Posed/Portrait Newborn Session: This the more traditional newborn photo session where we pose the baby on a bean bag poser or in props like baskets or buckets. I only pose the baby in poses they are safe and comfortable in. If the baby doesn’t seem to like a certain pose we are attempting, we move on. Though I have successfully done portrait sessions on older newborns, the posed/portrait style newborn shoots are ideally done when the baby is between 5 and 14 days old as this is the time they are most sleepy and still flexible and more happily positioned.

Lifestyle Newborn Session: A lifestyle newborn session is a much more “relaxed” session that documents the feel and experience of having your newborn. Because I use more natural, baby-led “posing” for this session, the age of the newborn is less “strict”. Their flexibility and sleepiness does not factor in much at all. I do recommend having the session as early as you can only because newborns change so fast within that first month and you want to document their tiny newness that doesn’t last long! It is a family session with more involvement from you, your partner and any siblings, showcasing the new connection you all have with your baby.

You can see the difference between the two types of sessions by looking at the samples in my Portfolio.