Like many family portrait photographers, we started off capturing newborns with props, blankets, swaddles, and accessories galore.
Sophie loved the excuse for late-night shopping sprees on Etsy, and browsing antique stores soon became a weekly family outing. However, as we started getting more and more newborn bookings, we realized that something was missing for us.
We’re both go-with-the-flow personalities, and with the endless attention to styling and perfecting tiny details, they’d sadly become our least favorite sessions. We no longer felt that butterflies-in-our-tummies giddiness for newborn sessions, and we wanted to figure out how to get that feeling back!
We spent an afternoon reviewing our galleries and quickly realized that our favorite images were always the portraits of parents cradling their newborns. Duh, why hadn’t we realized this before?! Although they were posed, they still captured the intense love and emotions that totally takes your breath away. We both felt such a tenderness and sweetness in capturing this precious bond, and we decided that we wanted to focus on these moments.
So, we gradually shifted towards a more lifestyle approach, and honestly, we couldn’t be happier. Now we can’t wait for our next newborn session. Although we still take the time and effort to capture a few posed portraits, we spend most of our session capturing the interaction between parents and their brand-new bundle of joy. These are the portraits that have the most meaning to us, and we leave feeling fulfilled. We’ve definitely lost those clients that love the baskets and swaddles but we’ve opened doors to a whole new world of clients who share our appreciation for preserving the “story” of this special time. For anyone else who’s been thinking of dabbling in a lifestyle approach to newborn photography, we thought it might be nice to share some of our personal insight.
First off, there’s no better place to create precious memories than a home filled with the love and excitement of a brand new baby. We’ve also found that the comfort level of our clients tends to be much more relaxed in their own environment, which really shows in the final images. Not to mention, parents have spent so much time and effort perfecting their baby’s nursery and it’s a pity not to feature all of the adorable details. I enjoy finding creative ways to incorporate home décor, nursery accents, and family memorabilia to really personalize the portraits.
We allow the session to unfold naturally which yields images full of raw, genuine emotion. We may help Mom and Dad get comfortable on the sofa, and get them into a position that allows me to shoot from a variety of angles, but once they’re set, we don’t interfere.
As in cinematography, I always start out with a wide establishing shot that sets the tone of the story. Sometimes I shoot through a door, or closet, to create a sense of undisturbed observance (fancy word for a simple concept). Few shots include direct eye contact, and the images flow like a story.
I love to capture the same moment from different angles. With unique crops and perspectives, the possibilities are endless. For example, if baby is lying in the crib, I’ll shoot on eye-level through the bars, top-down through the crib mobile, and even a wide-angle portrait through the chandelier. If Mom is feeding her baby in the nursery, I’ll shoot wide-angle to include the setting, and close-up to capture the emotions.
If parents are having an intimate moment of cuddling their baby on the sofa, I love to have a bouquet of flowers or cute home accent in the foreground to add depth. I also like to shoot over the shoulder to capture the parents’ view of their sweet newborn. This is usually a great time to switch to my macro lens for close-ups of tiny toes, little fingernails, and feathery eyelashes. Yet another favorite technique is shooting a mirrored reflection of an intimate moment. This often works beautifully for portraits in Mom and Dad’s bedroom. It’s almost as if we’re “peeking” into our clients’ lives to capture those natural, candid moments that hold so much meaning.
Years from now, Mom and Dad will look at these photos, and be reminded of the sweetness of their newborn baby, those first cuddles, and their tender emotions. It may just be a short story of one lovely afternoon, but it’s a story that will be treasured for a lifetime.
These are absolutely gorgeous Michael! What I wouldn't give to have had a session like this done when my girls were born. Thank you so much for sharing what you have learned!
Stunning work.
Gorgeous work (gorgeous family, too!) and wonderful tips! Thank you so much for sharing with us, Michael!
These are gorgeous pieces of art! Thanks so much for taking the time to share.
GORGEOUS, Michael! Your ideas and tips on creating different perspectives are fabulous but your use of light is fantastic too. What a great blog post!
Gorgeous work Michael!! Thanks for sharing with us! 🙂
beautiful family and images.
Love it! Thanks for posting your own journey into lifestyle newborns. Definitely something I want to strive toward as I too am feeling less than satisfied with only providing prop/basket/blanket type shots at my newborn sessions.
This is so beautiful that it is mind blowing. I am really new to taking photos, but I am actually seriously considering doing photography on the side once the kids are in school. I actually have a two year getting ready to go into business 'fantasy' plan — probably only a dream that keeps me reading, studying, and fantasizing every spare moment I have. The only reason I am saying this is that seeing this post is a game changer for me. I had an idea of what I wanted to do and the reason I wanted to do it but I wasn't sure how to accomplish or fulfill that goal. This makes sense to me. This is the embodiment of what I want to capture. Before, there was so much information and styles to study. So, at least, now I have a name and a style to study up on — which is information I didn't have before seeing this. Thank you!
amazing shots. insightful article.
beautiful images & thanks for sharing all of this information on lifestyle sessions!!
Love the lightening and all the tips – fab!
absolutely breathtaking work!! huge fan of yours, Michael.
This is EXACTLY the type of photography work I love and love to do for others. Thank you for the article. Now I just need to find clients that like this too.
These are beautiful!
Just beautiful! Thank you so much for sharing!
Thank you for a timely post as my friend just had her baby and wants me to do her photos!
Gorgeous and inspiring!!
I love the photos, however whenever I do a newborn shoot at someone's house, their house is a mess (as my own was immediately after having a baby), the lighting is poor, and no one's house is so stylishly decorated. But when all these elements are just right, it's definitely fantastic.
Very refreshing. Beautiful picutres.
wow…..just stunning images, and awesome tips! I love your perspectives and angles!
These images are AMAZING. They just make my heart swell! Thank you for sharing, Michael!
i love your philosophy about your approach, and your images are absolutely stunning! thanks for sharing with us, michael!
This post was exactly what I needed to read. I've been on the fence if I wanted to really get into newborn photography and pursue that as my focus. There was always something nagging at me a little about the posed shots on a bean bag. Don't get me wrong, still adorable, but I didn't know if it was really MY style and the direction I wanted to go. Although the client wants what they want I still need to do what inspires me and pushes me to grow. I don't have a lot of experience with newborn photography…yet…but this post has given me the motivation and encouragement that while newborn photography is still the direction I want to head—-props don't need to be my sole focus and I love the organic feel of not relying on them.
these images are STUNNING!!!
Wow, thank you for this post. First of all, I love these images. So pure and raw and real.
Second, you just help me to believe that it was OK that I am not in love with newborn photography. Well, not the posed baby-in-basket type. I never look forward to these sessions, however when a client is asking for more of a lifestyle approach, I relax and enjoy it.
I always thought I had to do both and have been at the point of deciding whether or not to just say I do not do them at all. My husband thinks I am too “new” to do this, as most newborn sessions turn into later clients and I do agree.
However, after reading your post I feel better now and think I will only offer a lifestyle approach to newborns. And that is ok!
Thank you
thank you so much for this…beautiful moments you captured.
Beautiful work. I myself prefer the more relaxed style of newborn photography. I’ve never felt comfortable dressing babies up in hats that are not their own or trying to get them to sleep just to put in a perfect pose. I’ve not shot as wide as you have done here, so its given me some great ideas. Thanks.
Hi, I just love this session. Do you us Lightroom or photoshop to create this worm golden edit?
wow. great work. just loved it
lifestyle blog
Riya jain