Posed vs. Lifestyle
There’s a big difference between posed and lifestyle, not just in the resulting images, but also in the whole mood of the session. Posed newborn photography is what I specialize in; it takes place at my studio, using my lighting, my props, and my styling. I think posed newborns are what most people think of when they hear “newborn photography.” Babies are squished into wraps and props and look cozy and snug as a bug. Lifestyle photography is more about documenting your regular life. Lifestyle newborn sessions generally take place in your home, mostly baby’s nursery and occasionally your bedroom and living room. It’s done using natural light and captures the time you spend together at home in a natural and authentic way.
Props or No Props
The other main difference between posed and lifestyle newborn photography is the use of props. Posed newborn photography relies on buckets and baskets and beds to support a newborn in ways that they otherwise wouldn’t be able to be posed. I would never put a newborn in a basket without just the right combination of pillows and stuffers and wrapped tight enough to support their necks. With lifestyle photography, newborns are mainly laid in their own crib, or being held naturally by mom and dad.
My Style vs. Your Style
Finally, the most significant difference comes down to styling. If we’re shooting in your home, I’m subject to your style and color choices. If your walls are dark red and covered in artwork (yay!) but it’s also going to make it difficult for me create clean images where baby is the focus. In my studio, I am able to control the lighting, the colors, the focus much more effectively. Don’t get me wrong, I am still going to create a custom session to fit seamlessly into that dark red wall full of artwork, but in a way that I have more artistic control over.
The Choice is Yours
Ultimately, of course, it’s all up to you, the client. I specialize in posed newborn photography because I like posing babies and wrapping them up and making them the focus of the images. If you prefer a more documentary style of photography, then we can do that too. Neither one is better than the other, so the choice is completely yours! Whatever you decide will result in beautiful keepsake images and heirloom products you can pass down for generations.
