Newborn Photography - Home or Studio Session?

If you've just had a baby and you're starting to look into newborn photography to capture those first precious sleepy, curly poses, you may be wondering whether to go for a studio session or have a newborn photographer come to your home. You may have already decided on one or the other, having had a recommendation from family or friends.

As a newborn photographer, I offer both mobile sessions and studio, which is my dining room turned into a home studio.  Hopefully I can offer some insight and help you make that decision.

The major choice of course is whether or not you want to leave the comfort bubble of home in the first few days of welcoming your baby into the world. 

Home / Mobile Session

You may still be in some discomfort or struggling to breastfeed or you may already be in a routine and have everything in hand, either way, everything you need is at home.  

Your photographer will turn up with lots of equipment which will take some time to set up, and they will also need a around two or three square metres to work in.  You may be asked if they can move some of the furniture.

You will need to keep the doors closed if there are draughts and to keep the room warm.  The heat is necessary to keep baby warm as he or she will be naked during the session.

Newborn sessions need to be quiet and calm so it helps if the TV and any other noise is kept to a minimum or off completely. If young children are present and not being photographed you may want to ask a friend or relative to take them for the duration of the session. 

Studio Session

You may wonder what to pack in your baby bag for a newborn session and what you can bring.  

You will need nappies and wipes. (You'll need these for both studio and home sessions.) Baby's nappy is removed for at least half a session but you may want to put one under baby's bottom during feeding, 'just in case'.  Putting a nappy on to feed would only wake the baby up again when taking it off and we want a calm settled baby for the session. I have known babies to go through five or six nappies this way.

Extra feeds / bottles. You will need these at both sessions. Whether you are breast or bottle feeding, be prepared to feed your baby more than usual.  Due to the heat in the room your baby may become thirsty or simply want a comfort feed because they are naked and a feed will help them to settle again.

Anything you wish your baby to be photographed in or with.  Photographers have a vast array of blankets and hats, bonnets etc so you shouldn't need to bring an outfit but you may have something special or a piece of jewellery that has special meaning that can be used somehow in the session.

Something for yourself!  Newborn photography sessions can last anywhere from two to four hours and sometimes even longer. If you aren't sat in the same room watching (sometimes in a small studio there won't be room for you to sit in and watch) you will need something to entertain you.  Bring a fully charged phone, iPad or book to read, or you could simply fall asleep which isn't unusual at the sessions, (I'm talking about the Dad's here really!)

A snack or two. If the session does last a while as mentioned above, you may become hungry. Sometimes coffee, water and biscuits are provided but not always. 

There is only one more thing to cover I think and that's whether there's a difference in the images.

Can you tell the difference?

To book a home or studio session, please contact me, Stacey, here or call or text on 07845501654 or by email