Gamechanging Photography Gear For Lifestyle Newborn Sessions

when i was first starting out photographing lifestyle newborn sessions, i was always worried about bringing enough gear.  in fact, i was so worried that i just started bringing anything and everything i owned…just in case i were to need it.  and time after time, i only used the same two lenses.  after years of photographing lifestyle newborn sessions, i feel like i know my dream lenses and pack only those.  in addition to lenses, i also bring a few other items with me to ensure that i can photograph a session successfully.  here a little peak at my game changing photography gear for lifestyle newborn sessions.

need help getting your clients more comfortable?  check out creating client comfort during lifestyle newborn sessions.

this post contains affiliate links.  thank you in advance for supporting bethadilly photography.

Gamechanging Photography Gear For Lifestyle Newborn Sessions

everything that i bring with me fits in my camera bag.  i think this is important to note because i don’t want to arrive at my clients home with arms full of gear and bags, it can seem a little overwhelming to the client who just brought a new baby home.  and let’s be real, their home is already swimming with the reality of new baby items everywhere.  i am not telling you not to bring things that are big that you actually will use, but maybe be mindful of looking like you are moving in.

A Wide Angle Lens

when it comes to game changing photography gear for lifestyle newborn sessions, my favorite lens and most used lens during my lifestyle newborn sessions is my sigma 24mm f/1.4 art lens.  this lens not only takes super crisp photos, but it also works really well in small spaces.  because i photograph my lifestyle newborn sessions sight unseen, i love that this lens offers me the peace of mind that i can work in small spaces, should that be what i show up to find.  also, being that the goal of lifestyle photography is to document families in their homes, a wide angle lens is a must in getting my subjects, and well as their surroundings, all comfortably within the frame.

A Backup Camera Body

my primary camera is the nikon d750 but i bring a second camera body, my nikon d610, for two reasons.  the first reasons is obvious, in case something happens to my primary camera, i have a backup.  the second reason i bring a backup camera to my sessions is so i can place another lens on it and shoot simultaneously with two lenses.  i love having my sigma 24mm f/1.4 art on my nikon d750 and my sigma 50mm f/1.4 art on my nikon d610 so i don’t waste time switching lenses out.  i like to use all my time actually photographing, especially to take advantage of a new baby’s good mood.

A Portrait Lens

the second and final lens i bring with me is my sigma 50mm f/1.4 art lens, a portrait lens.  i primarily use this lens when i am taking individual portraits of the baby or want to capture details such as their hair, toes, hands, face, etc.  i love that this lens allows the baby to be the focus, allowing me to lower the aperture to create a soft blur around the baby for a beautiful portrait.

Monopod

i put a monopod in my camera bag, just in case i should need to steady my camera during a session.  i only bring this out around 5% of the time during newborn sessions, it is just a backup option should i arrive at a home that is super dark and i need more support to steady my camera to get the photo in low light.  it’s one of those things that i barely use, but can save a session if needed so i make sure to pack it.

after years of photographing newborns, i finally feel that i am carrying my dream photography gear for lifestyle newborn sessions.  of course, the photographer is the brains behind the creativity and success of the session, but having the right gear helps to be successful with that vision.  by bringing only two lenses, a backup camera and a monopod, i feel that i am more than prepared to photograph and feel even more confident because of the gear i am using.

be sure to join my exclusive email list to receive my latest photography tips and tutorials.  it’s free!

need some photography tips + inspiration?  check out what posts are trending below!