Newborn photography posing

Posing guide for newborns

One of the questions that I’m most frequently asked by my clients is what poses should I expect to see during my newborn photo session? I’ve created blog post as a guide to detail those key poses and better understand newborn photo shoot safety basics. Photographing newborn always is a joyous event! This is your little one’s first professional photo shoot. The expressions will be spontaneous and the beauty of the image emerges directly from your newborn’s fragility and innocence. If you are planning a session, see how a newborn session works at my Barking studio.

As a newborn photographer, my first goal is to ensure that your baby is safe and comfortable throughout the photo session. This means that I keep my studio at the correct temperature as baby is not yet able to regulate body temp themselves. If I use props, those are weighted on the bottom to be certain that they won’t topple. And most importantly, I modify poses and workflow if necessary. I’m flexible. Not all babies will go in to every pose and forcing them just makes no sense. I always have a plan B and even C if needed.

My second goal is to capture everything about your little baby in a way that it will never be again. I want to document those pouty lips, tiny fingers and toes, and of course those adorable wrinkles on newborn baby’s back. Keeping your little one’s safety and comfort top of mind, my newborn photo session workflow typically focuses on 8 main poses. It is within each of these poses that I incorporate props, wraps and hats that help to bring out newborn baby’s personality and your own personal style preferences.

1. Frogy pose

This pose is the most requested by parents as it is considered the quintessential newborn pose. This pose can truly highlight your baby’s tiny features. Legs are by the side of baby and hands are placed under the chin cupped. Most babies really enjoy this pose and they can readily be soothed to sleep while in it. Parents love it too because we get those squishy cheeks! Please note that with Froggy pose, we shoot several shots to composite together in post processing.  This is for safety and I never compromise.

2. Bump up

Bump up pose is my personal favorite because you can capture everything at once. Facial features, flexibility, and those baby fat rolls. We use several different props and wraps to add variety and make certain that all parts are covered.

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3. Wrapped

Many times, wrapping a newborn baby to this pose is the only way to get them to completely relax during a session.  And that’s okay. After all, there’s a reason that I refer to babies as “bundles of joy”. They look incredibly adorable all wrapped up. To get variation with this pose, I tuck hands in, pull them out and I can even use wrapped poses inside many different props.

4. Side sleeping

Side sleeping poses are where I work the angles and use variations on hand placement and well as wrapping techniques. This pose is far from boring. Often times, this pose can bring a tear to parents eyes as they notice the absolute serenity of their sleeping newborn.

5. Taco

Taco pose sometimes called the womb pose, this newborn position offers up the ability to showcase all of baby’s special features, those of the face as well as fingers and toes.

6. Chin on hands

This is another pose that offers up the “cutest moments”. This pose can be done within a prop or simply on the bean bag and can be shot from multiple angles.  I love this pose because I tend to get sweet little baby smiles while I’m snapping away.

7. Potato pose

This is an advanced pose that takes training and experience. Baby is wrapped snugly and supported, and I only offer it when baby is calm and comfortable. If baby isn’t happy, we simply move on. The result is a sweet, cosy portrait you’ll want to keep.

8. Parents and siblings

Of course I focus on capturing mom and dad as well as siblings in each newborn photo session. These are cherished images and definitely my clients favorites!

While this isn’t everything that I fit in to a session, this gives you a good idea of what you can expect from a newborn session in my studio as well as what types of poses will be filling your gallery.  As any newborn photographer would, I encourage all of my clients to ask questions about both posing and safety.  I’m more than happy to talk this through and to tailor a session based on preferred poses.

To see real sessions, take a look at the newborn gallery, and see what is included in each of the newborn packages. All sessions take place at my studio in Barking.

EvaGud photography