Traditional Newborn Photoshoot

I often get asked what’s the difference between a traditional and lifestyle newborn session, and what’s better. While it’s easy to answer the first question, the second is really up in the air. Here, I will go into detail of what a traditional newborn session looks and feels like, and what you might expect. In the next blogpost, I will go over a lifestyle newborn shoot.

Traditional Session

1. Posing. Traditional newborn photoshoots rely heavily on posing the baby in such a way that highlights baby’s purity, innocence, and flexibility (or, squishiness, as some call it). Many of these poses require quite some time to master, and to get the baby into it. Whether it’s a froggy pose, where the newborn rests her head on her hands (this should always be done as a composite shot by the way, meaning, baby’s head needs to be supported at all times and then supporting hands are just edited out), or a taco pose where the baby is bent forward, or a tush up pose where the baby lies on her stomach with her bum sticking up and looking super cute, these are not the poses that the baby would get into by herself, but they emphasize how pliable the baby is when she is a few days out of the womb. It’s worth mentioning that these poses generally don’t hurt the baby as they are naturally super flexible (they’ve been bent over for quote a while in mom’s belly after all), but an experienced newborn photographer would always make sure the baby is safe, her breadthways are not obstructed, and she is not in any discomfort.

2. Props. Traditional newborn session would include multiple props (from blankets, hats, and headbands to bowls and tiny beds). The number and coloring of props is strictly a matter of taste but it’s easy to overdo it. The purpose of props is to accentuate baby’s tiny size, her novelty, her gender, rather than get her lost among things.

3. Length of session. Since traditional session requires perfect posing, it takes quite a long time. The baby needs to be fast asleep for most poses, and that takes time, as does feeding, changing, soothing, and everything in between. This type of session may take anywhere between 2-4 hours.

4. Timing. The best time to do a newborn photoshoot is in the first 10-14 days. At that time, the baby is still very sleepy and moldable. It’s also before the common baby acne (which would generally be edited out) starts to break out.

5. Editing. Traditional newborn shots are perfected. Baby’s skin is flawless, of a gorgeous clean color, it just looks so soft, and matte, and touchable. Now, those who have had babies, know that it’s often not the case. Newborns often look a bit reddish, or yellowish, they have some skin flaking, and baby acne might have broken out. But, in a traditional shoot, photographer’s goal is not to document the baby’s first days (you smart phone would probably do that), but to create an image of purity, tenderness, and love which is what the baby embodies. And occasioanlly reddish skin, is secondary to that; it’s not what would stay in parents’ memory anyways.

6. Location. While in some cases, traditional newborn session could be done in client’s home, for the most part, it’s done in a studio. See, there are a lot of props, lights, equipment that are hard to transport, and sometimes difficult to install in client’s home if it’s a smaller room, that it just makes more sense to do it in studio. During the shoot, parents may relax on a couch and have a snack, or watch the baby being photographed, or just zone out if they need to (and with a newborn they often do).

These are the key features of a successful traditional newborn photoshoot. Now you know what to expect and whether it’s right for you. Later, I will go over a lifestyle shoot. Stay tuned!