Posed Newborn Photography vs Lifestyle Newborn Photography

I’ve never given much thought to explaining the differences in posed newborn photography and lifestyle newborn photography, but I figure it’s probably a great time to highlight them – especially for my clients trying to decide exactly what session would fit their family best!

In my last 4 year of photographing babies in the Tacoma and Seattle area I’ve grown from only photographing posed newborns, to introducing lifestyle photography into the mix over the past year. While I personally never thought I would love anything more than a posed session, I have to say, lifestyle sessions are quickly becoming sessions that bring me pure joy – as every home, family, and vibe is different.

So let’s break it down!

Posed Newborn Sessions

Posed newborn sessions take place in my Tacoma WA studio where I provide all props, bonnets, headbands, wraps, etc. that are then styled for each session. I email all of my posed newborn clients prep guides in the week prior to their studio session and they arrive with baby prepped and ready to go! After a good feed, and a milk drunk baby, I’m ready to begin photographing your precious baby! With my studio set to a toasty 85+ degrees to keep baby comfortable while un-swaddled, I begin my session workflow – which looks something like this, but depending on the baby specific poses may change:

While I work, parents are able to either relax on the most comfortable sofa in the world, munch on some snacks, take a much need nap, or they can move about the room and watch me work their sweet little one into the cutest poses and take behind the scenes photos with their phone. Then once I’ve gotten all the poses/variations I am after I hand baby right back to mom and dad + they are able to get baby back into their cute little outfit, feed him/her if needed and hit the road! We call that a WRAP!

Lifestyle Newborn Sessions

In comparison, lifestyle sessions are completely different in every beautiful way. Once your baby is born and we set a date for your lifestyle newborn session I will travel to your home to photograph your baby and family. As soon as I arrive I dive in to capturing the full story that is your life with your sweet little one! Everything from rocking baby in the nursery, bath time, feeding your sweet little one, snuggling in bed, changing clothes and curling up with your swaddled baby with your family on the couch – I am there to tell your story in the most beautiful way.

Using only natural light, I am able to capture light, airy photos – as well as more moody, emotional shots of you + your family loving on baby. One part of lifestyle newborn photography that I completely adore are the sibling interactions! It is so very different from studio portraits, as the older siblings are in their comfort zone (home sweet home) and I am able to capture those candid moments that you would say, “awwwww, I wish I had a photographer here to capture this!” — and BOOM! I’m there, and it’s captured, and it is perfection!

So you see, while I clearly L O V E both types of sessions, it really is all about YOUR preference. What type of images do you want to remember your baby’s first days and weeks earth-side? Either way, I will be there – camera at the ready – to document this truly incredible time in your growing family’s life.

To see more posed newborn sessions, click here and to see more lifestyle newborn sessions, click here!

Meg Newton is a Tacoma-Seattle Newborn Photographer based out of Tacoma, WA specializing in posed newborn photography and lifestyle newborn photography. Meg has a Tacoma based studio for posed newborn sessions and travels to Seattle, Olympia, Puyallup, and the surrounding areas for maternity sessions, Fresh48 sessions, lifestyle newborn sessions, and other exciting milestones.

To book your session with Meg Newton Photography, click here or email us directly at megnewtonphotography@gmail.com