I love photographing newborns! Babies grow and change so fast. They’ll only be this tiny once and for such a short time; it’s a gift to have these moments captured. I treasure all the photos I have of my babies, and my kids even love to look back at their own newborn pictures. They make great keepsakes for grandparents, aunts and uncles, and other special people in their lives too.

I recommend taking newborn photos when your baby is between 1-3 weeks old. I used to be a real stickler for getting them in as young as possible, but as I gained more experience, I discovered that “older” newborns do just fine, and sometimes even better than younger ones, so you can certainly time it for what works best for your family. 

I offer posed sessions in my studio and lifestyle sessions in your home. Each experience is unique, and it may be difficult to choose which one is right for you. Here are all the details to help you decide!

Lifestyle

A lifestyle session is all about capturing your life as it is right now with your newborn, even if it’s a bit chaotic. These sessions are generally more relaxed and less formal, and you’ll end up with photos that reflect the life and love you share in your home. My goal is to provide you with images that your children will look back on and see the thought that went into their nursery, how you rocked them in their glider, how their big brother or sister peeked into their crib. 

That being said, I’ve done lifestyle sessions for clients whose babies don’t have nurseries (some were getting ready to move, others were still getting them set up), and I adapt! There are two MUSTS to consider, however, when choosing which rooms will be our backdrop. Think about the natural light at the time of day we will be shooting. If there is a large tree right outside the nursery window that blocks out all the sun, the photos are not going to turn out well. Also, try to tidy up as much as possible. I know life with a newborn is busy and exhausting, but clutter can be distracting and difficult to shoot around. Feel free to shove things in a closet or a room we won’t be in – no judgment! 

While I definitely include older siblings (and pets) in photos with the baby, I also try to spend a little time with the big brothers and sisters to get some shots of just them. Toddlers are super fun to photograph in their natural surroundings; they’re comfortable and more of their personalities come out. I will capture details of the nursery as well. You won’t believe how quickly time will pass, and before you know it, you’ll be changing it to a big kid room. Plus, it’s a good use of my time while you change the baby into a new outfit, which I definitely recommend doing!

Check out my gallery of lifestyle newborn sessions by clicking here. 

Studio

A posed newborn session is all about the baby. Since I’m able to control the environment in my studio, mainly temperature and lighting, I get a wide variety of poses that capture the details of your newborn. They may be on a blanket, with a prop, or all wrapped up, but that little one is the focus of each image.

Posing newborns can be a challenge. Some babies hate being on their bellies, some love having their hands in their mouths all the time, some cry when you put little hats or headbands on their heads. Almost all of them love being wrapped up (even if they dislike the process of wrapping). Each baby’s temperament and preferences are different, so I always follow your baby’s lead when it comes to posing. While a little protesting as I move them is normal, your baby shouldn’t be screaming. If they’re really upset, I will stop what I’m doing and try something else, or hand the baby to you to feed or comfort if I’m unable to calm them myself. So while I can’t guarantee any particular pose for any particular baby, I’ve invested a lot of time learning about posing, safety, and soothing techniques that help us capture the best photos we can. 

I’ve also fine tuned a workflow and have some tricks up my sleeve to make this as stress-free as possible. One thing that leads to a sleepy newborn is a very warm room. If you choose a full session, which includes pictures with parents and/or siblings, I photograph those family poses first. You won’t want to take pictures after you’ve been sitting in a 80+ degree room for a few hours, but your baby will love it! Family and sibling photographs are included (and encouraged!) in my full newborn sessions.

Another key to a sleepy baby is a full belly. If we need to pause so that you can feed your little one, I encourage you to take your time and make sure they eat as much as they want. That’s why newborn sessions often take longer than regular sessions; I would rather be patient and let them eat than rush them and end up with a grumpy baby. You can expect to be here about 2-3 hours.

Check out my gallery of posed newborn sessions by clicking here. 

Please email me at joanna@joannarobbinsphotography.com with any questions or to schedule a session