One of the most common things I think about as a Boston newborn photographer is my style. Photographers tend to be in a never-ending mental battle between being a “light and airy” editor and a “dark and moody” one. While this is something that people in the industry often obsess over, it’s important for clients as well. When a potential client goes to your website, they want to know what to expect. If you have a portfolio of light and airy images and their gallery is full of moodiness and contrast, it’s confusing!

So what’s my style then?

I like to call my style ‘true to life’. What that means is that I am very inspired by the surroundings I am in. This means that my newborn and family galleries may not have the most consistent look and feel. My clients are all unique with different styles and I do my best to embrace that!

You’ll notice that the images I am sharing in this post from my most recent Boston newborn session are pretty light and airy. This is because their home was light and bright! Their furniture was white, cream, and light pink. Accessories in their nursery were also all neutral and muted tones. Their walls all have white or beige paint. What this will translate to is: light and bright images.

What if my home doesn’t match my vision for my Boston newborn session?

I find this situation to be fairly unusual! Typically speaking, if you’re someone who likes bolder or darker colors on your walls, you probably don’t mind a bolder look in your family photos! If you’re someone with white and cream decor, you probably aren’t looking for moody newborn photographs. But let’s say that you are in a rental or other situation where it’s not decorated to your taste. You can “lighten” the feel of your images by choosing light and muted colored clothing for your family members. Choosing a white or neutral color crib sheet also helps! Don’t have a light bedspread for your master? Pull it off and use the white sheets as your backdrop.

Or maybe you have the opposite situation! Maybe your walls are white and you love images with contrast and color. Incorporate that with your clothing! Choose swaddle blankets that have a pop of color. Your outfit and accessory choices will make a huge impact!

What if my Boston newborn session is outdoors?

With outdoor sessions, it’s definitely important to pay attention to the style of the photographer you select. I shoot nearly exclusively at golden hour. Golden hour gives a warm, contrasty glow to images and trends slightly towards a moodier image. If you’re not a fan of that sun-soaked rich color look, no amount of choosing lighter outfits will change the look to “light and airy”. Choosing lighter or darker outfits *can* slide the scale towards a little less or a little more moody though!

Summing It All Up!

In conclusion, if you’re a prospective client looking at a Boston newborn photographer’s portfolio, make sure you like the majority of what you see. If you love images with white walls and white decor, that look will likely be what you’ll get if your walls and decor are also white. Pick outfits and accessories that compliment and enhance the style you are drawn to. If you’re a fellow photographer: make sure you are showing the types of images you want clients to fall in love with!