Where the magic happens

Most newborn and baby shoots take place in my natural light home based studio. It’s quiet and comfortable with all the props and goodies we could ever need.

 

  1. Thank you for sharing pictures of your space and for generously responding to every question above. Much appreciation!

  2. Christina says:

    Thank you for posting this and answering all the comments! Your space is lovely!

  3. Virginie says:

    Hi Laurie!

    Congratulations on your work. It is a great source of inspiration! poetic!

    I wanted to know about the thing where you put the baby oval, has wheels? as it is called exactly? I’ve seen it used in various photographers … where you can get?

    Thank you very much!

  4. christina says:

    When you use the 50mm do you shoot wide open (1.4) or do you change this with light conditions?

  5. Brad says:

    Where do you find your blankets and afghans used in your newborn photos? I love the colors and variety. I especially like the brown textured one in photo DSC_8334.
    Beautiful work!

  6. Angela stryland says:

    Hi Laurie,
    I LOVE your work. I am currently looking to do this myself. I really love your website. May I ask did you create it yourself? If so may I asked what you used?

    Thank you
    Angela

  7. Melissa says:

    Hi Laurie,

    I am in process of getting a studio space planned and would love to know what color wood your floor is? Is it real wood? Or wood planks etc? I’m trying to decide on going light, or dark with the wood…any advice on how you made your decision?

    Thanks!

  8. Alex says:

    Would love to know where you got your light diffusing roller shade? I have been looking everywhere and can’t seem to find anything. (at least anything in the states) Your LIGHT is amazing! I would really appreciate any direction you might have. Thank you so much!!!

  9. jael says:

    Hi laurie, im also trying to set up a small home business. I have a canon t3 but am looking to uograde. What camera do you have and what editing programs do you use? Thanks again Jael:)

  10. Jael says:

    Hi Laura I am starting my photography business and was wondering what kind if camera you use also. Do you only do natural lighting. Thanks again your work is amazing

  11. Terri Lynn Blanchard says:

    Hi Laura. Love your studio. My husband and I are about to venture into a home studio. We were wondering how wide your backdrops are and where did you get the brackets? Thanks.

  12. Katie says:

    Hi Laurie,

    I love your light filtering blind, but can’t seem to find one similar…Would you mind sending me a direct link to the selection on their website?

    Thank you so much – happy holidays!

  13. I’ve been studying many newborn photographers. Some shoot in natural light some with studio light. Could you advise on the pros and cons of each? Thanks!

    • Laurie Sachs says:

      I know photographers who shoot amazing newborn portraits with both natural and studio light. I think it depend what your studio set up is, there are parts of the country where year round natural light just isn’t available. I think the best studio lighting is when you can’t tell if it’s studio or natural light. For me, why waste all this Southern California sunshine?

  14. Lilah says:

    Hi Laura,
    You have a great studio and beautiful work! Thanks for sharing! I know this is a very old post… but I had a question that I did not see answered in previous comments so thought I’d try. What size seamless rolls do you have mounted? It looks like the smaller size…does this size work for individuals as well as families? Just wondering what I should start out with. Also, what is the color of the top roll? Thanks!

  15. Linda says:

    I dream of having a studio space as big and beautiful as this. One day…one day. Great work.

  16. Jeremy says:

    Love these shots! What temperature do you keep it in there for the babies? :^)

  17. […] in my home studio is fairly small.  I’ve seen even smaller spaces used wonderfully (see Laurie Sachs and Milk and Honey), and honestly, my space is perfect for me.  The smaller space forces me to use […]

  18. debora says:

    Hello, i would like to know What kind of backgrondrol do u have, paper or vinyl

  19. Megan C says:

    You are gorgeous and your studio is amazing. Wish mine was that organized. I have baby props coming out of my ears lol. We use almost the same body and same lens….great minds think alike!

  20. Paula says:

    You have a beautiful studio! What are your favorite seamless rolls?

  21. Lisa says:

    WOW Laurie, talk about real inspiration! I found your blog post and just cannot thank you enough. You have made me make the final push in pursuing my dreams. The space I will have is 10×15. A bit smaller than yours, but I am going to make it work! I had a couple of questions if you do not mind. I am on Amazon searching for the wall mount brackets to hold the savage paper rolls. What size are your brackets and paper? Also I saw you purchased your bean bag through JC Penny. What kind of bean bag is it? Thanks so much <3

  22. janice najor says:

    hello,

    may I ask what kind of camera you use. I have the cannon rebel I just bought a 50mm lense.
    do you ever use flash? if so when?
    do you shoot in manual or aperture?
    where do you get most of your baby bucks from?

    -janice

  23. Alexis Carree says:

    Can you give me some advice. Im converting my living room in a make shift studio. I have a north facing window thats gives pretty good light doing the day. Which side should my wall mount backdrop go on ? And what is the best color ro pajnt the room ?

  24. VIOLETA says:

    Hello, i was wondering what material is your backdrop? Is it paper? what kind of paper? and where did you buy from?
    sorry for all the questions

  25. Jenn says:

    Hi Laurie,
    I know your a busy woman, as I can relate, with 4 and one on the way. :)
    My hubby is allowing me to build a studio outside our home and I’m trying to work with a budget (cause I have to pay for this in the long run). I have several ideas but I want big but I don’t want to be too crazy, as I do a lot of mini sessions with little ones and I like to do set ups and have a different area for newborn sessions at the same time, it’s a lot of work to setup and take down, so I like to make less work for myself. LOL. 1. I’m wondering if I had windows facing south in one room and a window off the east, will that ruin the single diffused light from one direction? 2. I’m planning on putting up a divider wall and have light from the north, wondering if tha’s a bad idea, I thought if it’s super sunny out, that I can use the north room instead. 3. Size of my room, I would like to try is have two 18’x18′ have the two walls on east and west and the light coming from north or south with a divider wall inbtw to separate the light. 4. Is four studio walls a bit crazy? 5. Lastly, if you had the option to build your own studio, what would be your must have and what not to worry too much on having…As I will have to have a bathroom with laundry and entry way that also can be a waiting area and STORAGE!
    Sorry for the super long post! But I’m also self taught and I had a lot of trial and errors along the way and don’t want to screw this up, cause once it’s built, I can’t change it. ;)

    • Laurie Sachs says:

      Hi Jenn,
      I think having several shooting areas set up sounds amazing! As far as multiple light sources that’s going to be hard to tell until it’s set up. You want to keep your light dirrectional, if you find that too much light from various angles is giving you flat light you could always use movable v flats to shield some of that light. If you can have a bathroom and laundry attached, beautiful. I like diffused south facing light, but I shot for years with northfacing light- that’s what most natural light photographers do. I think you can make and direction work as long as you have some sort of diffusion ready. My studio is 10 x 20, so what you’re working with sounds like a dream. I’ve moved my office area to an adjacent room giving me more space and storage in the studio. Must haves for me are storage, easily accesible bathroom, somewhere you can display products, a coffee machine ;) ) Somewhere you can sit down at go over images on a computer and finalize orders, etc…

  26. Angela says:

    Hi Laurie,
    I LOVE LOVE LOVE your work. I recently opened my new studio and I am so happy that I get to do what I love the most. I have a question for you. I really want to expand my product line. Right now I order my products from different places depending what it is. I would like to order from only one place but can’t find anything here in Canada. I would like to try ordering from the US but would like some suggestions on who to try. What lab do you use for your products?

  27. Danielle Steele says:

    Hi Laura
    Your work is gorgeous!
    My partner and I are planning to start a family very soon and i’m looking into creating my own little area for mini photo shoots.
    I noticed the walnut prop that the baby is laying in. I was wondering where you bought this from? I have tried searching all over the internet

    Thanks!! :) X

  28. Cynthia says:

    Hi Laurie,

    Thank you for sharing your home studio setup. Very inspiring! I noticed in the previous posts you mentioned that you shoot with a Nikon D700 camera body with a 1.4 50mm lens. I have both. What’s your iso typically set at and do you usually shoot wide open or at a set aperture? What aperture do you set your lens at for families and for individual portraits? Would greatly appreciate your feedback! I love your photos on your website! Absolutely breathtaking!

  29. Jill says:

    It is amazing that you answer everyone’s questions! I’m in the process of converting my garage into a studio and when the contractor asked me if I wanted glass doors or a large window for my light source, I wasn’t sure how to answer. Glass doors would let in more light low down but would also block some light where they meet in the middle. A window is higher up but wouldn’t have as much running across it. Do you have any advice that might help me in my plight? Lol Thanks in advance!

    • Laurie Sachs says:

      Hmm… honestly I would prefer the light going all the way to the floor. For my studio I thought it would be weird to have another set of doors on the front of my house or I’d have done that.

  30. Romy Saverys says:

    Hi Laurie , I tried for a long time to find the office that is present in your studio , unfortunately I can not find it. I know everyone asks you thousands of questions I wanted to ask you avoid one more, but where did you get this library office? I thank you in advance if you could give me the answer . Yours . Romy .

    Excuse my English, I live in France and it is difficult for me to find words.

  31. zane taylor says:

    Hi Laurie, Could you tell me how wide your backdrop rolls are? Thank you!

  32. Mona says:

    Hello Laurie, today i joined pin it and the first photos i saw from you and the baby lovely. i sure would love to learn more tips from your work.

  33. Ann wilcox says:

    Hi laurie, I’m 16and I really want to be a newborn photography. I’m wanting to buy a NIKON d3300 for my first camera. Do you have any advice

    • Laurie Sachs says:

      Hi Ann! A good entry level DSLR will serve you well, I shoot Nikon too but don’t know much about that particular body. As far as advice I’d suggest you get out and shoot as much as possible, it takes thousands of hours behind a camera to develop your artistic eye. Get an education! While an art of photography major would be awesome, I would recommend a business degree of some sort or a double major. You will spend way more time managing your business- marketing, bookkeeping, social media communications, etc… than you ever will taking pictures. Take those college years to hone your skills and set yourself up for success in business and life.

  34. Sinead York says:

    I can’t thank you enough for all your valuable information. I just had a total light bulb moment when I seen your home studio. I’m going to get up a little studio in my living area as it is split into two parts, I have a full length set of doors south facing….problem is I live in Northern Ireland which isn’t a particularly bright a sunning part of the world lol. Should I still have enough light coming in even with the cloudy days and a set of light diffusing blinds.

  35. Elsa says:

    Where did you find the white futon?

  36. Jessica says:

    What size are your back drops… I bought some from B&H 107 by 36 buy that cannot fit in my studio unfortunately I need smaller… Please help cause these need to be returned

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