Up until recently I have only offered Studio sessions for newborn baby shoots. I found that this made it a whole lot easier for me to get the room prepared to the correct heat for the baby, set up the backdrops and get all the props ready for all the different scenes I was going to photograph with that baby that day. This tended to work very well for parents who wanted to have a studio style set up for their photos.
However, just recently, there has been a real trend for parents to ask for “lifestyle newborn shoots” at their own homes. This is already very popular in America. Examples of these types of photos can not only be seen bellow, but there are plenty more on my “Lifestyle Newborn Photography” pinterest page too.
Lifestyle newborn portraits tend to capture more of the interactions between the parents and the baby in their own natural environment, their family home. If there are other siblings in the family then they are also photographed interacting with the new baby, with their parents as well as with each other. There is definitely more of a storytelling approach to this style of photography, than the traditional studio portrait sessions.
I have found that the comfort level of my clients tends to be much more relaxed in their own environment, which really shows in the final images. I allow the session to unfold naturally which yields images full of raw, genuine emotion. I may help Mum and Dad get comfortable on the bed or sofa, and get them into a position that allows me to shoot from a variety of angles, but once they’re ready, I try not to interfere. I always start out with a wide establishing shot that sets the tone of the story. Sometimes I shoot through a door, to create a sense of undisturbed candid observance. Few shots include direct eye contact, and the images flow like a story book.
Years from now, Mum and Dad will look at these photos, and be reminded of the sweetness of their newborn baby, those first cuddles, and their tender emotions. It may just be a short story of one lovely morning, but it’s a story that will be treasured for a lifetime.
Here’s the story of baby Jacob and his loving family.
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