The giant elephant is one of those props that turns up at sessions already well-loved. Lots of families have one at home, and when they bring it in it tends to work really well. This one was a studio version, and she was absolutely fine about using it as a pillow.

The practical reality of photographing a newborn with a giant soft toy is that the elephant needs a little help staying upright. He’s too squishy to hold his own shape reliably, so there’s always a parent just out of shot giving him a gentle hand. It’s one of the more unusual things I’ve asked a parent to do during a session, but it gets the result.
If you have a giant elephant of your own at home, bring it along.



