Safety is the #1 Priority

I believe that gorgeous photographs of your child's milestones is one of the greatest gifts you can give yourself and your child. However, your child is an even greater gift, and no photograph, however beautiful, is worth putting your precious little one at risk. Any responsible newborn photographer will take various precautions to make sure your little one is kept safe. Here I want to talk about some of these precautions so that you know what to expect during your session and to put your mind at ease about the safety of your little one when you entrust them into my hands.

1) Posers - posers are key to providing support for your baby's head, neck, and legs while posing in baskets, on a flokati, and on the posing table. In my studio, I have numerous posers specifically made for newborn photography, and I always ensure that baby is supported and secure.

2) Counterweights - I actually use flat weights in the bottom of buckets and in baskets as needed to provide counterweights and ensure stability on the ground for props.

3) Assistance - For some poses, such as bucket pose, I will ask parents to assist me, supporting baby from behind t o ensure that baby doesn't pull backwards during posing. For these types of poses, I also have the parent right next to baby as a spotter while I snap the pictures.

4) Composites and photoshopping - Certain poses require photoshop magic to create. I don't personally do the froggy pose right now in which baby's head is rested on her upright hands (this is not to say that it can't be safely done, I just don't feel comfortable doing it at this time), but for a pose like this, baby should NEVER be left without hands on to support. The final image is actually a composite of two images, one in which one hand (of the photographer or their assistant) is momentarily removed from the top of the head, while the other hand is still holding baby's arms, and then vice versa. Another pose that is often a composite or photoshopped is upright potato pose, in which baby is wrapped and vertical to the ground. Often, I have a parent's hand against the back of baby's head and then cut it out in photoshop. At the very least, I will always have a parent (or assistant) right next to baby as a spotter as I'm taking pictures of this pose and some of the other poses I do, including bucket pose.

5) Baby Led - Listening and watching for baby's cues is of utmost importance. This includes ensuring that baby's hands and feet retain a normal color, indicating proper circulation, and that in general, we don't force baby into positions and poses that they are clearly uncomfortable with. Now, sometimes it can take several minutes to pose baby, or sometime if baby seems upset, we will take a break to feed/soothe and try again. But if baby is simply not having a pose, I won't force it. Usually, simplicity is best. I don't like to get too crazy with posing. A baby will tell me where they want to be!