Newborn photography, in the comfort of your own home.
Sometimes people hear “newborn photography”, and they imagine tiny cherubs with little hats and bows, perfectly posed to show baby wrinkles, sleeping peacefully atop a pouffy pillow, with a creamy background in behind. And it all looks so effortless and easy!
Trust me, this kind of photography is absolutely magic. The photographers who specialize in studio newborn photography need a medal, not least for the patience and calm they need in order to pose and capture those stunning shots.
But did you know that it takes about three-four hours of studio time to achieve such photos?
It really does.
I’ve been an assistant at newborn photoshoots on more than one occasion, and it taught me that newborn photography is an incredible craft. It requires the family and the photographer to block off a large chunk of time from their day, and that can be difficult for families with newborns.
Nor do these stylized shots of babies in baskets appeal to all families. Sometimes, people are looking for something more ‘real’, something less orchestrated.
Simply put: traditional studio newborn photography is not for everyone. Both aesthetically, and in terms of the time commitment.
Enter documentary newborn photography.
It’s a mouthful…. I know.
But it holds another type of magic.
Here’s how documentary newborn photography is different from the traditional studio newborn photo experience:
it can be done anywhere - especially in your own home!
there’s no baby ‘age limit’ - babies can be just a day old, or they can be a few months old! Each phase of a baby’s life is precious and can be documented to preserve cherished memories for a family. Whether it’s those baby wrinkles when they were just hours new to the world, or the chubby thighs as they started to fill out from all that yummy milk.
it doesn’t take nearly as long - candid photos of babies and their families enjoying their time together don’t have to take hours. Some families choose to document a “Day in the Life” with their baby, so that we can capture many activities, especially if they have older children, too. But many families with a newborn and no older siblings are perfectly happy to spend just an hour swooning over their little one, and we get dozens of beautiful memories captured from this experience.
you don’t need to interrupt your session for diaper changes or baby feedings - in fact, capturing the memories of baby being fed, changed, and soothed when upset are a unique part of a documentary baby session! Those moments are crucial in your baby’s life: that endless care you give them as a parent…. And once your children are grown up, to have memories of that care - to have photographs - is a precious gift you give to your children.
you don’t have to sit outside in a different room - traditional newborn photography focuses on the newborn baby. Family photos are not really the focus. Documentary baby photography is the polar opposite. Babies do not grow in a vacuum. They grow in the loving arms of their parents, siblings, family, and dear friends. Or sleeping peacefully next to the fur babies of the home. It’s only natural, then, that a good memory capsule of your baby’s life - a strong set of photographs - should include lots of cuddles, caregiving, and family time.
there is nothing you need to do differently from your usual routine - documentary baby sessions are intentionally geared toward capturing real life. Our ‘ordinary’ moments. During a documentary baby session, you should never be asked to change what you’re doing, or to go stand over there by the window where the light is better. You should never be asked to pick up your baby, or to look this way or that way. Simply, whatever you normally do with baby is interesting and magical enough. Even if that means watching your little one sleeping peacefully and stroking their cheek.
These are just a few of the striking differences between a traditional studio session and the relatively more modern experience of documentary baby photography.
In a sentence: documentary baby photography is easy and effortless.
Families are busier than ever, but the need to capture meaningful memories has never been stronger.
So while finding time to schlepp out to a photographer’s studio might be last on your list of priorities, hiring a documentary photographer to pop by your place for an hour can be much more manageable.
Many families are choosing to go this route, and truly loving the memories created.
Here is a family I photographed last winter, welcoming their little bundle into the world.
We got lots of photographs of them spending time together, doing diaper changes, and snuggling. And because the session was done right in their home, their beloved dog was able to enjoy the entire experience right along with her parents.
If you have a little one at home - a newborn or older infant - and you’re curious about what a documentary photography session would look like for you and your family, drop me a line :)
We can have a chat on the phone or on zoom, you can tell me about what you are currently doing (even if it is mostly changing diapers), and we will daydream about how to create the best memories for you of this time.
We can price out a package that would suit you best, and pick a flexible time and date.
I say flexible, because things happen. Some days, newborns are fussy or you had a crappy night of sleep, and the last thing you feel like doing is being photographed. This happens. It’s no big deal. A flexible date allows us to rebook quickly and make the memories happen a different day, when everyone’s feeling their best.
Your photographs will be ready quickly, and I’ll help you pick out prints for the wall or albums, so you can easily enjoy these moments to the fullest for years to come.