Choosing between an in-home vs studio newborn session can feel a little challenging as you get ready to welcome your new baby. I’m going to share a bit of my experience to help you choose what might be the best fit! 

While the first choice for my clients used to be in-home sessions, more and more clients are now opting for studio newborn sessions. Each type of session has its pros and cons, it’s all about choosing the best fit for you and your family. 

Be sure to read all the way through the post to see the gallery for comparisons. 

The In-Home Newborn Session

In-home newborn sessions are great if you want a personalized, very relaxed feel to your images. In-home sessions allow us to photograph you and your new baby where you’re most comfortable. It captures both your style and living space.

Choosing Your Space 

Typically with an in-home session, we shoot in the nursery, main bedroom, and occasionally in the living room or outside. We will usually go where the light is. We can shoot in another bedroom if the main bedroom isn’t well-lit with a neutral background.

I will also always ask you if there are specific aspects of the nursery you love most. Often, new moms spend hours planning the perfect nursery; I want to ensure we document those details.

Including Your Pets

These sessions are also great if you choose to include pets. They are in familiar surroundings and can access all their things and their own yard.

In-home newborn sessions usually include mainly family images and fewer images of babies alone. Therefore, any images of baby will typically be on a white blanket. This requires very simple, basic posing and leads to more of a lifestyle look for the images.

Skip The Travel

In-home sessions are also a great fit if you want to avoid traveling for your sessions. Keep in mind a travel fee may apply.

If you have siblings joining the session, some parents find it easier to be at home. It allows you to bring the kids in and out of the session as needed and will enable them to have access to their favorite snacks and toys. Plus, they can take easy breaks throughout.

Preparing Your Space

Lastly, I stress to my clients not to panic about the state of their homes. A simple tidying/de-cluttering is all you need. Focus specifically on the nursery, main bedroom, or whichever main room we use. This means clearing-off nightstands, picking up baby litter, etc.

Here’s a classic pros and cons list:

The Studio Newborn Session

In-studio sessions are a great fit if you want a clean, simple, classic look to your images. If you’re doing multiple sessions with me, it will also ensure a consistent and bright look. Our studio is “plain” and white for a reason. There’s beautiful light and no distractions. With in-studio sessions, we really want to keep the focus on the subjects, you and your family!

Preparing For Your Studio Session

We have all of the things you might need for your baby here. We supply diapers, wipes, burp clothes, a bottle warmer, a lounger, and toys while you’re in the studio. There are also snacks and drinks for siblings and mom and dad. Our goal is for the studio to really feel like a home away from home. We want each of our guests to feel comfortable and welcome.

Wardrobe 

At the studio, there are also endless options to choose from in the studio wardrobe. You aren’t limited to just what you brought for your session. This can be helpful if we need to look at other options to style the whole family.

Including Pets 

As mentioned above, pets are always welcome at sessions and can be brought to the studio as well! We LOVE to photograph your fur babies and know the importance of including them in the session. We just ask that you be mindful of the limited space we have and the length of your session.

Including Your Older Kids 

While some parents find it easier to have a session at home when siblings are involved, others find the studio easier. There are fewer distractions, and it’s a new atmosphere, which will keep their attention for longer. It’s also a new place and person, which tends to have them on their best behavior, at least for a little while! We have plenty of toys for them to play with and snacks to keep them happy!

No Cleaning Required 

The most common reason, aside from the lighting, clients choose the studio is that all they have to do is show up! There is no cleaning that needs to be done, no messes that need to be stuffed away, and no prep to be done aside from packing up to get there!

Let’s take a look at the pros and cons:

To check out a full session from both an in-home newborn session, as well as a studio session, please CLICK HERE. This is a great way to see the difference between an in-home vs studio newborn session.

To read more helpful articles, please check out the studio blog post category.