Studio or In-Home Newborn Photography: Which Session Is Right for You?

NewbornStudio Brae

Nov 26

The first few weeks with your newborn are some of the most sacred - sleepy snuggles, tiny yawns, milk-drunk smiles, and that new baby smell you wish you could bottle up forever. It’s such a short season, but one you’ll want to remember with more than just iPhone photos between feedings.

When it comes to professional newborn photography, one of the first decisions parents make is where to do their session - in the studio or in the comfort of their home. Both offer something beautiful, but they each create a very different experience and style of imagery.

Let’s break down the differences so you can decide what feels right for your family.

Studio Newborn Sessions

Studio sessions are peaceful, minimal, and distraction-free.
They’re designed to highlight the tiny details that change so quickly - the way your baby curls into your arms, stretches their fingers, or drifts to sleep in that newborn haze.

Perfect for you if:

You love natural light, soft textures, and an organic aesthetic.
You want a calm, intentional space where you don’t have to tidy or prep.
You’d like consistent, timeless images focused entirely on baby and family connection.

What to expect:
When you arrive, everything is ready - cozy wraps, neutral blankets, and gentle music to help baby (and parents) relax. We’ll move slowly, following baby’s lead for breaks, feedings, and snuggles. I’ll gently guide you into natural poses, but nothing is forced.

Studio sessions are ideal if you want clean, timeless portraits that feel simple, pure, and centered on your baby’s first days.

In-Home Lifestyle Sessions

In-home sessions tell a different story, your story. They capture your family exactly as you are in those early days: cuddled on the couch, rocking in the nursery, siblings leaning in to kiss baby’s head.

Perfect for you if:

You want a natural, documentary feel-less posed, more emotional.
You’d love to include your home, nursery, or meaningful spaces in your photos.
You feel more comfortable staying home with baby and keeping your routine relaxed.

What to expect:
I’ll guide you through gentle prompts and natural interactions that showcase your connection, not just how everything looks, but how it feels. No need to deep-clean or stress about perfection; newborn sessions are about warmth, love, and authenticity.

So, Which Is Right for You?

There’s no wrong choice, just what fits your family best.
If you’re dreaming of soft, artistic portraits that could hang beautifully in a nursery or on your wall, a studio session might be perfect.

If you want to remember the cozy, candid moments of bringing baby home, an in-home lifestyle session will capture that beautifully.

Some families even choose to do both, a classic studio session for baby-focused portraits and a lifestyle session a few weeks later to capture the whole family settling in.