So you are expecting? Congratulations! You are about to embark on the most incredible rollercoaster journey you can imagine.
If you’ve discovered this post then chances are you are thinking about capturing some images of your new arrival? Great idea! Of course I’d say that, wouldn’t I? But honestly, yes it is. It’s such a cliche but babies grow up so incredibly quickly and before you know it, you’ll look back and wonder where those early days went.
But whether you are browsing Pintrest or doing a Google search, you will have discovered a plethora of newborn baby photographic styles and looks that can very quickly become overwhelming.
Let me help you out by walking you through two of the most popular and describing who they're perfect for:
What is Lifestyle Newborn Photography and how does it work?
Lifestyle newborn photography is where the baby is photographed in their natural surroundings, either at home or in another place that is meaningful to the family. The pictures capture the baby in whatever poses they are in at the time, whether that is awake or asleep, feeding or being changed. This can be with parents, siblings or grandparents or all of the above. Pictures are unfussy without the need for flash lighting and the photographer doesn’t need to handle the baby at all.
What you get from lifestyle newborn photography
You will get a gallery of images reflecting the baby within the wider family as it will incorporate the surroundings of where the baby lives. It will also capture the little moments of interaction and love that occur during the shoot. A lifestyle shoot can combine these interactions with some of the tiny details that vanish so quickly….the toes, eye lashes fingers and so on. It will be professionally edited but will retain a natural look that focuses on love and connections.
Who lifestyle newborn is right for
Lifestyle newborn photography is right for people who like natural images that reflect their family and personality. It also suits older babies who might object to being posed or families for whom a studio sounds like a terrifying idea and would rather stay in the comfort of their own home, particularly in the early days when routine is a dim and distant memory. It is great for families who want unfussy, laidback images that capture a moment in time.
Who lifestyle newborn isn’t right for
This style of photography won’t suit people who love a very stylised genre of photography and who want the really cute look of peaceful sleepy babies swaddled in blankets or delightful little outfits. It won’t suit people who would hate the more informal look of a baby awake on the bed or who want a very seasonal theme to their pictures (such as pumpkins for autumn babies or rabbits for Easter babies). It also wouldn’t suit people who want the almost magical, flawless skin that is a hallmark of a lot of posed photography
What is Posed Newborn Photography and how does it work?
Posed photography is, as the name suggests, posed. This means that the baby is posed using blankets or props and is usually asleep. These are more traditional images of the baby on their own, looking incredibly peaceful and calm, with creamy looking, flawless skin. Of course, the baby can’t pose themselves so this needs to be very controlled and takes a great amount of skill to achieve. It also needs the baby to be very peaceful, and very small and it needs a certain amount of kit. Sometimes photographers will do this in your home, but it is frequently done in a studio where the lighting is most consistent. View a selection of posed images on Pinterest
What you get from posed newborn photography
Posed photography will ensure that you get very traditional, stylised and cute results with a flawless finish. The photographer will be highly skilled at swaddling and posing newborn babies and will edit each image to produce a mystical creamy look to the skin, removing any blemishes. The result will be fine art perfect, flawless portraits
Who posed newborn is right for
If you like traditional images and have a clear idea of what you want your pictures to look like then this could be the genre for you. If you have some very significant props that you would like to be included (such as a helmet that makes up part of a parent’s uniform or a particular blanket you would like them swaddled in) or if you love those teeny-tiny cute images then again, then this could be the genre for you,
Babies can be older for a lifestyle shoot so that their personality is starting to shine through
Who posed newborn is not right for
Posed newborn photography probably isn’t for you if you want a more natural, candid style of photography where the main focus is the connection between you all; you can’t imagine being organised enough to get out of the house let alone spend time in a studio with a newborn; you would rather wait until the baby is slightly older and their personality is coming through; you want to include older siblings or yourselves in the pictures; you want the images to reflect the baby’s mood at the time, whether that is awake or asleep; you don’t like the idea of someone else handling your baby or you don’t think you could make it to a studio when with an under 2 week old.
So am I right for you?
I am a lifestyle newborn photographer who loves travelling all over Devon to meet newborn babies. I will come to your house and spend about an hour with you all capturing whatever happens at the time. I might suggest that you sit infront of a particular window if the light is especially lovely there, or move to a different room for a variety of looks, but otherwise, I’ll let you interact with your new baby as they want or need at the time, whether that’s sleeping, cuddling or feeding… Have a look at my portfolio to get a better sense of my style, or drop me a line and we can have a chat about it.
