Newborn Photography Poses


Newborn Photography Poses: What to Expect During Your Session

Welcoming a newborn into the world is one of life’s most precious moments, and capturing those first few days through a newborn photoshoot is something parents will cherish forever. When it comes to newborn photography, the poses you choose can make a huge difference in creating beautiful, timeless images that highlight the tiniest details of your baby. If you're preparing for a newborn photoshoot, you might be wondering what to expect in terms of posing. In this post, we'll walk you through the most popular newborn photography poses and explain what happens during your session. I welcome parents to send me some images that they would like to recreate for their session.


1. Wrapped Poses

Wrapped poses are one of the most popular and versatile choices for newborn photography. Not only do they create a serene, cozy feel, but they also help babies feel secure and relaxed, as they’re swaddled tightly in soft fabrics.

  • What to Expect: During your session, we will gently wrap your newborn in soft, stretchy fabric to create beautiful, snug poses. These wraps provide a smooth, streamlined look and keep your baby comfortable throughout the shoot.
  • Why We Love Them: Wrapped poses highlight your baby’s adorable features, like their tiny hands, feet, and facial expressions, while creating a peaceful and calm vibe. They also help your baby stay asleep or relaxed, allowing us to get those sweet, curled-up shots.

Wrapped poses are a great way to capture your little one’s serenity, and they also offer endless variations. We can place your baby on their tummy, back, or side, and use different colors and textures to match the aesthetic of your photos.


2. Beanbag Poses

The classic "beanbag pose" is a popular newborn photography pose that is all about capturing your baby’s natural sleepiness in a relaxed, organic way.

  • What to Expect: We’ll gently place your baby on a soft, supportive table with foam and a beautiful fabric backdrop. The table provides the perfect support to safely position your baby in various poses while keeping them cozy and secure.
  • Why We Love Them: Beanbag poses allow for a wide range of creative shots. We can position your baby in adorable curled-up positions, or have them stretch out their limbs, depending on the look you're going for. We can also add layers of blankets or wraps for texture and depth, giving the photos a soft, dreamy effect.

These poses often create the most classic newborn shots—the kind that you’ll want to hang on your walls for years to come. I aim to include 1-2 beanbag poses per session.


3. Family Shots

Of course, the newborn photoshoot is also about capturing the love and joy of your growing family! Family shots are a beautiful way to include parents and siblings in the session and create a more intimate, personal connection in your images and are the most selected images by my clients.

  • What to Expect: During the session, we’ll take the time to capture family portraits, including close-up shots of parents holding their baby, siblings cuddling with the newborn, and other loving interactions. I aim for a full family shot, each parent with the baby and the siblings with the baby.
  • Why We Love Them: Family shots are an important part of the session because they not only show the connection between family members but also show the joy of welcoming your little one into the world. These shots will be ones you treasure as your child grows older, and they capture the love that surrounds your newborn.

Sometimes as a new mom you may feel uncomfortable in front of the camera but I strongly encourage you to take the photos. One day you will be glad you did!


4. Detail Shots

Newborn photography is all about capturing the tiny, intricate details that make your baby so unique. These are the types of shots that highlight those little features you’ll never want to forget: soft, tiny hands, the curve of your baby’s ear, their delicate fingers and toes, and even the fuzzy hair on their head. Let me know if you would like to include close-up detail shots of your baby.

  • What to Expect: Detail shots are usually close-up images of your baby’s hands, feet, face, and other tiny features. We might capture the way your baby’s fingers are curled or the way they grasp your finger. We also love to photograph their tiny feet held in your hands.
  • Why We Love Them: These shots are all about capturing the pure innocence and beauty of your newborn. They provide a way to remember the “little things” that often get forgotten as your baby grows—like those tiny fingers that fit perfectly in the palm of your hand or those soft, sleepy eyelashes.

Details shots create a beautiful visual story of your baby’s first moments, these tiny details are the first things to change as your baby develops.


5.  Prop Poses

Incorporating props into your newborn photoshoot can add a personal, creative touch and make the session even more memorable. Whether it’s a special blanket, a vintage basket, or a family heirloom, props allow you to highlight your baby’s personality and style.

  • What to Expect: During the session, we’ll carefully place your baby in or around selected props. Common choices include a baskets, buckets, wooden crates, or even vintage items like a teacup or old-fashioned suitcase. We can also use personalized items such as name signs, stuffed animals, or a cherished family object to add a meaningful touch.
  • Why We Love Them: Props give photos an added sense of warmth, nostalgia, and creativity. They also help tell your family’s unique story. For example, a vintage teddy bear or a favorite blanket passed down through generations can create sentimental, one-of-a-kind shots that become even more precious over time. Plus, props give a bit of variety to your session, adding some extra dimension to your baby’s photos.
  • Prop poses can work beautifully alongside other classic poses and add some fun and texture to your newborn gallery. We’ll make sure the props we choose are safe, soft, and baby-friendly, ensuring that your little one stays comfortable and content throughout the session. I aim to include 2-3 props per session.




Final Thoughts

Newborn photography is all about capturing the delicate beauty of your baby and the special moments of their first few days. From wrapped poses and family shots to detail shots and parent moments, each pose serves to tell a story about your little one’s early life and the love surrounding them.

By understanding the different poses used during your session, you can feel more confident and relaxed, knowing exactly what to expect. Every family’s session is unique, and we’ll work together to create beautiful, meaningful images that you’ll treasure forever. If you ever feel uncomfortable with a pose or you don't like a specific fabric or prop please speak up! You should feel confident and at ease during your baby's session.

Ready to book your newborn session? Let’s create timeless memories that you and your family will cherish for a lifetime!