I am sure you have heard many times that newborn sessions must be scheduled within 7-14 days of birth. This may be true for some, but not every baby has to be photographed in that rigid time frame. There are different types of newborn photography and they all have different guidelines. Today, I am going to break down some of those differences.

Propped Sessions

Propped sessions require newborns to be asleep so they can be propped and posed in various positions. Babies tend to be their groggiest within those first ten days, which is why it is ideal to schedule baby’s first photos in that time frame. To safely and properly pose a baby into an aesthetically pleasing pose, that baby needs to be in a deep sleep. Babies tend to be alert and very aware of the world after this time, making it difficult to pose. Additionally, if you want to use all of the cute props and outfits, your little one is more likely to fit into them at that stage. As you know, some babies grow super fast in the first few weeks.

In Home Lifestyle Sessions

These sessions are family centered, which means most of what your photographer will capture will be of families holding the baby and interacting with their little one in some way. The baby DOES NOT have to be asleep for any of these photos. Your precious one should be happy, calm and content being held, which makes it far easier and stress free to capture images. I personally love when your little bundle of joy is awake because it allows for more connected images. The portraits of the baby tend to be taken in a natural way during this type of session. Most of the time, the baby is swaddled, laying in a crib or loosely draped in blankets, all of these images do not require him to be asleep.

When can Lifestyle Sessions be Scheduled

Because of the aforementioned reasons, the in home session can be scheduled at any point within the first month. I have even scheduled these just past the mark at 6-8 weeks. Ideally, I like to schedule these anywhere between 10-18 days, but have done them at various other stages. This time frame allows moms to heal before the session, allows older siblings to get acclimated to the baby and allows you all to settle into a slight routine prior to the session.

Recent In Home Newborn Session

This recent in home newborn session with the most beautiful little baby boy is a perfect example of why it is totally fine to wait to schedule your newborn session. He was just three and a half weeks old at the time of the session. He was completely alert throughout the duration of the session. As I mentioned before, I love when babies are awake because I can capture all of those gorgeous wide eyed shots. Just look at this little boy’s gorgeous eyes!

How Much Natural Light Does Your Home Need?

I also love this particular session because it is a great example of natural lighting. I rely solely on natural lighting for all in home sessions. All of the overhead lights are turned off and I do not bring my studio lighting equipment. Often times, my clients tell me they are worried that their home does not have enough natural light to properly capture their baby’s first moments. To combat this fear, I always have clients send me photos of their home during their pre session consult. At this time, I am able to gauge the light in the home and get a game plan together. In the event the home will not work, I have a lifestyle studio that can be used as a backup location. In my decade long career of photographing countless babies, I have only had to do this twice and it was because there were not windows available to provide that beautiful light.

For example, during this session, we spent the duration of the session in the master bedroom on the top floor. There was a beautiful large window next to the bed that provided ample light for family portraits and lifestyle portraits of the baby swaddled on the bed.

Optional Propped Photos

Although I capture a multitude of solo images of babies, some clients still want propped images. I offer a propped add on to my in home newborn sessions. It allows for extra time for propped images. The propped images do require the baby to be asleep, but the baby is propped in a very comfortable and natural way that does not require a deep sleep. If you want to add the propped images, you should schedule the session within the first 7-10 days.

More Lighting Information

Although this home did not have as much natural light as other homes, I was still able to use other areas of the home besides the bedroom. For example, we used the foyer of the home for the propped photos and I relied on the light coming in from the front door. Although the beautiful living room area was extremely dark, I still wanted to use this room because it had so much personality. The images do have a moodier look, but it was perfect for the final images of the day. These photos rounded out the galley nicely and captured the mood of that particular moment. I also like that it captures a but more of their home as the backdrop.

Still Not Convinced Your Home is Right?

As you can see, we don’t need tons of space for your session. There are truly so many ways to get creative during an in home newborn session. Remember, the focus of this session is on your love and bond with your baby. Here are some more images from this recent session.

If you are interested in an in home or studio newborn session, contact me.