{Simple Studio Newborn Poses} :: Willow Spring Newborn Photography
When I began newborn photography 10 years ago, I offered studio newborn sessions where baby was fully naked and posed on a posing beanbag. I used a variety of colors for the sessions, and they could take anywhere from 2-3 hours. Over time, my style has evolved to focus more on simple set ups with whites and neutral colors. I still add in a few pops of muted tones here and there, but the majority of the work is bright & airy white. I also keep a diaper on for the entirety of the session to keep baby comfortable and limit any accidents.
Depending on baby’s temperament & age, you can accomplish a variety of poses for a newborn session without baby being naked and spending your entire day at my studio. Here are some of my favorite newborn poses.
This pose is sometimes called “head on hands,” for obvious reasons. Babies typically love this pose because they are on their bellies. It may take them a minute to get settled or to get their hands placed appropriately, but I aways love that it is a great shot of their sweet faces.
Another pose that babies love is sometimes referred to as “tummy time” or “bum up.” They are once again on their bellies which they typically like. The goal is to have their knees and elbows meet so they look nice and curly. Remember they just spent 9 months stuffed into a much smaller area, so they love to feel snug. Some babies curl easier than others, but either way, I always love achieving this shot.
A slight roll on their side and you can get this next pose called “side lying.” I love how peaceful babies look in this pose. They’re so relaxed and comfortable. At any time in posing newborns, if they fuss too much, we pause and readjust. You have to have a lot of patience for newborn photography, but I think the end results make up for it all!
The relaxed baby poses are some of my favorites. I love just letting them lay and be still. These also make great images in black and white.
Last but not least, prop poses are really popular with parents. This particular bucket is one of my favorites because it has inserts made especially for it that help to safely pose babies. I love mixing up my angles or adding/removing headbands to get new looks from the same set up. Not all babies will tolerate a bucket pose, but if they’re sleepy, I will likely always try it. Due to safety concerns, if baby is not in deep sleep, I will not attempt a bucket pose, but I do have other options that would work!
If you are looking for a newborn photographer in the Raleigh, Garner, Cary, Apex, Willow Spring, Clayton, Benson, Fuquay-Varina, Holly Springs, or Lillington area, please reach out! I typically book a newborn session 4-5 months in advance. Babies are best photographed in their 2nd week of life, but if you are after that age range, contact me to see your options!
