Lifestyle Newborn Photography vs. Studio Newborn Photography: Which One is Best for You?

Welcoming a new baby is one of the most special moments in life, and as a new parent, you want to preserve those fleeting early days forever. They really do go by so fast! Whether you choose a lifestyle newborn photography session in the comfort of your home or a session in my natural light studio, we’ll capture those precious moments so that you’ll always remember them. But how do you decide which type of session is right for you? Let’s break it down and compare lifestyle newborn photography with a session in my natural light Camarillo photography studio, so that you can see which is the best fit for your family.

What is Lifestyle Newborn Photography?

Lifestyle newborn photography is a style of photo session that focuses on capturing real, candid moments in a natural and relaxed environment. It’s all about telling the story of your family as you navigate the early days with your new baby. Unlike studio photography, lifestyle newborn photography tends to have a more documentary feel, with images taken in your home, and without props. The goal is to showcase the beauty of the new addition to the family in the setting where they’ll grow up—your home.

This style of photography focuses on capturing natural moments between you, your newborn, and your family in your own environment. It’s not about perfectly staged or overly posed photos. Instead, lifestyle newborn photography highlights the love and connection within your family, as well as the intimate, everyday moments that come with welcoming a new baby.

What to Expect from a Lifestyle Newborn Photography Session

A lifestyle newborn photography session in your home will be different from a studio session in many ways. One of the biggest differences is the level of personalization. Since the session takes place in your home, you’ll be surrounded by the environment that is meaningful to you and your family. 

Lifestyle newborn photography sessions are relaxed and stress-free. There’s no rush to get things done quickly, and the goal is to let everyone relax and feel at ease while we capture sweet moments with your new little one. You’ll get images of your newborn interacting with parents and siblings (if applicable) in the nursery, living room, or other parts of the home. These photos will reflect the warmth and emotion of those first few weeks.

Some of the moments that may be captured include:

• Parents snuggling with the baby
• Siblings holding/snuggling with their new brother or sister
• Little details like tiny toes, lips, and eyelashes
• Sweet items like your favorite baby blanket or a rattle that was received as a gift
• Quiet moments spent snuggling or feeding
• Photos of the nursery that you spent the last nine months lovingly decorating

The Benefits of Lifestyle Newborn Photography

Choosing a lifestyle newborn photography session comes with a host of benefits, especially if you’re looking for something more intimate and reflective of your family’s personal style.

1. Personalized and Meaningful Setting

A lifestyle newborn photography session is unique because it takes place in your home, where you and your baby spend most of your time. Your home will be prominently featured in the photographs, adding layers of meaning and emotion. Whether you have a cozy nursery, a living room where you cuddle up, or a bright, sunny window nook, the photos will capture the spaces that are most important to you.

2. Natural, Candid Moments

Lifestyle newborn photography is all about embracing real life, un-posed moments with your new addition.  We won’t be focusing on perfect poses. Instead, we’ll document you and your family as you interact with your newborn in natural ways—the baby laying in his or her crib, a quiet moment during a feeding, a sweet nose nuzzle from dad. The beauty of lifestyle photography is that it’s often the unscripted moments that capture the most emotion.

3. Comfort and Familiarity

Since the session is in your home, you’ll be in a comfortable, familiar environment. This is especially important for older siblings who may feel more at ease in their own space. This comfort often leads to authentic, beautiful photographs.

4. Flexible Scheduling

Unlike studio sessions that incorporate more sleepy, curled up poses that require the session to take place within the baby’s first two weeks of life, lifestyle newborn sessions offer more flexibility. Your baby can be older (any age, really!), so we won’t have to worry about getting the session scheduled right away. This is a great option if you didn’t schedule a newborn session before the baby arrived, as it may be difficult to get a session on the books if you hadn’t reserved one beforehand.

How Does a Lifestyle Newborn Session Differ from a Studio Newborn Session?

While both lifestyle and studio newborn sessions capture beautiful, timeless memories, the approaches are quite different. Let’s chat about the major differences between these two types of photo sessions:

1. Location

The most obvious difference is the location of the session. A studio session takes place in my natural light studio in Camarillo, where I’m able to control everything for the best possible lighting scenario, and the most optimal environment to make the baby sleepy and cozy.  In the studio I’m able to keep the space warm, and props and other items are close at hand. Conversely, a lifestyle newborn session takes place in your home, where the setting is more natural and personal. The photos will reflect the unique spaces where your family interacts with your new baby, such as the nursery, the living room, or the bedroom.

2. Styling and Posing

Studio newborn sessions often involve more styling and posing of both the baby and parents. Newborns are typically sleepy and curled up in sweet poses, and I also usually swaddle babies for a portion of the session. With lifestyle newborn photography, however, things tend to be more relaxed and spontaneous. The emphasis is placed on natural moments and authentic connections rather than on posed photos or the use of props. Your home and family are the stars of the show, rather than the studio backdrop, and the baby doesn’t need to be asleep for this to happen.

3. Natural Light

One of the biggest factors in lifestyle newborn photography is the use of natural light. Since the session takes place in your home, we’ll focus on areas with ample natural light, like windows or doors that allow soft light to filter in. If you don’t have ample natural light in your home, a studio session is a better choice for your session. In my studio, I have perfect and beautiful natural light and you can see this work in my portfolio. The photos tend to have a dreamy, organic feel.

4. Time and Pace

Lifestyle newborn sessions tend to be shorter than studio sessions. Since it doesn’t matter if the baby is awake or asleep during these sessions, we can start the session right away without waiting for the baby to fall asleep.  Lifestyle newborn photography sessions typically take about an hour, where as studio sessions can take two hours or more.

How to Prepare for an In-Home Lifestyle Session

Preparing for a lifestyle newborn photo session in your home is a little different than preparing for a studio session. Here are a few tips to ensure that your session goes smoothly and results in the beautiful photographs you’ve envisioned:

1. Make Sure There’s Plenty of Natural Light

Lifestyle newborn sessions rely heavily on natural light, so it’s essential to make sure your home has ample light in the areas where the photos will take place. Ideally, we’ll want to take the photos near big windows, open doors, or other areas where sunlight can pour in. If you’re concerned about the lighting I’ll have you send me some photos of your home so that I can make sure there will be enough to properly light the images.  If not, I’ll recommend a studio session instead.

2. Tidy Up the Space

Since your home will be heavily featured in the photos, take a little time to tidy up the rooms where the session will take place. You don’t need to make your house perfect, but removing clutter from the background can help focus the attention on your family and the newborn. Keep the areas around the nursery, living room, or wherever the session will take place clean and simple.

3. Choose Simple, Neutral Clothing

For a timeless, classic look it’s best to dress in neutral tones, soft pastels, or earthy colors. Avoid clothes with logos, busy patterns, or bright colors that can distract from the natural beauty of the images. Comfort is key, so choose outfits that make you feel relaxed and at ease during the session.

Take a peek at a Pinterest Board that I created for some inspiration on what to wear for a lifestyle newborn session.

4. Don’t Forget the Little Details

While lifestyle newborn photography tends to focus on natural, candid moments, the little details matter too. Don’t forget to include meaningful items such as the baby’s favorite blanket, sentimental items, or any family heirlooms that you want to incorporate into the session.

Final Thoughts

Both lifestyle newborn photography and studio newborn photography are incredible ways to capture the beauty and emotion of welcoming a new baby. The choice ultimately comes down to your preferences and what you’re looking for in your photos. If you want an intimate, personalized session that captures the real-life moments of your family, a lifestyle newborn photo session in your home may be the perfect choice for you. However, if you prefer a more traditional styled session with a sleepy posed baby, a studio session is the way to go.

No matter what, these precious moments are worth capturing in a way that feels true to your family’s story. And as a photographer who specializes in natural light studio and lifestyle newborn sessions, I’m here to help you make those memories last a lifetime!

lifestyle newborn photography

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Daniele Rose has been photographing newborns and their families for over 18 years. She is the established Los Angeles newborn photographer for busy moms looking for organic and heartfelt images of the first days with their new little ones. She is currently reserving newborn sessions for 2025. If you would like to reserve your Los Angeles newborn photography session, please contact Daniele below.