Yesterday, I blogged about my photography style and how it affects my approach to maternity photography. Today, I’m continuing with my approach to newborn photography. It only seems fitting to pair the two together, right? “First comes love, then comes marriage, then comes baby in the baby carriage!” 🙂

As I explained in yesterday’s post, “lifestyle” is one word I use to help sum up my overall photography style. It’s fun, fresh, colorful, and it’s capturing “the way of life” in its natural, comfortable, beautiful state. While I strive for “lifestyle” pictures during my maternity sessions, I really, really, really strive for “lifestyle” pictures during my newborn sessions. As an artist, and even though I’m a mom who had such pictures taken of my baby when she was born, I’m not big into lots of props, blankets, set-ups, bows, hats and intense positions when it comes to photographing babies. I don’t mind capturing some sweet, snuggly, sleepy portraits where their sporting mom’s favorite bow or lying on a gifted blanket, but that takes some patience and work…because not all newborn babies, no matter how young, are guaranteed to cooperate to make such things happen.

It also doesn’t completely fit my style. If I only photographed babies in a posed, sleepy state, I wouldn’t be representing myself well as an artist. While super cute and not-so-easy to do (high five to all newborn photographers out there who can achieve such portraiture; it’s a beautiful thing and I applaud you on your patience, creativity and hard work), such photography just isn’t my thing…and it doesn’t suit my “lifestyle” approach. I want pretty pictures just like mom and dad do, but I also want pretty life pictures.

I want to capture first-time parents and growing families in their most natural, comfortable states…just sitting on the couch together, lying down on the bed together, gathering on the nursery floor. I want to capture some moments that might actually be real for them…things they may actually do together while welcoming their new bundle of joy. For me, snuggly, sleepy portraits of the new babe are an added bonus.

So if you’re OK with relaxing in your home in your comfy (and forgiving) yoga pants, jeans and a t-shirt, I’m your photog. If you’d like to try some sleepy portraits with a super cute flowery bow or baby hat, but won’t be completely devastated if they don’t work out, then my newborn sessions may be for you.

And don’t you just love the prettiness of the pictures in this post? Consider it a large peek into Harlow’s newborn session…fresh off the JFP press as of Tuesday! I’ll be sharing more from her session later this month. Def a recent fave for me. 🙂

Note: If you’re pregnant and would like to consider a newborn session with me, please contact me at least two months before your due date so we can discuss details and put a tentative date on the calendar. It’s best to photograph babies in their first week of life, especially when it comes to those snuggly, sleepy portraits.