Should I book a studio newborn session or an in-home lifestyle session?

Choosing a location for newborn photos

First things first: make sure your chosen photographer specializes in the type of session you're wanting! If you are set on a studio look, be sure your photographer has a studio location available and has experience with these types of sessions , and if you adore the in-home lifestyle look and want your house to be part of your memories, be sure you don't pick a photographer who has never navigated the changing light and challenges that can come working in homes! (Don't worry, we are experts in both types of newborn sessions - so you're in the right place if you're searching for a newborn photographer in Central Florida!)

Pro tip: Ask for examples of full galleries before hiring your photographer

Start with the end in mind

If you're envisioning a beautiful family portrait from your newborn session hung in your living room, the location and colors of your session make a huge difference! For a portrait that becomes part of your home decor, you want to carefully consider the location and background of your images. Studios often offer a clean, timeless look, while in-home sessions will have more story and home decor in the background. It's truly personal preference, and you can absolutely frame and hang in-home images as well as studio images, but it's one of those things you'll want to think through before choosing! Albums offer more flexibility in aesthetics and colors, because you're opening up a chapter to enjoy together, but the artwork isn't a part of your decor.

Considering siblings

If you have other children, and sibling photos are important to you, we should definitely consider them in your location choice! Some toddlers really bloom out of the house with new places + faces, while others will definitely do better in their own space. In both cases, they can take breaks with the other parent to have snacks, walk around, and relax. They definitely do not need to be "on" for your whole portrait session, and I know they have very limited attention spans and snap my camera quite quickly for family and sibling photos!

Decor+ Light

If you have your heart set on including your home decor, aesthetic, and favorite rooms in your newborn session, in-home is the obvious pick! Do send your photographer phone photos of your spaces before your session, so they can scope out the light and windows they'll be working with and decide if they need to bring additional lighting to supplement the natural light in your space. They can also suggest the optimal time of day for your home and the rooms you're aiming to capture. Keep in mind, sometimes the best light is in the living room (or sibling's room, kitchen, etc.), and I'll suggest taking the bulk of the portraits in the "good" light, while still capturing the details you're wanting in the nursery or other space you've decorated.

If you're leaning towards an in-home session, but your window light is very limited, furniture is all dark, walls are all dark, etc., it may be difficult to achieve the light-filled images you see here. When in doubt, send your photographer questions/photos of your home and you can decide together!

Our studio offers a clean, neutral palate with ample flattering light, so if you don't want to worry about tiding your space and navigating the light in your home, this is the best option and leads to a cohesive gallery of gorgeous images.

Carly Matthews is a Central Florida newborn and family photographer and mom of 4 with 5+ years professional photography experience in the motherhood space, specializing in maternity, fresh 48, newborn, and family sessions and professional printed artwork. She serves families across Central Florida including Winter Park, Lake Nona, Merritt Island, Viera, Rockledge, Melbourne, and Orlando.