Hiring a newborn photographer can sometimes feel like a daunting task. You are looking for someone who is going to hold and handle your brand new baby in the first few weeks of their life. Someone who will spend a few hours with your family as you navigate new territory with your first baby (or second! or third! or fourth!). Someone who will treat your family with care, walk you through the portrait experience with ease, and deliver heirlooms that you will treasure for decades.

One of the most important things to consider when hiring a newborn photographer is the photographer’s training and experience photographing and posing newborns. Whether you are considering a Fresh 48, lifestyle, or studio portrait session, safety is such a huge consideration.

Why to hire a newborn photographer that focuses on newborn safety by Nicole Starr Photography | Saratoga Springs Newborn Photographer | Boston Newborn Photographer | Upstate NY Newborn Photographer | Newborn Photographer | Delmar NY Newborn Photogra…

Why is this so important?

Newborns cannot hold their head up on their own, and they must be posed with care to not put any stress on their joints, their circulation, or their airways.
Newborns are not able to tell you when they are uncomfortable, so an expert in posing will gently guide the baby into comfortable positions, including baby-led posing options that keep the baby’s comfort and mood as the #1 priority.
Newborns cannot regulate their body temperature, so an experienced photographer will know just how warm to keep the room and how to keep the baby cozy and comfortable while posing them.
Newborns have fragile immune systems, and a photographer that puts safety first will have systems in place to protect the health of all of their littlest clients.

There are many poses that you see online that are actually composites, which means the photographer brings 2-3 images together in Photoshop to create one final image. This is because some of those cute little poses are not safe for baby to do on their own (for example, the popular “froggy” pose where baby rests their head on their hands while laying on their belly). Other poses require a parent to support the baby’s head to prevent it from leaning uncomfortably to the side, and their fingers are edited out in Photoshop later on.

Another huge aspect of newborn safety to consider is posing the baby with siblings. Children are unpredictable, which can put many parents on high alert around the baby as they worry that an impulsive action might hurt their new baby. An experienced newborn photographer will only pose siblings with baby in a way that is developmentally appropriate for the siblings — whether that is laying down on a soft blanket, sitting on a bed, or in mom & dad’s lap where they can lean in to baby while being fully supported by mom and dad. Parents are always nearby spotting the baby, and the photographer will keep the siblings engaged in a fun and interactive way while also letting them know how to be safe around the baby.

Often in our studio we pose the siblings laying down on a rug like this. I lay down first with big brother or sister to show them what to expect, and then I place a pillow in their arms and have them pretend to hug it like they will hug the baby. We make up a safe word together that will be the magic word to mean “all done” — usually it’s something silly like “hot dog” or “unicorn”, and we remind them that they cannot move or get up until we say the magic word. Finally, we lay a sleepy baby in their arms after all of those safety steps have been taken. Usually it takes just a few seconds to capture the perfect sibling portrait, and that’s because we spent a few minutes first prepping for it!

Another favorite sibling portrait is actually a composite (remember, that’s where 2 images are stitched together in Photoshop). Sometimes toddlers are hesitant to get too close to the baby, and we will pose baby all by herself first in a crate or a basket. Then we will take baby out and mom or dad can hold her, while the toddler poses with the same crate or basket. Then the two images are brought together to create one beautiful sibling portraits! We don’t always need to use this technique, and sometimes the toddler will snuggle up with baby in the basket, but it’s a nice little trick to have on hand in case we need it!

Please, please, please. Whatever you do in your search for the perfect newborn photographer, please be sure to communicate your expectations and your concerns to your photographer. Ask they about their experience and training in safety, and make sure you are 100% comfortable putting your baby in their care during your portrait session. Your baby is your most precious gift, and you want to be sure to find a photographer who will take care of your little one like they would their own baby.