It’s been over a dozen years of me photographing newborns. With this experience, I’ve had the opportunity to see the pros and cons of where you decide to have your newborn session. As most things with your photo shoot, it all comes down to personal preference, but I have some tips and experience that might help you choose between an in-home vs studio newborn session.

The In-Home Newborn Session

Let’s talk about the pros and cons to an in-home newborn session.

Pros:

• Personal spaces documented: If it’s important to you to have your nursery documented, you’ve recently moved into a new home, or you like those story-telling images. This is something to consider.
• Easy to include pets: If you have multiple pets, a cat that rarely comes out, or they’re unruly, staying home might be the best bet. Our studio is pet friendly, but not huge.
• Access to all of your things: self explanatory, but if you need anything from home, it’s right there.
• May be easier with siblings: You really have to know your kiddos for this one. Some kids behave better out of their space, and some don’t. Being at home allows for snacks from your own pantry, play time with your own toys and breaks in your child’s own spaces.
• No travel: We come to you!

Cons:

• Lighting may not be great: Many of the homes in our area are bungalows, or homes with not a lot of great natural light. That doesn’t make your session impossible, but it does dictate where we shoot in your home.
• Tidying of spaces is necessary: This is a HUGE one. We will be shooting in your nursery, master and living room at a minimum. There may also be rooms in your home that have great light that we shoot in. If you want storytelling images, we will be shooting all over your home, so the spaces NEED to be tidy. That doesn’t mean they have to be spic and span, but they must be free of clutter and mess.
• Less posted images of baby: If documenting this new little person in your life is of the utmost importance to you. I don’t recommend an in-home newborn session. We do not have the beanbag for posed shots of baby, details shots are not as likely and the session will really be more of a family session welcoming your new family member.
• Distracting for siblings: Again, this is why you need to know your kiddos. If being home will lead to endless snacks and watching of TV, it might not be the best bet.

The Studio Newborn Session

Now let’s discuss a studio newborn session and the pros and cons.

Pros:

• Beautiful lighting: The studio was created with this number one fact in mind. The images will be beautiful.
• No distractions for siblings: We do have a snack drawer and toys, but they won’t have endless access to all of their distractions at home.
• More posed images of baby: If you really love the individual shots of baby on the beanbag, detail shots, naked baby shots, this is the session for you.
• Endless wardrobe options: We will bring your top 5-6 favorite dresses to your home and coordinating things for kids if we do an in-home session, but in the studio, you have access to everything!
• Consistent look for photos: The studio will give you a more consistent look for your images, since they will all be shot in the same place.
• Just show up: There is no tidying needed here, you just show up!

Cons:

• Travel: Coming to the studio does require you to load up the crew and head our way.
• May be harder with pets: We LOVE pets in the studio, however, it is a small space, so if you have a large or unruly crew, it may not be the best fit. We do have a huge open field next to the studio for them to run in, but otherwise, an at home session may be best if they’re essential.
• Won’t have things from home: We have wardrobe, snacks, drinks, diapers, wipes, a bottle warmer, feminine products and as many things as I could think of that you may need, but we’re not home! So you will be missing some things if you opt for an in-home studio.
• May be harder with siblings: I have seen it go both ways. Sometimes kids do much better in a confined, new environment, and other times, they do better at home. Know your kids and do what you think would be best!

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.

Interested in working with us to capture your little one?