Lifestyle or Posed Newborn Photography, what to Choose? Get the Best of Both Worlds

As a newborn photographer, I love creating a blend of posed and lifestyle photos right in the comfort of your home. An in-home session is such a wonderful way to capture both those sweet, candid family moments and the beautifully posed images we all adore. By bringing both styles together, we get the best of both worlds: the natural, relaxed moments that reflect real life, and the delicate, timeless poses that highlight just how tiny and precious your newborn is.

Here’s how these sessions come together and why I think you’ll love them.

What is a Combination Newborn Session?

A combination session allows me to capture your family in a way that’s both authentic and beautifully crafted. I bring a few essential props and wraps for posed shots, but we also focus on capturing you and your family in your own space, naturally interacting and enjoying time with your baby. It’s a wonderful balance, where we get to tell your story in a way that feels genuine while also creating those classic images of your little one that you’ll treasure forever.

Why Do an In-Home Session with Both Styles?

Having a newborn is an incredibly special time, and it goes by so quickly. With a combination session, you get both the coziness of lifestyle photos and the artistry of posed shots. Since we’re at your home, you get to relax without the pressure of transporting your baby to a studio. You’ll have your familiar surroundings, your nursery, and any little details that add a personal touch to the photos.

And while we capture some lifestyle moments of you all snuggling, rocking, or just being together, I’ll also create those posed, timeless portraits of your baby in a way that’s gentle and safe.

How It Works: Combining Lifestyle and Posed Moments

During the session, we’ll start with the lifestyle shots. I’ll capture you cuddling with your baby, siblings interacting, and little moments around the house—whether it’s in the nursery, on the bed, or even curled up on the living room couch. I love letting you just be yourselves in the photos, capturing those meaningful, real-life moments that are a part of your daily life.

Next, we’ll move on to the posed portraits. I’ll bring a few soft blankets, wraps, and maybe a basket or two, depending on what you’re comfortable with. I also bring professional lighting and backdrops to create those classic posed shots of your newborn. The lighting I use is soft and flattering, ensuring your baby looks their best, and the backdrops are simple and elegant, complementing your baby’s beauty without distraction.

I always ensure baby’s safety first, and I follow their lead, making adjustments based on their temperament and how they’re feeling.

Preparing for Your Session

Getting ready for a combination session is easy! Here are a few things to keep in mind:

• Choose Comfortable Outfits for Everyone: Soft, neutral colors work beautifully, both for posed and lifestyle images, as they don’t distract from the connection and details in each shot. You want to feel comfortable and cozy in whatever you’re wearing.

• Embrace Your Space: Don’t worry about making everything “perfect.” We’ll use the areas that mean the most to you—maybe the nursery, your bedroom, or the couch where you spend time as a family. These spaces add so much personality to your photos.

• Make It Cozy and Natural: I use natural light as much as possible, so if you have big windows, we’ll open them up to let that soft light in. It creates a beautiful glow for lifestyle photos and gives the posed portraits a soft, natural feel.

• Lighting and Backdrops for Posed Shots: For those timeless posed images, I’ll set up my professional lighting and backdrops to ensure the photos look perfect. You’ll get all the beauty of studio-quality images without having to leave your home.

  
  

  Capturing Both the Real and the Refined

  
  

The beauty of these sessions is that we get the best of both worlds. Lifestyle images capture your family as you are—the love, the connection, the little interactions. These photos feel real and true to your life. Meanwhile, the posed shots highlight the delicate features and unique personality of your newborn in a timeless way.

Whether your baby is wide awake or sound asleep, we’ll get a mix of expressions and moods. If your baby is more alert, we’ll capture those sweet, wide-eyed moments during the lifestyle portion. For the posed shots, we’ll work with gentle, calming techniques to encourage them to settle into peaceful, curled-up poses.

Tips for a Great Session

To help you get the most out of your session, here are a few helpful tips:

• Relax and Be Yourselves: The lifestyle part of the session is all about capturing you naturally. Don’t stress about looking perfect—just enjoy being together, and I’ll take care of the rest.

• Let the Moments Happen: Some of the best photos are the unplanned ones! Whether it’s a sibling giving baby a gentle touch or a sweet expression from your little one, I’m there to capture it.

• Timing is Everything: If possible, try to have baby fed and changed before the session starts. This helps us keep them comfortable and settled for both the lifestyle and posed shots.

Why a Combination Session is Perfect for Your Family

These sessions capture all the aspects of your newborn’s first days. Lifestyle shots give you a look at what this time feels like as a family, while posed shots capture those classic, beautifully crafted portraits of your baby alone. Together, they create a complete story of your family at this beautiful stage.

If you’re thinking about booking a newborn session, a combination of lifestyle and posed images might be the perfect way to capture your family. I bring everything to you, including professional lighting and backdrops, to create high-quality, beautiful portraits right in the comfort of your own home. Let’s make memories together that will last a lifetime.