A sleepy newborn close up shot with baby’s eyes closed. Baby is held in the palms of large hands. Baby looks serene in New Jersey photo shoot by Nicole Hawkins Photography. #newbornportraits #newbornstudioshoots #NewJerseyPhotographers #NJfamilyphoto

As a newborn photographer, I have experienced many types of newborn sessions. I have traveled to clients’ homes, to grandparents' houses, and even outdoors to take newborn portraits. Today, however, I am talking about studio newborn sessions. These are my top five reasons why you should book your newborn session in my Maplewood, NJ, portrait studio.

Calming Environment for Newborns

First, the studio is tailor-made for newborn babies. The studio is warm, quiet, and calm. We understand that newborn babies are most comfortable in this kind of environment, and comfortable babies make for stress-free sessions and beautiful images. Whether it is older siblings, visitors, etc., clients’ homes after having a baby are not always the most calming environment for photos. The studio provides a serene space for new families to document this time with fewer distractions.

No Cleaning Necessary

The first few weeks with a new baby at home can be absolutely exhausting. You will be running on very little sleep and learning to keep a tiny human alive! In the mayhem that ensues, it is natural for the cleaning to fall on the back burner for a little while. There are more important things to worry about. Taking your family into the portrait studio for your newborn session rather than an in-home session means that you do not need to worry about the shape of your home right now. You can relax and know that the photo areas are clean, clear, and ready to go.

Get out of the house.

While it may seem like a con that you need to leave the house with your infant for a studio session, this actually makes my top-five list. Most of the newborns that I document are around two weeks old. There are not many places where you can safely take your two-week-old baby out with you. For many of my clients, being able to get out of the house for the first time in weeks is a wonderful thing. You are able to get out and be in a new place, knowing that it is a sanitized and safe environment for your new addition.

Studio Wardrobe

My Essex County portrait studio provides the option of using our studio wardrobe. Not only can you avoid the cost of outfits for the family, but I keep my wardrobe options up-to-date and stylish. The mom in this week’s studio session was very excited about this option. She chose four dresses that she loved, and I made sure that they were steamed and ready to wear when she arrived.

Cohesive Images

Last, the studio allows for consistent and cohesive images. If you want to create a gallery wall in your home with photos from several sessions, it is a good idea to hold your sessions in-studio. The lighting in the studio is beautiful, and the backgrounds are bright and clean. I love working with clients over a long period of time and adding to their gallery walls and/or photo albums.