If you’re pregnant or recently had a baby, and wanting to capture all the tiny, details of your newborn and this perfectly messy and wild stage of life, maybe you are asking yourself whether you should do in-home newborn photos or a studio newborn session?
Well, lucky for you – I can help. As a newborn photographer on the North Shore of Massachusetts (#SEOwhatever) I get this question all the time—and I’ll tell you right now: there is no “better” choice. There’s only what works best for you in this season of life (which, let’s be honest, is usually fueled by coffee, maybe some lexapro, and probably very little sleep).
So let’s talk it through.
In-home newborn photography is exactly what it sounds like: I come to you. No packing the diaper bag like you’re leaving for a three-day vacation. No timing feeds around a drive. No forgetting the pacifier and realizing it halfway down Route 128. You stay home, in your sweatpants, with your baby, and we take photos in the spaces where your life is actually happening.
These sessions tend to feel really relaxed and personal. We’ll use natural light from your windows, your couch, your bed, your nursery—the places where you’re already spending your days. The photos tell the story of this moment in your life, not a perfectly styled version of it. Big siblings can grab snacks, wander in and out, and take breaks without it being a whole thing. Babies can be fed, changed, and snuggled without anyone watching the clock.
If you love photos that feel warm, emotional, and real—like a snapshot of your life exactly as it is—an in-home newborn session is usually a great fit.
Now, if reading all that made you think, “But my house is chaos and I don’t want it in photos forever,” let’s talk studio newborn photography.
Studio sessions are simple in the best possible way. You show up, everything is set up, and the focus is completely on your baby and your connection as a family. No worrying about light. No wondering which room we’ll use. No panic-cleaning five minutes before I arrive (which, by the way, is never necessary—but I know it happens anyway).
My studio is designed to feel calm and comfortable, which a lot of parents appreciate in those early newborn weeks. The lighting is consistent and flattering, the backgrounds are clean and timeless, and the images feel classic and uncluttered. If you’re craving simplicity, quiet, and photos that won’t show how much laundry was piled on your couch that week, studio newborn photos are a great option.
The only real downside? You do have to leave the house with a newborn—which can feel like a big ask depending on the day. Some parents are totally fine with it. Others would rather not even think about pants yet. Both are valid.
So how do you decide?
Here’s the question I usually ask my clients: Where will you feel the most relaxed?
Because relaxed parents make better photos. Always.
If being home feels easier, choose in-home newborn photography. If walking into a space where everything is already done for you sounds like a relief, choose the studio. Neither option is more meaningful than the other—they’re just different ways of documenting the same fleeting, emotional season.
And if you’re still unsure, that’s okay. I help families decide every single week. We’ll talk about your home, your comfort level, your other kids, and what kind of photos you’re drawn to. There’s no pressure to choose what’s trendy or what someone else did—you get to choose what feels right for you.
So if you’re expecting and looking for newborn photography on the North Shore of Massachusetts or Boston, I’d love to help you figure out which option makes the most sense for your family. And if the answer is “whatever requires the least amount of effort right now,” I promise—you’re not alone.
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