Kari contacted us for a last minute newborn session after her daughter, Levi had arrived. She wasn’t sure that we would be available but she took the chance anyway, and was glad she did! Kari requested an in-home session because she loves her home decor and wanted it in the images, but also really wanted to have posed studio images of her baby as well. I do not bring my wraps and posing surfaces to homes . They decided on two sessions so they could have the best of both worlds, which is definitely an option available for clients! Booking two sessions means that you would your baby to the studio for solo portraits, and I would then travel to your home for the second in-home session sometime in the following couple of days, and images from both sessions are presented together in one proof gallery for you to choose from!
As a note: I am fully protected with the Pfizer vaccine as of April 12, 2021 when full protection kicked in. I wear an N95 mask with clients regardless of their vaccination status.
WHY YOU NEED TO RESERVE YOUR NEWBORN SESSION NOW
I can only accept a limited number of newborns due each month. Limiting the number of newborn clients I take ensures I am able serve all of my clients equally at the level they deserve.
Reserving your newborn session means you are guaranteeing a newborn session for your baby on my calendar, not booking the exact session date. No one can accurately predict your baby’s birth date. I have lost count of how many of my newborns were born before their scheduled induction or c-section date! When your baby is born, you’ll let us know, and we’ll schedule your session date! There are SO many factors that determine when we schedule your session. These include but are not limited to: length of your partner’s paternity leave, any complications for you or baby, how you’re feeling post delivery, how much your baby weighed at birth, etc.
IN HOME LIFESTYLE SESSIONS VS. STUDIO SESSIONS
If booking two sessions isn’t possible for you and you are deciding between an in-home or studio newborn session, let’s go over the differences!
If you choose an in-home session, you will need to:
Understand that your images will be lifestyle oriented.
Be ready to start your session upon my arrival.
Ensure you have ample natural light in your home.
Have neutral colored walls in your home.
Be ok with not having access to our studio wardrobe that is complimentary to our clients.
NOT be married to the idea of shooting in a particular spot within your home. I will assess your home upon arrival and we will be shooting where the best light is available.
NOT have cats (I am highly allergic and cannot travel to homes with cats, but dogs are fine!
Clean your house and declutter, and be prepared for things to be moved at my direction if they are distracting.
Unplug lamps, clocks, etc in the rooms and hide the cords so they are not in the photos.
Be okay with limited solo portraits of your baby, wrapped in a blanket on your bed or in your arms. There will not be wrapped solo portraits like what you see for my natural posing.
So, as you can see, it is actually NOT necessarily “easier” to have your newborn session be in your home, and it limits the types of images that will be taken.
One note: I hear a LOT of clients state that the reason they want an in-home session is because they want to showcase their baby’s nursery. I always like to remind my clients that their baby is completely unaware of their surroundings as a newborn. An in-home milestone session for your baby’s 6 month session when they can sit unassisted on the floor of their nursery and hold on to the side of their crib while standing is such a fun way to show off the nursery with your baby actually aware of everything and interacting with their toys! Just something to keep in mind! Be sure to ask about our First Year Collection for the perfect way to photograph your baby for newborn, siting, and First Birthday milestone sessions.
The studio is the perfect setting for my blend of lifestyle meets posed, and all you have to do is worry about getting here. It’s also a nice break and gets you out of the house to a safe, private, and zero pressure location where you don’t have to worry about if your baby is crying or needs to eat. Once you’re here, everything else is taken care of for you!
If you choose a session here at the studio:
All you have to do is literally show up at your session time.
Your images will be consistent and like what is shown on my portfolio (which is why you’re hiring me!)
The studio is all neutral and intentionally designed to be a blank canvas so that your newborn and family are the focus, and your session images will look beautiful in any home.
You can add on hair and makeup services to your session, so you don’t have to worry about getting yourself ready while managing everything at home.
You will not have to clean your house after just having had a baby and running on no sleep.
You’ll have access to our studio wardrobe.
The studio will be heated to the perfect temperature so your baby is comfortable.
You will have solo and naturally posed portraits of your baby intermixed with family and parent.
ALL your needs will be met, and you will be very comfortable! We have everything you need here - elevator access for recovering c-section mamas, a full kitchen, private bathroom, Nespresso coffee machine, nursing pillows, extra diapers and wipes…..the list goes on!
You will have a gallery that is a perfect mixture of lifestyle blended with posed images.
You will NOT have to worry about whether the lighting is adequate enough, because it is!
You can take a nap on the couch, or connect your laptop and work remotely with our studio Google Fiber
Your older children will be better behaved than at home - it’s true! Ever notice how your children are always perfect angels at school or someone else’ house and wonder why? The expectations are different! When I go to client homes, toddlers are extremely comfortable in their environment. They are easily distracted, and often much more difficult to get to cooperate. When they’re here at the studio, it’s a new place with far less distraction, because they have nowhere familiar to run off to for escape or toys to distract them.
IN HOME LIFESTYLE SESSION FLOW
If you choose an in-home session, here's the flow you can expect!
I will arrive to your home and when I come in, I will do a walk through to see where the best light is and where the best places to shoot are. If you need any input on what to wear from your closet, I’ll go through your options quickly and pull it all together for you. I’ll rearrange things as necessary and may ask you to move things to be more conducive to the resulting images. We’ll transition through different areas that are adequate for lighting and composition. I photograph you the EXACT same way I would in the studio - you will just have your home interior as the background! If there is an area and surface (ie: bed, ottoman) with adequate light that I can photograph your baby alone on, I will wrap them in a blanket you have on hand and photograph them alone for some simple solo portraits!
WHAT TO EXPECT AFTER YOUR IN-HOME SESSION
After I leave your home, you can expect your proof gallery in about 7 business days beginning the day after your session! You’ll look through it, decide on your favorites, and choose what best fits your needs! Kari loved all of Levi’s images from both sessions so much that she chose to purchase the full collection of images.
Enjoy some of my favorites from Levi’s studio and in-home sessions!
If you're expecting a baby or already a parent and looking for a newborn, maternity, or family photographer, I would love to work with you to create images that you will love for a lifetime. Watch this video to hear about my philosophy and see how I work in the studio so you can determine if I'm the right fit for you. I can't wait to meet you!
Lily Sophia Photography specializes in newborn, baby, maternity, and family photography in Atlanta, Georgia and surrounding areas.
