Newborn baby photo shoots

I help you capture this precious time

Baby needs to be between 6-14 days old during the session. Otherwise, it’s considered “Infant Photography” which is different. If you are interested in infant photography I would be happy to refer you to someone who specializes in that. All of my newborn photography studies have been in early newborns and how to safely get those photos for you. After about 3.5 weeks of age, those tricks and tips no longer work as the baby is less bendy and sleepy.

I used to wonder how photographers get babies to sleep for newborn sessions. It all felt like a big mystery to me. The more I do it, the more I get that it’s actually kind of simple. It’s not always easy, but preparation is key. Every baby is different, but in general, I find that my bag of tricks works on all newborns.

Above all else, I want you to go into the session knowing that I am flexible. Those first couple of weeks with a baby is a very tender time, emotionally and physically. I’ll be as efficient as possible to respect your timeframe, but know that we’ll go at your pace to ensure that you and your newborn are as comfortable as possible.

Let’s talk about your baby photos

Newborn Photography Safety

One of the most common questions I get asked as a newborn photographer is how I make all the images look so perfect. These are squirmy, fussy (absolutely adorable) infants that we’re photographing, after all, and the goal is to create a serene, sometimes almost other-worldly, scene.

The truth is that we work a lot of magic during and after the shoot, primarily with a little trick referred to as composite imagery. In short, we combine multiple photos into one—in post-processing—in order to create the finished result. Sometimes it’s a matter of capturing a better expression in one image and then combining it with another photo where the positioning is better. In other cases, we’re combining a backdrop scene with the image of your baby. This is done both for aesthetic effect, and also to ensure your child’s safety. For example, sometimes it looks like a newborn is hanging out on a motorcycle or nestled in a swing. These would be dangerous poses to actually attempt, so we rely on composite.

Speaking of newborn safety, it’s our absolute number one priority in any newborn photo session and we won’t do anything the parent isn’t comfortable with. On that note, when hiring a newborn photographer, it’s imperative that your preferred photographer is trained not just in how to wield a camera, but in how to ensure your baby is kept happy, comfortable, and safe throughout the session. The means relying on natural light or soft flashes when photographing a baby, posing babies in a way that’s safe and comfortable while also beautiful, and utilizing post-processing techniques—such as composite imagery, eliminating jaundice, and even smoothing out things like scratches and blotchy skin that are very common with newborns. The bottom line is that there are things that a seasoned newborn photographer will know how to do well that novice shooters simply don’t know about. You’ll often find that newborn images are more expensive than other types, but that cost is a reflection of this key knowledge and attention to detail. If you ask us, it’s worth hiring a seasoned pro for newborn photography 100% of the time.