The Difference Between Lifestyle and Studio Newborn Photography

Choosing what kind of newborn photography is right for your family can feel like a pretty big decision. For my families, I capture either lifestyle newborn sessions in their homes or a studio newborn session in my Saratoga Springs studio. I’ve also captured Fresh 48 sessions in the hospital for families, too. All sessions are equally beautiful, culminating in gorgeous timeless portraits to celebrate your little one’s arrival. But, they are certainly different too, and this guide will help you decide which style of newborn session is the best fit for your family.  

Studio Newborn Sessions in Saratoga Springs 

Studio newborn sessions are a bit more posed, and we'll capture family portraits on a neutral background, with minimal props. I’ve carefully cultivated a studio space that is relaxing and timeless, filled with simple props and adorable outfits, headbands, and wraps for your new baby. Your baby’s safety is of the utmost importance to me, so posing is baby led and I don’t do anything that might put your little one at risk. Capturing your family together for the first time with their newest member is the highlight of these sessions. Studio newborn sessions produce gorgeous classic imagery that is perfect in any home decor for display. I have everything ready and available for you (even an outfit for Mama or big sibling, too!), so they tend to be stress-free for the families in the studio. 

Lifestyle Newborn Sessions at Home 

Lifestyle sessions are a relaxed and intimate peek into your lives with a new baby at home.  I won't pose you, but I will guide you -- sit together on the bed, move in close, look down at your baby girl. My goal is to capture our family in the most relaxed setting to them: their home.  At home, a swaddle is our best friend and most of the images of your baby will be wrapped up snugly so that they sleep.  I won't be positioning them into any particular poses, and we'll really treat it as a very natural and unposed session. Lifestyle newborn sessions are also a great way to capture the space your baby is coming home to: their nursery, your living room, and special spaces you curated for them during your pregnancy. 

Still not sure which option sounds best for you? Here’s a few more questions to consider! 

We have a dog! Can he be in our session?

Definitely! Fur babies are a part of your family, and I know how important it is to include your fur baby alongside your new baby. I’ve found that pets are usually most comfortable at home, and I recommend a lifestyle session when we want to incorporate dogs into the portraits. This way they have easy access to head outside, burn off some energy, and then come back inside for portraits, and curl up in their safe space when they’re done.

My house is a mess. We can’t do lifestyle portraits there, right?

Don’t worry! Houses are meant to be lived in, and I tell all of my families that I fully expect to see dishes in the sink, burp rags on the tables, and laundry piled up somewhere. Life with a newborn is chaotic, and that naturally spills over into your home. You absolutely do not need to have everything pristine for your portrait session. Tidy up the nursery before I arrive, make the bed in the primary bedroom and clear off the nightstands, and if you have another spot in your home where you’d like to do photographs (maybe by a window that gets great light, or an interesting little nook in your home where you love the decor), tidy up that little corner. It doesn’t matter how much clutter is outside of the frame of the camera. We’ll capture you just as you are, and remove any distracting elements from the frame.

On the other hand, a lot of families love coming to the studio for exactly that reason! They know that cleaning their house is one less thing to worry about with a newborn, and I have everything in the studio to keep you comfortable and happy.

How old should my baby be for a studio or lifestyle newborn session?

We typically photograph babies in the studio around 2-3 weeks, and at home between 2-4 weeks. However, I am one of very few Saratoga Springs newborn photographers who also LOVE photographing older newborns, and I encourage families to come in with their babies that are 5-10 weeks old, too. At the older stage, your baby will be more alert and interactive, and less able to curl up in those sleepy poses, but we’ll still capture beautiful portraits celebrating your little one’s arrival into your family.

Now that you know which newborn session feels right for you, what's next?

Get in touch with your newborn photographer while you're still pregnant to schedule your newborn session. Most moms reach out during the second trimester. Newborn sessions are penciled in on the calendar based on your due date, and photographers only accept a certain number of due dates each month to give each family the flexibility in scheduling that they deserve. Then as soon as your baby arrives, tell your photographer so that they can set a date for your session!  Congratulations, this is such an exciting time! 

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