Nashville Newborn Photographer | Studio posed vs in-home lifestyle newborn photography
It's 2025 and a lot has changed in 10 years. I spent many years perfecting newborn posing and having a studio. I loved every second of it. But as life goes on and people change, I too changed. I changed my purpose behind my work and I changed how I felt about what I was doing. Does that mean I regretted it? Not at all. People shift. That's life. But since I have the unique position of having done posed newborn photography for over 6 years and now having done in-home lifestyle / documentary newborn photography for the past 8 years, I thought I would write about the differences, in case a mom out there is wondering, which one is right for her.
The poses.
Let's start with the difference in poses when comparing an in-home newborn session to a posed squishy newborn studio session. In the posed situation, baby is molded into various adorable poses that place them into a perfect position. the lips are brought out, the angles are perfect, the baby is folded to create a piece of art. It's absolutely precious. But what are the downsides?
Well, for one... did that baby ever naturally pose themselves that way? Not usually. So it kind of tells a false narrative. Vs... when you do an in-home newborn session just a week or two postpartum (or longer if doing a newborn video), the baby is never intentionally posed. Everything is organic and natural and the positions he or she puts themself in, tells the story of how that baby may have positioned itself in the womb. The story is what I am after in my work - the story was what I was missing in my old style of photography. The story is what we will miss.
The photos.
In the studio, the photos are very similar to the 90s olan mills days. (the thing we don't want to admit!) Everyone is posed the same as every other family and it's a factory assembly line. Your family is family #4 for the week, and will be put through all the same poses as the family before that and before that. It is very cookie cutter. Whereas, when I go into the home of a family, everything about them is unique, and I hone in on that. The furniture, the state their home is in (moving boxes tell the story of how you just moved into your new home just before baby was born), its all a time stamp of what life was like the year you had your baby. We miss these elements of story telling in some of our modern photography ways... in the 80s and 90s, we had albums from photos that we got off of a polaroid or a disposable camera. There were items randomly placed on a coffee table, the sofa was the mess that it was - and ALL of it told the story of that year and that time in your life. The beauty of the items laying around or the imperfections is the depth of the story told.
The pacing of the session
This might be the best part. With a studio session, there is stress about getting out of the house with a newborn and trying to remember all the things you'll need. You get to the studio and the photographer definitely has a lot of patience (I hope) and you can relax and watch your newborn be posed and photographed. But she might have someone else coming in and will move through the poses as quickly as she can for you and her - to let you get home and resting again. When I come to your home, it's just us hanging out. Baby's fussy? we just sit and chat and let you nurse. Need a snack? No problem, I set my camera down (or maybe I don't) and we just chat and eat. There is ZERO pressure. Not ready when I arrive? Cool, I will just chat with the hubby or pet the dog... You get my drift. I want nothing more for you than for this to be the easiest possible session ever. You don't even have to have a clean house, I wont flinch if it's a mess of stuff. If I need something moved, we just move it. All I care about is that you are able to enjoy your day being photographed as a family with a new baby. and that I leave and you feel like that experience was so easy and fun. I usually spend between 1-2 hours, depending on the family's pace at a session. You're my only session that day and I want to come with an open heart ready to give your session 150%.
In-home newborn photography is more candid, real life, capturing things like the nursery and your home, letting you just do what you have been doing - loving on your new baby - and Im just there to hang out while you do it. And if you happen to add on a film, I will even get to capture all of those amazing baby noises and coos - and how baby responds and lights up when you talk to them. If this is something you are interested in, contact me here!
What age should newborn photos be taken? | Nashville Newborn Photographer
When is the best age to take newborn photos?
TL;DR Any age is a good age for relaxed, natural newborn photos.
You have a newborn for all of 7 weeks. So when is this 7 week period, is a good time to take newborn photos?
It varies by style, for sure. If you want the posed newborn photos (I used to pose newborns for many years), you'll definitely need to do them within 10 days of birth. After about 5-6 years of posing newborns and then discovering my true inner self within documentary photography and videography, I now prefer the style of in-home relaxed newborn photos. I want to tell the story of what your baby preferred or did not prefer during their newborn stage.
Maybe they always had their hand up by their face. Or they make a scrunchy face often during the day. With offering newborn videography, I can also capture their little noises or coos. In-home newborn photography allows for baby to lead the session. We are able to capture any nursing photos (if you want), as well as how dad naturally interacts with your newborn baby!
There are many advantages to waiting until the baby is closer to 4-6 weeks old, especially if clients are hiring my to do videography. In the earlier weeks, baby won't interact with mom and dad much. But closer to 4-5 weeks, they are cooing and smiling and making eye contact. I give my clients the choice between photography around 2 weeks old or later, when they are more interactive. Because my clients can hire me for just photos, or for video+photos, that might alter their response as well. If they are hiring me for just photos, my clients tend to choose to have their in-home newborn session closer to 2 weeks, which is super precious.
2 week old Babies:
If you are wanting to capture that really young newborn stage, then this is the time frame for you! It is the most common time newborn babies are photographed. Babies are still sleepy, and curling up like they did in the womb. They are very snuggly and don't have any newborn acne, typically.
3-4 week old Babies:
This stage might offer some baby acne. If this really bothers you, you might put the session off until it clears. (I am very flexible with newborn bookings!). But for a photographer who captures real life, it doesn't phase me. However, how much acne can vary widely and a baby with worse acne, might be a situation to put it off a few more weeks until their acne clears. During this stage of development, babies tend to go through growth spurts and can be crankier and hungrier and needier.
5-7 week old Babies:
I love capturing babies most at either 2 weeks old, or in this 5-7 week window. They are more alert in this window and interacting more, which is great for video and for photos. Mom has had more time to recover from birth and everyone has fallen into their roles as mom and dad. Babies have filled out, they keep their eyes open more and they most likely are smiling by now!
Older Babies:
Don't let any belief out there make you think you have missed a magic window to capture your baby. The beauty of lifestyle photos, is that any time, is a good time to capture your life with your baby!
If you want newborn or even older babies photos, please reach out! I would love to help.
5 Reasons you should consider In-home newborn photography | Nashville Newborn Photographer
After having a baby, the recovery can be hard. Either your birth canal hurts or you've just had major abdominal surgery. Leaving home with a toddler and a newborn to carry everyone off to a newborn studio shoot, can be difficult. and too much on your postpartum body. This is just one of the many reasons I love in-home newborn photography.
Keep reading for the top 5 reasons to have your newborn shoot at home.
#1 It's more authentic.
In the 80s and 90s, we captured some newborn photos at the hospital with the traditional pink and blue hospital hat and the bracelet, but we also took a lot of candids at home with our cameras. Somehow, with the modern way we get photos done, we seem to have less of our candid lives. Having someone enter your home and simply be a fly on the wall, letting you be comfortable leads to more authentic images. You'll be able to look back at them and see the things that were on your coffee table, telling the story of the year you had a newborn. (like, maybe a Stanley sits there, and you would remember when the Stanleys were flying off the shelves). You might remember in the 80s, it was common for there to be a large circle ash tray. Something so simple can tell the most amazing stories. You would remember the sofa you had during the newborn stage. The way you had her nursery set up. The way her older sister adjusted to life with a little baby in the house. The middle of the night feeds, the way she grabbed tightly onto your finger. There are all of these tiny moments in our every day with a newborn and it only lasts 7 weeks.
#2 Getting photos is easier at home.
With little to no posing, Everyone, including big brother or sister, and dad, can be relaxed in their environment rather than walking into a studio they have rarely been to, and being told to sit here and smile, or kiss baby, etc. Which creates pressure. That pressure can lead to melt downs, and inauthentic and forced photos.
#3 There is no schedule.
When I show up, Im there on your clock, not mine. In a studio setting, there are usually set windows for each client. But when Im at my client's home, I can pause when baby needs to nurse (and can capture that if mom wants) and can take a break if the older sibling is feeling overwhelmed. I can set my camera down, and just be a friend who came over for a visit. I do whatever leads to authentic photos. Im never rushed and am only there to tell the story you want told.
#4 Each baby is beautiful just as they are.
While I spent years posing newborns, I have since learned that when I chose to do that, I was preventing mom of memories of how here baby was as a baby. How they chose to lay, how they preferred their hands to be. How they chose to lay their head. Oftentimes, parents will see their photos of their newborn baby and say "oh my gosh, she did that in utero!" and refer to previous ultrasounds or just the way baby seemed to constantly bring their hand up by their face like they had done it 100X before.
#5 There is no special window to capture baby in.
Depending on if you want newborn videography or just photography alone, You can have your session anywhere from 2-6 weeks after having your baby. If you want videography, I let my clients choose, of course, but often recommend around 4 weeks when baby is starting to interact with mom and dad, so we can really get some great audio and footage. I work with each family individually, and customize their session to what they want. Even if they want an earlier newborn session, we don't have to capture it in that first 10 days to get the posed type of photography, so we can even wait until baby is 2 weeks old and mom is moving around better and feels more herself. Plus, given that I'm trying to tell the story of what it was like to have a newborn, I tend to like mom and dad to have some time to process the fact that they have a newborn! It's so surreal at first!
If you are in the Nashville area, or want me to travel to you, feel free to reach out or take a look at my work!
Nashville Baby Photographer | Blake's In home lifestyle newborn session
Baby Blake was so laid back and easy. I loved my client's home, it was just so perfect for photographing some artistic newborn portraits! They have windows and windows of LIGHT! I was in heaven capturing some creative and very different portraits for this family.Thank you, Lindsay, for choosing me!Warmly,
Nashville Newborn Baby Photographer | Lillian Fresh & New
Sweet newborn baby Lillian. Her wittle bitty lips are just so precious! I could have squeezed her all day :) I loved working my magic with her. Her gallery turned out just precious and I cannot wait for her parents to see them!Warmly, 
Nashville Newborn Photographer | Baby Annalyn - Bohemian style
Being a newborn photographer in Nashville is seriously a dream come true! Having a huge studio with amazing light and getting to capture the most beautiful moments in people's lives !! PINCH ME! This sweet angel is so gorgeous. Her lips are perfect, those cheeks, that amount of black hair! She was easy peasy and I could have held her all day. I am thrilled to get to see her every 3 months for the next year. I just pray that she doesn't grow too fast. Next to my own family, my clients mean so much to me. I bond with them through this journey and feel so honored they have chosen me as their portrait photographer.Thank you, Jenn and Justin, for choosing me to capture your sweet girl.Warmly, 
Franklin Newborn Photographer | Baby Kate's Session
Im itching for Spring! You can tell in this very yellow newborn session I did recently. Kate slept like a dream. She has such beautiful features, I just love her cheeks and long lashes! My job is always such fun! I have to pinch myself from time to time, because I just can't believe this is my "job"! Its been FIVE years since I began photography and I can honestly say, its been an amazing ride!To another FIVE years! Thank you, Erin, for choosing ME to photograph your sweet girl!Warmly,
Nashville newborn photographer | Baby Knox
Sweet newborn Knox was konked out for his session! I just LOVED him to pieces! He has such long lashes and his hair is already curly! He was so funny about his hands, he would move them every time I posed them :D Funny baby already has such personality!Thank you, Michelle & Jeff, for allowing me to pose your sweet babe!Warmly, 
Nashville Pregnancy Photographer | Nika's Forrest Maternity Session
Its such an amazing job to be able to photograph a woman's pregnancy and her baby. Sometimes, I really believe I could not dream up my clients even if I tried. Nika is ridiculously beautiful. She brought a light blue dress that was perfect in every way. I love the pine needles and how they reflect that the photos were done in late November.We got fairly lucky in terms of weather, it wasn't brutally cold. Her gorgeous skin tone is amazing and makes me eager to see what her baby will look like. I loved working with this couple and their love was evident during the entire session.Nika,Thank you for choosing me to capture this special time in your life.Warmly, 
Nashville Baby Photographer | Weston's Newborn Session
There is NOTHING better in my career than being so incredible blessed and honored to photograph a friend during her maternal journey. It always an honor for every client, but when its a friend, its tenfold. Ive known Lindsay and Bradley since October of 2008 when they became our neighbors. Im thrilled to have them as friends and hope to know them until the end of our days.
Thank you, Lindsay and Bradley, for trusting me with your sweet baby boy, Weston. It was a huge honor.
If you want your family captured, contact me here!
Warmly,
Nashville Baby Photographer | Sawyer Turns 9 Months!
Sawyer is so sweet. and he gives the most amazing smiles! Plus, he's so analytical and very old souled. He's amazing, for sure. Im so honored to be able to photograph him! I loved capturing several family photos for The Lush Family as well! Ive been photographing this crew since the first child was in Malary's belly. And now, She is my office manger. She's amazing and helps keep my customer service great. I truly love working with her!
If you want your family captured, contact me here!
Warmly,
Nashville Baby Photographer | Baby Catherine is 9 Months old!
I cannot believe how quickly these babies grow! Catherine is officially walking and getting so big so fast! I love her cheeks and lips and those blue eyes! plus, the curls just send me over the edge....
Thank you Michelle for letting me photograph your children since the first was born 5 years ago!
If you want your family captured, contact me here!
Warmly,
Nashville Newborn Photographer | Baby Boy Amos
Sweet Amos went 2 or so weeks overdue, and was still just a peanut! I guess nature knew he needed to cook extra long ;)
It was so fun posing Amos - I especially love his macro close up shots and his shots with his parents. His sweet face is so beautiful and his lashes are long! Not to mention, that hair.... OH and the lips.....
I photographed Anna's Maternity Session a few months ago, and Ive fallen in love with this sweet family! They love nature and I cannot wait to see Amos again at his 6 month session. Im sure it will be here before we know it!
Thank you, Anna and Dale for trusting me with your precious son. XOXO
If you want your family captured, contact me here!
Warmly,
Newborn Twin Boys, Oliver & Jackson | Nashville, Tennessee Newborn Twin Baby Photographer
Newborn twin photography is such a blast! Its so fun to change up the normal, and photograph a set of twins now and again. I had so much fun with these two! They are so adorable and each one looks so different. Their personalities seem different already as well. Their parents are ecstatic to have them and are quite obsessed with their double bundles of joy!Thank you, Laura, for trusting me to capture your boys in these beautiful photographs!Warmly,
Nashville Baby Photographer | Josie turns 6 months!
Seems like yesterday, I was photographing Josie's mommy's maternity session. Now she's 6 months and crawling everywhere! I wish children stayed little longer. But Im so grateful that mommies get photos of their tiny babies so they can remember each details. My favorite compliment from a mommy is when I speak to her 1-2 years later (or longer) and she says "We still look at his or her newborn photos and treasure each one!"
I cannot wait to see Josie at 9 months. She might even be walking! Then I will be chasing her everywhere. Stinker.
If you want your family captured, contact me here!
Warmly,
Nashville Newborn Photographer | Baby Harlow
She wins the best girl name of the year, Hands Down.Meet Harlow Gray. (gives you chills, doesnt it?)She was amazing and fast for her session, squishy and loved being posed. And she gets a 2nd award - for longest lashes I have EVER seen!If you want your family captured, contact me here! 
Nashville Newborn Photographer | Sweet Catherine
There is nothing better than walking this journey with my clients, unless, your client is one of your closest friends. My neighbor, and close friend, Michelle, just had the sweetest baby girl. And I had loads of fun with her maternity and newborn session!If you want your family captured, contact me here! 
Nashville Newborn Photographer | Little Boy Blue
Lately I've been experimenting with some new angles and poses and I have to say, I'm loving it. Mr. Rhett didnt seem to mind either :)If you want your family captured, contact me here! 
Warmly,
Nashville Newborn Photographer | Cutie Patootie
This precious girl was just like a little flower. Such a joy!
If you want your family captured, contact me here!
Warmly,
Nashville Newborn Photographer | Baby Jacob
Another one of my clients who I got to follow through her maternity to her newborn session. I love seeing these sweet cheeks!If you want your family captured, contact me here! 
Warmly,