When you look at the evolution of newborn photography over the years, when it first started, it was all about the most complex and elaborate props and accessories.  Today the trend is much more to keeping it simple.

What they’re terming ‘natural newborn photography’ is getting really popular in the USA and that’s pretty much a guarantee that it will reach our shores in the next year or so.  I always look to America to provide a roadmap of where we will be going – staying up to date with the latest trends is such an important part of my job.

I’ve also already noticed a lot of parents saying on their newborn option forms that they just want natural photos and when the subject is as entrancing as a newborn baby, it’s easy to see why.

Now, natural newborn photography is a bit of a confusing term as it’s never going to be the case that we just plonk a newborn down on the beanbag and snap away  – in a studio, there will always be an element of posing and lighting to achieve the best possible effect (otherwise, honestly, what’s the point in coming?). What I think we can take from it is that it’s a slight return to a more classic style of portraiture where the subject, the newborn, is the main focus and the emphasis is on clean lines and minimal accessorising.

Of course just because it is getting fashionable doesn’t mean that it will be all I do in the studio.  My job is to create images that you will love and props and accessories can be just the way to do this – and there’s no reason why we don’t mix and match all of that within a session.  It’s entirely up to you!