As a newborn photographer in the Lehigh valley for the last 10 years, I have photographed my fair share of studio baby photos. Over 800 newborns in my career by now, between in-home newborn sessions which are what started my career to now being exclusively in-studio, 800??? That is a lot, I know! 

In the last few years, I began offering wrapped newborn sessions, or short and sweet newborn sessions, in addition to traditionally posed newborn sessions. And even more recently, I have noticed a trend of clients asking for more neutral colored newborn sessions, so I now have an offering that caters to that vibe, too. 

Today I am going to break down the benefits and differences between the three different types of newborn photoshoots I offer:  

• “All About That Baby”: a fully posed newborn photo shoot in studio
• “Organic & Unposed”: a neutral lifestyle newborn session in the studio
•  “Simply Snuggled”: a  short & sweet studio newborn session with baby wrapped 

A full newborn session is usually captured before 2 weeks of life. Post-2020, I’m a little more lenient with that but if you want the sleepy posed session where baby is laying on a blanket, half wrapped or less, you’re going to want a full session. The reason for the under two weeks guideline is: the longer baby has time to acclimate to life on Earth, the more they want to see all that life has to offer. Therefore, they will be more alert as they get older and not as easy to bend into those cozy poses or at the very least, not as gracious with letting me pose them like that. 

If you have an older baby, a wrapped up newborn session might be perfect for you. Baby is swaddled up the entire time for the mini session, so if you prefer the wrapped shots or have a baby older than 4 weeks old, this could be the perfect option for you. Swaddled babes are happy babes.

In my “Organic & Unposed” option, baby might be loosely wrapped but the posing is more natural so age is definitely not as much of a concern. I will encourage chest to chest cuddles and tootsie kisses! Plenty of options of baby alone but also I will focus on family connection. I embrace the realness in this type of session.. If baby needs a snack, I’m probably going to capture you giving it to them. It’s a lifestyle newborn session without you having to clean your house. WIN WIN!

If budget is your concern, a short and sweet is the best gift you can give your child. As a kid who has about 4 total photos of herself from newborn to 2 years old, I promise you, your baby will thank you one day as an adult. Newborn photography can be pricey, with good reason though. Myself and many other photographers in the Lehigh valley not only spend a few hours during the newborn photoshoot but have several hours of editing your baby. In addition, we spend so much time in education and are constantly investing in updating our newborn safety education as well. A short and sweet gives you a nice collection without breaking the bank… so to speak. 

If being in a hot studio for a few hours isn’t your thing, short and sweet might be right for you. Regular newborn sessions can take up to 3 hours, especially if there are siblings involved. The reason for the length is due to making sure baby is comfortable and sleepy, which could translate to multiple feedings and soothing techniques. I guarantee up to eight sets or looks, but often times deliver 10. Personally, seeing a professional newborn photographer handle my baby with grace and gentleness, while watching them work their magic for a few hours sounds like the best day ever, but I can appreciate that to some people that might sound like torture. 

A wrapped newborn session includes three sets and up to one hour of shooting, usually we are somewhere within 40 minutes. No attempts at getting baby to sleep will occur during a shortie sesh simply due to the time allotted. If baby needs to eat, of course they can eat, though. One offers a ton of variety and the option to do family photos and one doesn’t. 

My unposed newborn session will be somewhere in the middle as far as time goes. Baby’s tend to settle quite nicely when snuggled against mama’s chest and we will be letting baby lead the way during that session.

A full posed newborn session will give you a gallery of anywhere from 45-65+ photos to choose 20 from depending on baby’s cooperation. Same as with my unposed sessions. A newborn shortie will give you approximately 25-30 images to choose 5 from. Big difference. Both packages have the option to buy all the digitals in your gallery for a discounted rate. If you’re making photo books or looking for a nice variety of images to display around your home, one of the full sessions is probably right for you. 

Here is an example of photos you would find in a fully edited “All About That Baby” gallery from some of my beautiful newborns, shared with permission of course!

Next up are a few examples showcasing the vibe of the “Organic & Unposed” neutral lifestyle in-studio session:

And here is what to expect from a newborn short and sweet in my Lehigh Valley photography studio!

As you can see, there are some major differences. It comes down to your preference. If family photos with your tiny newborn are speaking to your mama heart, then let’s get you booked with a fully posed newborn session or my “Organic” newborn session offering. 

If a few photos putting a spotlight on that new little bundle sounds like enough to you, let’s get you booked with a short and sweet sesh. Click here to get started and remember, payment plans are a courtesy we offer now. Let us know if you need something set up. 

Thanks for stopping by, it means the world to me that you made it to the end. 

Drop a comment if you found this helpful or even better, share with someone who is expecting and always remember, the value of a photograph is only realized long after it’s taken. You’ll never look back at photos you’ve had made and said, “man, I wish I’d never done that!” 

Can’t wait to see you at the studio! Blessings and love,  LG

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