Hey there! Are you expecting a baby and wondering if an in-home newborn photography session is right for you? Keep reading to find out why New Jersey families are choosing in-home newborn photography. I’m Danielle! I’m a family & newborn photographer based out of Central, New Jersey. In this blog post, I highlight my top 3 reasons why families in New Jersey are choosing in-home sessions rather than studio sessions!

Reason # 1 – In-Home Newborn Photography is Less Stressful

I know not everyone would agree with reason #1; however, I believe that doing newborn photos in your home is way less stressful than going to a studio. Here’s why! When you schedule an in-home newborn session, the photographer comes to you. You don’t have to go anywhere! Everything you need including bottles, diapers, formula, etc. is right in your home. So no need to pack and lug the diaper bag.

You may be thinking though, “Do I have to straighten up my house?” The answer I tell my clients is always “No!” When entering into families’ homes for newborn sessions, I always do a walk through of the home first. I’m looking for rooms with the most natural light. This is often found in bedrooms or the living room area. When I find one or two rooms with the best light, I do the whole session in those areas. So you don’t have to worry about cleaning or straightening up the entire house because I only stay in one or two rooms of your home. And I often will only use a small section of the room anyway. So if anything, I may delcutter a corner or remove a few items off of a dresser or end table. And that’s it! So no major cleaning required.

Reason # 2 – Newborns are Comfortable in Their Own Surroundings

This is big reason for me! I truly believe babies do best when they are surrounding by the comforts of their own home. During in-home newborn photography sessions; I always incorporate items in the baby’s natural environment. For example, I don’t bring a lot of props with me to sessions. Instead, I place the baby in their crib or bassinet. I may use swaddles or blankets from the nursery.

In-home newborn sessions are also great because it’s less posed and more candid. For example, I may place the baby in mom’s arms and do solo shots of just the baby in the comfort of mom’s hands. Or I’ll place the baby against mom’s chest where he/she feels safe and cozy. If babies are cranky or fussy during the session, I let mom hold and soothe the baby back to sleep. Often, these make the most precious photos. It also takes some of the pressure off mom & baby knowing that great pictures can still be taken if the baby isn’t fully asleep.

Reason # 3 – Poses are Organic & Natural

We touched upon this reason above, but I wanted to share more about why organic & natural posing is a better approach. Now I know that not everyone may agree, but I do find that more natural and candid posing is better than formal posing. I don’t know about you, but sometimes I feel very awkward in front of the camera. The last thing I needed after I gave birth was stiff and overly posed photos of me.

In-home newborn photography allow for a more relaxed and comfortable experience overall because the posing is natural. I tell all my clients to basically interact with the baby just as they would on a normal day to day basis. I utuilize the parent’s bedroom because it’s naturally a very warm and cozy environment. I take pictures of mom & dad relaxing on the bed holding their baby. If I’m in the living rooms, I’ll tell my clients to sit and relax on the couch. I tell them to interact with the baby just as they normally would. This kind of posing can easily be done in the comfort of your home. I truly feel that my clients are more at ease when surrounded by their every day things.

And that’s it! Those are my top 3 reasons why I believe New Jersey families are choosing in-home photography rather than posed. I hope this blog post has helped make your decision.

If you’re thinking about booking an in-home newborn photography session in New Jersey; I’d love to chat. You can contact me by filling out the inquiry form. You can also send me a DM over on Instagram.

You may also find some of these blog posts helpful:

How Much Does a Newborn Session Cost?

Newborn Session Ideas at Home

Newborn Session Outfits for Mom