Keep the Room Warm
Aside from making sure your newborn has a full belly, you’ll also want to ensure the room is toasty warm to keep baby comfortable. “There’s nothing worse than trying to pose a sweet little baby with an air conditioner blasting,” says photographer Charlie Juliet. “No matter how hot it is outside, keep it room-temperature indoors. A cold baby won’t sleep well through a photoshoot, so I try to keep the room as cozy as I can without everyone melting.”
Have Props at the Ready
Baby is of course the star of the photoshoot—but adding in a few props can really make your newborn pictures shine. Need some ideas? “Most people have things around their house they can use,” Mohr says. “Household baskets or Moses baskets can all work well as a prop for your baby. Make sure to put lots of padding on top so baby is comfortable! Baby’s safety and comfort are always the most important things to consider.”
Another handy prop to have: a breastfeeding pillow, like the Boppy. “It can go a long way in helping you nail the perfect photo of baby,” Sulcov says. “Whether your little one is asleep or awake, it’ll keep your hands free and baby upright with their neck protected. Placing a blanket or swaddle over the Boppy will help hide the prop—just avoid big, bright patterns that could get distracting.”
Put Safety First
It’s easy to obsess over styling the perfect newborn picture, but safety should always come first. “Never leave baby unattended, especially around pets,” Marleau cautions. “Also, if you’re shooting from above, especially with a heavier DSLR camera, make sure you put the neck strap on, just in case the camera slips from your hands.”
Clean Your Camera and Keep It Steady
To get crisp newborn pictures, your camera lens should of course be smudge-free. “If you’re using your phone, I recommend first making sure the camera lens is clean. Swaddles are great for cleaning the camera!” Marleau says. Another trick to getting great newborn photos: Keeping your hands steady. “Give the phone time to focus, take a breath in, hold it, then take the shot,” she suggests. “By holding your breath, you’re less likely to shake as you take the picture.”
Swaddle Baby Tightly
When you think of classic newborn pictures, you probably conjure up images of tiny, swaddled babies. But how do newborn photographers get such perfect swaddles? “My biggest piece of advice when it comes to swaddling is this: Don’t be afraid to pull the wrap super tight!” Mohr says. “Babies like it, and it’s the only way to ensure they won’t escape. Babies can be so wiggly!” We all want to nail picture-perfect swaddles, but Mohr recommends starting with a basic swaddle wrap to make sure baby is contained. Then, take a second swaddle blanket and experiment with different wraps. “That way you’re not struggling to get a pretty wrap with baby’s arms and legs flailing!”
Keep the Poses Simple
The froggy pose. The tushy up pose. The taco pose. Photographers have come up with myriad ways to pose babies for picture-perfect shots—but for DIY newborn photos, it’s best to keep things simple. “It takes pros years and hundreds of hours of practicing to fine-tune posing,” Mohr warns. Her advice: Let go of the expectations that your newborn pictures will look like that if you’re not a professional photographer. Of course, that doesn’t mean you can’t still take great photos of baby! “I’d stick to very simple poses that work with baby’s natural positions,” she says. For example, take a sleeping baby and gently raise their arms above their head. “It’s an easy, adorable pose that a parent can do. Babies like to be in this position anyway, which makes it much easier to accomplish! Add a cute hat (or not) and you’re good to go.”
Another great pose for a DIY newborn photoshoot: Putting a sleepy baby on their side, Sulcov says. “You can then play with the positioning of baby’s hands to find the cutest pose. Of course, if baby isn’t in the mood to sleep, open-eyed pics are gorgeous too.”
Don’t Ditch the Diaper Too Soon
While plenty of newborn pictures feature baby in the buff, it can get messy fast. Mohr’s pro tip: Keep babies in diapers when possible, and only remove them for a few minutes of naked baby posing. “If you’re observant, you can get an idea of when baby might need to have a BM. They often get a little squirmy and sometimes even arch their back a bit,” she says. In case your little one decides to go at an inopportune moment, Mohr suggests having an extra diaper nearby to quickly put over baby. Sulcov also knows a thing or two about baby messy mid-photoshoot. Her advice: Make sure to set up the exact shot you want before removing the diaper.
Go for the Close-Ups
“Don’t forget the details!” Marleau says. Capturing close ups of baby’s tiny hands, feet, mouth and eyes are musts—but you’ll also want to document baby’s arm and leg rolls, double chin, umbilical cord and peach fuzz on their shoulders and ears, she says.
Take the Sibling Shots First
If you intend to involve baby’s siblings in your newborn photoshoot, consider doing those group shots first—“that way they can take a break and immediately go play,” Juliet says. “It’s a win-win, because you can continue with the session and your toddler isn’t forced into staying when they don’t want to participate any more.”
Get Candids of Siblings
The best way to incorporate siblings into your newborn pictures is naturally! “Forcing a sibling to sit and smile while holding a newborn baby is pretty much a guarantee for a meltdown,” Marleau says. Instead, she recommends going for more candid shots.
Need some ideas of how photograph your kids together? If the sibling is young and not quite ready to hold baby by themselves, try having them lie on the bed next to your newborn, Marleau suggests. To get them to interact with baby, give them prompts, like “can you touch baby’s nose?” or “what does baby’s hair smell like?” If the sibling is a older and can confidently hold baby in their lap, try giving them a task, like reading baby a book.
If baby’s sibling is a little reluctant to participate, consider having them hold a comfort item, like a specific blanket, doll or figurine, Marleau says. Plus, it gives them something to fiddle with while you’re trying to get the shot. And if that fails, there’s always bribery. “I bring a variety of treats, like stickers or raisins,” Juliet says. “Sometimes it just takes a gummy bear to get that sweet sibling portrait that mom will cherish forever.”
Enlist Extra Help
“When I know a toddler is going to be present during a newborn photoshoot, I make sure there’s an extra person there to help us, whether it’s a babysitter, grandparent or family friend,” Juliet says. “Toddlers don’t last very long and we need someone other than Mom or Dad available to play with the sibling when they want a little break.
Use a Tripod to Get in Your Own Photos
When you work with a professional newborn photographer, they’re guaranteed to snap a few photos of you and your partner together with baby—but when you go the DIY route, getting a photo of yourself with your newborn is a little tricker. Problem solved: Marleau recommends using a tripod (or propping your phone up) and your camera’s self-timer.
Once it’s all set up, get everyone in the frame and set your timer. (Just make sure you get everything set up before you bring your kids into the shot so they aren’t sitting still while you’re trying to figure out the best angle.) To get everyone to crack a genuine smile, try tickling or cracking a funny joke, Marleau suggests. If it’s just you and baby, rub their head, hold their hand, feed them or count their toes—“these are all things that’ll make your photo look more natural,” she says.
