“Posed” vs. “Unposed” Newborn Photography

Lately I’ve been seeing a lot of mentions of “unposed” or “naturally posed” newborn photos.  I think it’s great that the industry is going in a direction that doesn’t necessarily follow a common trend! After all, newborn portraits aren’t about the pose. They’re about the newborn! 

However, I feel like another trend toward favoring “unposed” newborn portraits could convey, somehow, that posing newborns in photos is a bad thing. Which isn’t the case. However, it’s very important to note that “posing” newborns can mean a lot of different things to a lot of different people and photographers! So therefore, there are some VERY important distinctions to make in regards to whether “posing” newborns is safe and approrpriate. Let’s talk about them!

First of all, is posing newborns safe? 

Yes, posing newborns is safe AS LONG AS the “posing” means simply positioning baby in a way to create a properly lit and well-composed image! AND (most importantly) that baby is comfortable and supported in a natural way at all times! 

HOWEVER, “posing” newborns in an unnatural position in which they can’t naturally support themselves IS POTENTIALLY dangerous. (I previously wrote about a couple of these kinds of “poses” that are frequently done by photographers all over the world, yet I simply won’t do. To learn about them, read my post here.)

My approach to posing newborns

Natural Newborn Posing

Though I’ve never thought about what I’d call it, my approach to photographing newborns in my studio I’d describe more so as “natural posing.”  By natural posing, I mean that I only place baby in positions that they can naturally stay in on their own (without additional support of someone holding their head or limbs to prevent injury).

For example, babies can easily lie on their backs on their own. Or sleep on their tummies on their own. Or lay swaddled on a soft surface. These are basically the same ways moms and dads put baby down for a nap at home!
I’ll lay them in positions that allow me to create a beautiful, artful image and capture their face and tiny features, while gently guiding their hands and feet to enhance that composition.

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So although I do “pose” babies in this simple manner, my philosophy is that baby’s safety is always my number one priority; NOT the pose or the shot. The safety of my tiny subjects is ALWAYS more important than any image I’m trying to make.

Baby’s safety is always my number one priority;
NOT the “pose” or the shot.

How I typically start a newborn session

The way I most often begin a newborn session is by wrapping a “wrap” (just a piece of fabric about as large as a scarf) around baby’s body.  This works so well so often because it gently holds their shoulders and hips close to their body and makes them feel “held” and secure- similar to how they’ve felt the last nine months in the womb.  Their startle reflex (the moro reflex) is far less likely to occur when they’re wrapped, which is why swaddling is so effective at soothing babies! (For more tips on soothing babies, check out this post!)

I love wrapping just their shoulders and hips this way, because then we can still see their pudgy little feet and fingers!  I can very easily place their hands on their tummies, cross their feet so we see their toes- and make a perfectly composed portrait of that tiny little person. It’s like a beautiful still-life painting… with a newborn!  😛 

Tummy time!

I find a LOT of babies seem to love being on their tummies. Like swaddling, being on their tummy limits babies’ startle reflex- keeping them calmer and more relaxed. Again, this is a position that they can naturally be in on their own without any additional support to their body. (And it’s almost always how babies sleep on Daddy’s chest!)
If you’re wondering- YES- back is still best for sleeping in cribs and at night to reduce the risk of SIDS. But for the short time baby is sleeping in the studio, placing them on their tummies makes them calm, sleepy, and adorably curled up.  Not all babies want to lie this way, but for those that do, I gently guide them into that position and make an adorable portrait.

(Note: though I position babies in ways that don’t require any additional support their head/body, I am still always close to baby at all times, and never leave any baby unattended!)

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Each baby is unique!

The little subjects that I photograph are all sooooo different. Some are very “easy”- they’re really relaxed and do nothing but sleep. Others are very touchy and never sleep deeply at all. Some take pacifiers, some don’t. Some like to scrunch up in a ball, others like to stretch out. Some put their fists in the air like Rocky, and others might continually tuck their hands under their neck. They are all so adorably unique!

It’s so important to read baby’s cues and never to force baby into any position. Though I’ll plan for positioning baby in a certain way, I always ultimately follow baby’s lead. So If he or she clearly prefers being in one position over another, I go with it! I make sure to capture all those little quirks, while also guiding them into a beautiful, relaxed pose.

I can capture beautiful portraits of that little person just as they are.  

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I’m truly blessed to be able to do what I do.  And I’m humbled by the trust my clients put in me to capture their precious tiny newborn.  It will always be my goal to create the most beautiful keepsakes for my families all while keeping baby happy, healthy, and safe.