also used his father's wedding turban in the shoot which was really neat.  I am in love with photographing babies against a grey background, and loved how those photos turned out, particularly the images of baby sleeping sweetly on his hands.  

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

February 2018 (Newborn)

In-Home Newborn Session

I recently photographed this beautiful baby boy for his newborn session.  The newborn session was an in-home newborn session in my clients' home.  My clients and their beautiful new baby were all incredibly sweet, and the such a pleasure to photograph.  I loved so many of the images from this in-home newborn photography session.  Here are a few of my favorite photos of this beautiful baby boy, and his lovely parents:

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