If you’ve haven’t been around newborns much, your first photoshoots with a brand new human might be a little nerve-wracking. Keep them safe while you’re photographing their adorable squish with these principles.
Photo prompt for ensuring newborns are safe during their photoshoot
When working with newborns (especially in these Covid-19 times), it’s critical that you have safety at the forefront of your mind and in your dealings with the family. Reassuring nervous new parents that you know what you’re doing with their tiny, delicate human being goes a long way to helping everyone enjoy the shoot.
How to use this photo pose prompt
Talk to parents throughout the shoot to explain what you are doing and why. Knowing that you are considering their precious baby’s safety at all times helps everyone. Ask permission to touch, narrate what you are doing, and check in with them repeatedly about how they think their baby is going (e.g. “Does she need a feed soon?”). They are the experts on their child.
Washing or sanitizing hands in front of parents is important–you may be one of the first people who’ve handled their new baby. Do this as soon as you/they arrive (at their home/at your studio), and regularly throughout the shoot. This should be obvious, but reschedule if you or the family are sick! Your vaccinations should be up-to-date (e.g. whooping cough) when working with newborns. If you use props or wraps, then these should be washed and disinfected between clients.
Always have your camera secured around your neck and/or wrist on a strap, especially when shooting from above baby. Never hold a heavy camera unsecured above the baby! Never stand on anything above the baby (step stool, ladder etc).
Always consider baby’s airways and how baby’s body is supported in any pose. Baby’s chin must be off their chest to keep airways clear. Support baby’s head and neck when handling and when posing. Never force the baby’s body into a pose! Softly and gently are the keywords here.
Keep the baby warm but not overheated. Warm the room for naked shots. Check how warm your layers of wrapping are making the baby. Overheating a baby is dangerous! Feel the back of their neck for temperature checks (hands and feel don’t accurately represent how hot the baby is).
Always have a parent (or assistant) in arm’s reach of the baby, especially when on a bed, change table, posing beanbag, etc. Always have an adult spotting when children are holding a newborn (e.g. older siblings); parents’ hands should support the baby entirely especially when children are young (e.g. toddler “holding” baby).
Don’t use direct flash on a baby, especially when they’re awake! Even when sleeping, newborn eyelids are very thin. Bounce your flash to diffuse it, or use window light. If outside, sunlight can burn baby’s skin very quickly, so be careful.
Don’t attempt poses you’ve seen but not learnt (composite photography is common with newborns: Photoshop is your friend). Always attempt poses at your skill level. See the pose tips below about common newborn poses and how they are done. Start with lifestyle newborn sessions and get experience with handling newborns before you progress to more posed photography using props, bowls, baskets, etc.
Don’t let baby cry and become distressed. Allow lots of time for breaks and for them to be with, on, and attached to mom as much as possible! Newborns are in their fourth trimester: they NEED to be comforted by the close presence of their parents. Signs that a baby is stressed and needs mom include: hands clenched into fists, hands in front of face (like a “stop” gesture), mottled skin, crying (obviously; this is a late sign of distress so you if you haven’t acted by now to give baby back to mom, stop immediately).
Take a full newborn safety course in person or online before photographing newborns. I recommend Newborn Photography Bootcamp with Kelly Brown or Lifestyle Newborn Photography in the Home with Emily Lucarz.
Principles: Safety First with Newborns
- Visibly wash hands / use hand sanitizer before touching baby, and regularly throughout the shoot.
- Camera secured on a strap.
- Baby’s chin off her chest to keep airway clear.
- Support baby’s head and neck.
- Someone watching in arm’s reach when baby is on bed, change table, etc.
- Use window light or bounce flash (don’t blind baby!).
- Attempt poses at your skill level.
- Shoot in bursts and plan for lots of breaks. Comfort and love is your highest priority!
Creative extension
- The newborn froggy pose is done as a composite. An adult holds up the baby’s head (the baby’s head is never actually supported by their hands).
- The baby on a shelf pose is done top-down: the shelf is a prop laid on the ground and the baby is lying on the ground appearing to sit on the shelf.
- Toddler cuddling baby post is done with a parent’s hands supporting the baby entirely (hidden under a blanket if desired).
Anything you’d add to these tips for newborn safety? Tag me @promptographerguide and use the hashtag #promptographerguide to share your experience.
Want this prompt in your Field Cards set?
All the info in this prompt post is summarized onto a single card in the Promptographer Guide Field Cards, with the details given in the accompanying Guidebook. All the ideas are given on the one card so you have a rich, comprehensive tool for sparking ideas. I’ve designed it this way so you only need five to ten cards to build a whole photoshoot.
If you want this prompt in your set, make sure you include Set 7: New Baby Moments in your Field Cards.
