Newborn Photography

This is the type of photography I have in interest in. I think that this has became very popular in the last decade in my opinion. This photography interest me because of many reasons. First reason as being a mum I totally understand how you want to freeze the time and wanting you small innocent baby to grow up and you just wish that it could stay that tiny. So you want to do anything to freeze the time and capture those moments. As one night you might be sitting in your living room in about 10 years and looking back to when your baby was small and think about how the time flew.

There are two types of Newborn Photography – Posed and Lifestyle.

Posed newborn photography is more traditional. These images are usually of a baby (most often asleep) in poses on blankets or inside a props. This style typically uses backdrops and props and may also include studio lighting.

Lifestyle newborn photography, is a style of photography where the baby is in their own home or another location important to the family, not a studio. In lifestyle photography, the baby is photographed in natural settings and poses that the baby moves into unaided. The photographer will typically instruct the parents to interact with the baby in a certain spot and in a certain way, such as suggesting a bath.

Both studio and lifestyle photography can include family members. But a lifestyle photographer tends to place a bigger emphasis on interaction between the baby and the members of the family. The only props are what’s at hand, and there are no backdrops. Lighting is often ambient light. I think that is important that the photographer builds an relationship with the family in order to produce really amazing work that the family won’t forget the memories behind making them – the laughter, tears all of the emotions that comes with to being a new parent.

There are lots of things to consider when comparing the two.

The most important things as meeting client expectations is the key to successful business. Once clients expectation is met they will recommend you to friends and family leave a positive review. How do you determine this?

In most cases traditional posed newborn photography is more common but also expectations are based on family lifestyle. The most important thing for you do it is to research your area and talking with the parents that are expecting as this will help you to determine what your clients expects. Other way to find out what the client expect is to have a PORTFOLIO – which you can show to the client, showing images you took before but making sure that you include both types of posed and lifestyle newborn photographs as it makes the client to look at both and decide which type they would prefer. You could also discuss with the client about experimental style shoots to see which they would prefer – this would need you to discuss your plans ahead with your clients. Communication with the Client is very important.

Lifestyle is typically shot in the client’s home. This makes lifestyle newborn photography easier for new photographer who are starting out and don’t have a studio location.

Studio is more common for posed newborn photos, sometimes photographer will offer in-home session – this just means they will have cart along everything they will need to photograph the baby at the client’s home or at a different location, it also means that you are loosing control over the surroundings.

Lifestyle newborn photography favors natural positions for the baby, natural light is often preferred for these types of images too. The photographer may need to adjust where the baby and family members are in order to properly adjust the light with a window. Natural light’s softer qualities mix well with this type of photography.

Posed newborn photograph can use natural light or studio lighting. Some prefer the look of the window light while other recreate it with the studio lights for more control over the final result.

Props offers a sense of scale, this a very good way of showing of how tiny the person was when looking back. Posed newborn photography will have to supply their own props while lifestyle the props are what’s already available in the scene. They could photograph them in their own crib, on their parents bed or in the living room, the toys and items around the home will serve as props. Posed newborn photographers will have more props to buy and bring – which means they have more control over what exactly will be in the shot but the downfall of it that it can be very expensive.

Both can include the family members. Posed one tends to have several images of the infant alone with some poses with family. While Lifestyle photographer tends to have a stronger emphasis on the interaction. Photographing family cuddling together, giving the baby a bath or even feeding time. They can include the baby on its own but they tend to have more images with the family interaction.

Posed newborn photography can happen within the first two weeks are most photographers recommend in order to get them images the baby needs to be in deep sleep. Lifestyle doesn’t require a sleeping baby so this type of photography is more flexible.

Posed newborn photography is all about control – the lights, props, the set-ups and the pose while lifestyle photography is more go-with-the-flow type of imagery. Lifestyle photography whole idea is photographing the daily life of newborn – which this may mean that the have to face challenges like avoiding clutter in homes and working in limited light where studio photographers don’t face challenges like these.

This type of photography isn’t for everyone. You need to decide and determine your own style and balance that with the clients expectations. If you decide to use both styles you need communicate that well – as they both will need two different sessions – making sure that they clients understands. As they are two distinct styles that both capture a new person and a growing family.