January 2019 Update to this post: Big news! We are now offering in home newborn sessions again. A few important things to note: in home sessions look different than studio sessions because I don’t travel with my extensive newborn setup that is in the studio. This means your baby will be photographed in your arms and be wrapped in a blanket that you have on hand, and that your family will dress in your own clothing. Because I am not wrapping and posing your baby, you will not need to worry about sessions lasting longer than 2 hours unless we have an unusually fussy baby. In Home sessions are scheduled on weekdays only (the time depends on the best natural lighting in your home!), and travel fees may apply for locations more than 20 minutes from the studio. Lastly (and this one is important!!!): I don’t travel to homes that have had or currently have cats on site due to severe allergies that would lead to my departing for the emergency room. Contact us to discuss the differences between in home and studio sessions and decide what’s best for your needs and vision!
I am often asked to travel for newborn sessions by clients here in Atlanta who think an in home session would be "better" or "easier". I used to be an on location newborn photographer, but found that it was so stressful for my clients, and that sessions were lasting much longer than they needed to. I wanted to make the client experience amazing and consistent, so I opened my studio in 2013, and have never looked back!
So, I wanted to take the time to write a post addressing the specific reasons why in home sessions are not better, and why you'll love the studio experience!
Yours truly behind the scenes. Photo credit: Liz Cook.
The typical client that hires me comes to my website, views my portfolio, and decides that they love my style and the work that they see. That's perfect, because that's exactly why I want to be hired by you!
So, why come to the studio? Why is it better than my coming to your house? Let me share the most important reasons.
LIGHTING: In order to guarantee you the quality and consistency of the work you hired me for, coming to the studio is essential. My studio has the perfect natural lighting and is painted in the exact neutral tones needed to produce the light infused and emotive images that I am known for. Trying to find a place in your home where the light is sufficient can be very difficult. That difficulty is actually the very reason that I opened a studio!
COLOR: Many homes are decorated with beautiful colors, from paint on the walls to brightly colored couches, but these same colors will cause color casting on your images and aren't neutral. Neutral tones are what make my portfolio look the way it does, and I cannot produce that work in a house with ruby red walls or purple couches.
TEMPERATURE: Getting your home warm enough in the area where you might have sufficient light is difficult. Sometimes the only place that will work is the foyer by your front door, which is almost impossible to get warm enough even with a space heater due to the high ceiling. The studio is heated to 80-85 degrees to keep your newborn comfortable and asleep. Trying to heat one single room in your house is pretty difficult, and will likely be miserable for all involved. If a newborn is too cold, they are usually awake and crying from being uncomfortable. In my studio, you don't have to worry about this since it's not a factor.
CLUTTER: We all know it's survival mode for the first few weeks with a newborn. Trying to clean your house and make sure it's not cluttered for images that don't have distracting elements shouldn't be added to your to do list. Coming to the studio eliminates that entirely.
TIME: Who wants their newborn session to last for 5+ hours? I'm pretty sure no one does. But if your house is cluttered, isn't warm enough, or doesn't have the right lighting, a lot of time will be spent trying to fix these things which equals a longer day for you and your newborn. In the studio, you simply follow the easy instructions in your newborn prep packet that is sent to you in the week beforehand, and show up. The average newborn session takes two hours or less depending on how often your baby wants to eat.
COMMON CONCERNS: While it's understandable that new parents are a little bit nervous about getting out of the house for a newborn session, there's no need to be! In fact, my clients all remark on how nice it was to get out of the house as their studio session is often their very first outing with their baby to a safe and private place. A place where it doesn't matter if your baby spits up all over you and themselves, cries, needs a diaper change, or needs to nurse for twenty minutes.
I'm a mother to three children of my own, and I remember the newborn days so well. I designed the studio and the client experience specifically to make it as easy on new moms as possible.
I'm not kidding when I state that literally everything is taken care of for you at my studio. If you manage to forget your diaper bag on the way out of your house, that's not a problem. I've got you covered. The studio is equipped with everything a new mom might need: from extra disposable nursing pads to newborn sized onesies if you forgot a change of clothing and your newborn's diaper decides to not hold up.
My favorite part of being a maternity and newborn photographer is being able to encourage my clients who are new mothers. The transition is always challenging, whether you're having your first or third baby - and I'm here to cheer you on and tell you that you're doing a phenomenal job as a mother. Sometimes we need to hear that, because it's easy to forget in the fog of the newborn stage.
Dads enjoy kicking back on the couch and taking some time for themselves during sessions. I've lost count of the number of dads who treat themselves to a little nap! Siblings have fun getting out of the house and going somewhere new. The studio is located right down the street from Grant Park and Zoo Atlanta, so many a grandparent has accompanied my clients and then whisked big brother and/or sister off to have some fun while we finish up.
For moms worried about being able to have the time to do their hair and makeup beforehand, we have an awesome hair and makeup artist that works with us! Her services are available as an add on to your session, and she meets you at the studio at your session start time. You can relax with a snack and drink from the studio fridge while she works her magic, and I'll get started photographing your baby alone, with your partner, and their sibling(s). If you're wearing something from the studio wardrobe, this means that ALL you have to do is roll out of bed, brush your teeth and your hair, and head to the studio. We'll take care of the rest. Your newborn session should be enjoyable and a fun experience.
Are you ready to book your newborn session at the studio? We're booking through October 2016 as of this blog post, and some months are already full. Please reserve your session early to guarantee my availability. Just click here to request your session. I can't wait to work with you and your growing family!
Lily Sophia Photography specializes in newborn, baby, maternity, and birth photography in Atlanta, Georgia and surrounding areas.