Welcoming a newborn into the world is a moment filled with love, joy, and tenderness and it’s my privilege to have been trusted so many times to capture these precious early memories over the 20+ years I’ve been working in the field.

However, it’s not simply about the images that you create as I always have a much more important responsibility – to make sure that these images are captured completely safely.

Over 20 years of experience have taught me that newborn photography safety is not just a checklist – it’s a mindset and it’s the heart of everything I do from selecting the props and accessories that I offer to working with your newborn during the photo shoot.  It requires skill, patience, and preparation.  In this article, we’ll take a bit of a deeper dive into what this means to me as a photographer and you’ll be able to learn more about my process and how I create timeless memories without compromising on care.

Why Safety Should Always Come First

Newborns are delicate, with their tiny bodies still adjusting to life outside the womb. Their bones, muscles, and immune systems are not yet fully developed and so, while obviously safety in the studio is important at all ages, it’s especially vital during a newborn photo shoot.  I get the appeal of creating that award winning, perfect shot but it can only ever come second to making sure that the tiny life in my hands is 100% protected.

Before your Session

Safety doesn’t start when you arrive at the studio, it starts way before then.   The studio is cleaned and sanitised before each session and I always a liberal coat of sanitiser on my hands and arms before I touch your baby. I adhere to the medical protocol of ‘naked from the elbow’ down and my hair is always tied back.   You’ll have let me know any props that you want to use before you arrive so everything will be set up ready and sanitised so we’re good to go from the very start of your session.

At the Start of your Session

As well as saying hello, I’m going to run through a quick checklist with you regarding your baby to make sure I’m aware of any issues that might impact how I safely work with both them and you throughout the photo shoot.  So that might be as simple as whether they still have their cord clamp (it doesn’t matter if they do) through to any medical conditions that have already been picked up.

I’ll also be checking in with you through your time in the studio to make sure you’re comfortable and explaining anything that pops up as we guide your baby through the poses and props.  Of course, you’re also invited to ask any questions that you have at any time – I’m always happy to talk things through.

Temperature Control

My studio is kept pretty warm to make sure your newborn is always comfortable but I’m constantly checking on them as I work with them so I can adjust the thermostat if I feel they are getting too warm or too cool.  A little side note here: the temperature they like is often a little higher than what we’d choose as adults so definitely wear layers so you can keep comfortable too while you’re watching your images being created!

This image is a great example of how safety goes on behind the scenes – or at least it should.  I have seen videos of photographers creating this shot by balancing the baby, getting a parent to hold them in position and quickly snap the image while the parent pulls their hands away.  It’s horrible as you’re relying on a parent to then recatch the baby before they topple and they will topple given that their heads are super heavy and they can’t support them like this naturally.  So the right way to do it is through the creation of a composite image.  I get the baby into position and then a parent supports them at various different points while I take the pictures. The images are then all blended in my editing suite so you can’t see the parents hands but, make no mistake, there’s never a point at which the baby isn’t held safely throughout the process.

Getting Help

I know that some newborn photographers work with an assistant but I’m not one of those.  I want you to be utterly relaxed and in the moment at your session but sometimes I do need an extra pair of hands so I’ll get a parent to help me out.  I prefer to use a partner to offer any additional support or a safe pair of hands as it’s usually a bit easier for them to move around compared to someone that’s just given birth.  I’ll basically be asking you to be nearby your baby with your hands at the ready while I back away to take a shot if the baby is unswaddled and so could startle.  I’d never do it when your baby is even slightly unsettled though so you’re really just providing a ‘belt and braces’ approach to something that I already think is safe.  Plus I keep it very minimal, so you won’t feel like you’re working too hard!

In the case of this prop – my baby hammock – both parents will be involved in lifting that baby.  How it works is your baby is placed in the hammock on my giant beanbag with a black blanket over the top of it.  Then a parent gets on each end of the strings and just gently lifts it up just enough so that the baby’s weight is supported by the hammock rather than the beanbag.  In the finished version of the image, it looks like the baby is hanging in midair but really that’s all just a bit of digital magic – they’re just an inch or so from the surface.

Selecting Safe Props

All of the props and accessories in my collection have been carefully curated to safe and stable to use.  They won’t tip or collapse and of course they don’t have any sharp edges, plus I double check everything when it comes to setting it up.  Where you see a baby in a bowl for example, there’s always a good amount of padding underneath or around them to keep them safe and cosy.

Newborn Experience

I have never even tried to work out how many newborns I’ve worked with over the years but it’s got to be in the hundreds.  So I’ve got a good deal of experience behind me when it comes to taking care of them, moving them safely and reading all the cues that they are giving out.  If I suspect that a baby is in the slightest bit uncomfortable for any reason, we’ll pause everything and make sure that they’re all good before we even think about moving on.

Some babies just don’t like particularly poses for reasons known only to them (they’re not really big on giving explanations!) so I never push them into something that I don’t feel they are moving naturally into.   Flexibility is a key attribute of a newborn photographer and so there’s never a rigid ‘shot list’, I’ll always be working according to your baby’s comfort and preferences.

On the flip side of that, even if they’re super comfortable in a pose, I never leave them in it too long so they don’t end up compromising circulation.   I do use a photographic swaddle which would be too restrictive to use in general parenting life but it is very safe in the context of a photo shoot and actually I find that babies really love it!

I’m literally inches away from your newborn throughout the session and I’m constantly checking in with them even if you can’t see me doing it.

Overall…

Every newborn session is a unique and precious experience, and safety is the foundation of every image I create. By combining over 20 years of experience, meticulous attention to detail, and a genuine passion for capturing these fleeting moments, I ensure that your baby is always handled with the utmost care. My goal is not only to provide you with stunning photographs but also to create a comfortable, safe, and memorable experience for you and your little one. Thank you for entrusting me with these first milestones—I’m honoured to be a part of your family’s story.

Ready to book a safe and memorable newborn photography session? Contact me today or use the button below to find out more about capturing those precious moments…