A week old, fast asleep, and outnumbered by golden retrievers. This little one came in with his two fur brothers and the result is one of those photos that pretty much tells its own story.

A newborn sleeping in front of two golden retrievers

The older dog settled straight down next to the baby, calm and steady. The younger one – still finding his feet in the world – kept glancing across at his big brother as if checking what the correct response to all of this was. It made for a really natural, unposed moment that you simply couldn’t have planned.

The baby was swaddled in a warm sandy tone to match the dogs’ colouring, which worked out better than anyone could have arranged deliberately. The brown fine art backdrop pulled it all together and gave the whole thing a bit more weight than a plain background would have.

Dogs at newborn sessions need a bit of management, but when it comes together like this it’s hard to argue with the results. Both dogs were well behaved, the baby slept through, and everyone went home happy.

Thinking of Including your Dog in your Newborn Photo Shoot?

Dogs are always welcome at newborn sessions, but it does take a bit of planning and not every dog will take to the studio environment. Take a look at my guide to newborns and dogs for everything you need to know before you book.

Newborn Photography in East Grinstead

Newborn photo shoots are best when your baby is between 5 and 10 days old. This is when they’re at their sleepiest and curliest, perfect for capturing those beautifully calm and natural images. I recommend booking while you’re still pregnant so we can set a provisional date and adjust once your baby arrives.

Your session takes place in my warm, cosy studio in Crawley Down, designed with your baby’s comfort in mind. Sessions are relaxed and unrushed, and include three digital images of your choice for £95. There’s no sales session, just a private online gallery where you can view and choose your favourites in your own time.