Lifestyle vs Posed Portrait Session - Chicago's Premier Newborn Photographer

Lifestyle vs. Posed Newborn Sessions

Hannah Drews Photography offers two kinds of sessions for documenting this unique moment in your child's life. Choose between a lifestyle portrait session or a posed session based on your desired outcome from our time together. We are thrilled to work with you in creating one-of-a-kind imagery that will commemorate this amazing family event. Read on to learn more!

What is a Lifestyle Session?

We find that lifestyle portraits are an ideal way to portray the raw emotion of the moment. Candid images, unposed, artistically capture things just as they are; real moments frozen in time for you and your family to enjoy over and over. They may additionally include shots of mom and dad, siblings, and even the family pet interacting with baby! 


Lifestyle sessions do not require as much time as a posed session, and are ideal for fussy babies who have difficulty falling asleep, or babies older than 14 days. A typical lifestyle session lasts anywhere from 30 minutes to 2 hours, depending on baby. 

What is a Posed Session?

Posed sessions may take a bit more time and elbow grease than lifestyle, but it's well worth the work! With a few props and cooperation from baby, posed sessions result in images that will make the whole family, friends, and Facebook buds go Ga-Ga. Cute hats, baskets, and blankets surround your little one while we capture Baby slumbering in adorable poses. A typical posed session may last anywhere from 2 to 3 hours, and generally requires cooperation from mom and dad. We require a minimum of 3 hours per session to ensure we get the best (and most adorable) results.

If you’re having trouble deciding which type of session you’d like for your newborn, please don’t hesitate to contact us with any questions - we’ll be happy to work with you one on one to create beautiful and meaningful heirloom imagery!

All pricing info can be found here

Hannah Drews of Hannah Drews Photography is an award-winning photographer serving the city of Chicago as well as the surrounding suburbs. She specializes in Chicago newborn photography, Chicago child photography and Chicago family photography and works primarily with beautiful, natural light. Booking with Hannah Drews Photography ensures you will receive a timeless portrait that you and your family will cherish for a lifetime. Her style is classic, natural, and simple.

Andrea & Patrick- Chicago Wedding and Engagement Photography

I met Andrea on my first day of Spanish class at The University of Michigan. We sat next to each other and quickly became great amigas :-) We shared a passion for travel, hiking, and saving the environment so it was fitting that we both decided to spend a summer in Wyoming doing geology fieldwork in the Teton Mountains. Our friendship grew over the next few years and between moves to Detroit, Chicago, Fort Myers, Miami, and MI, we have remained close. I was SO thrilled when Andrea and Patrick became engaged and I immediately offered to be their wedding photographer. Her wedding took place in Northern MI at a gorgeous barn owned by a family friend. We collected wildflowers in the morning for the centerpieces (so pretty!) and also dealt with torrential downpours and power outages. The moment Andrea opened the door and took her first step down the aisle, the clouds parted and the sun started to shine. To say it was a beautiful day is an understatement. It was such a honor to be a part of Andrea and Patrick's wedding and I know their life will be filled with amazing adventures (they are on their way to Kenya now!) 

Congratulations you two <3  

Hannah Drews of Hannah Drews Photography is an award-winning photographer serving the city of Chicago  as well as the surrounding suburbs. She specializes in Chicago newborn photography, Chicago child photography and Chicago family photography and works primarily with beautiful, natural light. Booking with Hannah Drews Photography ensures you will receive a timeless portrait that you and your family will cherish for a lifetime. Her style is classic, natural, and simple.

Baby Julia- Chicago Six Month Photo Session

I have yet to meet a difficult 6-month old, and Miss Julia was just a smiley, adorable dream. I met this little lady when she was just a week old and it was such a pleasure to see this family again! We met at the lovely Women's Garden in the South Loop and besides the loud and distracting lawn mowers, it was the perfect photo shoot location. I am so excited to see how she grows in the coming months and I will be seeing her again for her first birthday photo shoot, can't wait! 

Hannah Drews of Hannah Drews Photography is an award-winning photographer serving the city of Chicago  as well as the surrounding suburbs. She specializes in Chicago newborn photography, Chicago child photography and Chicago family photography and works primarily with beautiful, natural light. Booking with Hannah Drews Photography ensures you will receive a timeless portrait that you and your family will cherish for a lifetime. Her style is classic, natural, and simple.

Hello, Leo! - Chicago Newborn Baby Portraits

What a handsome fella! This guy was so little when I met him, just over 6 lbs, but already full of personality. His parents requested neutral colors (my favorite), so I made sure to bring along some cute gray and cream props. I love incorporating lifestyle images with the whole family, and Leo gave me a wide variety of emotions while cuddled in his mom's arms. He smiled, he cried, and he gave the saddest little pout. I think it was just his way of saying he was sad the session was coming to an end   :-)  Welcome to the world, Leo! 

Hannah Drews of Hannah Drews Photography is an award-winning photographer serving the city of Chicago  as well as the surrounding suburbs. She specializes in Chicago newborn photography, Chicago child photography and Chicago family photography and works primarily with beautiful, natural light. Booking with Hannah Drews Photography ensures you will receive a timeless portrait that you and your family will cherish for a lifetime. Her style is classic, natural, and simple.

Hello, William!- Chicago Newborn Photography

Oh, this little boy was such a sweetheart! He did SO well during his first photo shoot, and he was just as sleepy as can be. I loved trying out my DIY dyed flokati for the first time. I was going for a navy color, but am pretty happy with this blue/gray that I ended up with! Will is one of my Ultimate First Year babies, so you will be seeing more of his adorable face in the coming months! 

Hannah Drews of Hannah Drews Photography is an award-winning photographer serving the city of Chicago  as well as the surrounding suburbs. She specializes in Chicago newborn photography, Chicago child photography and Chicago family photography and works primarily with beautiful, natural light. Booking with Hannah Drews Photography ensures you will receive a timeless portrait that you and your family will cherish for a lifetime. Her style is classic, natural, and simple.