The joy of baby-led newborn photography

Those first few days and weeks of having a newborn is one of life’s greatest and everyday miracles and there is such a desire to capture the sense of awe we feel at this little bundle of wonderfulness, it is no surprise that it is such a popular and important genre of photography.

And, this is amidst all the adjustments we make as new parents, the healing and recovery process a mother goes through and all the little, and not so little ups and downs we experience, from sleepless nights to learning how to feed to colicky babies, and all the advice that is constantly thrown at us.

As a photographer, I offer lifestyle newborn photography. I do love the posed photograhs you see of newborns, curled up in a basket, sleeping peacefully and I also appreciate the time, patience and difficulty in creating these images. However, my first love is baby-led newborn photography:

Babies are perfect

Babies are perfect in every way just as they are. I don’t believe there is anything we can add to them to make them more beautiful than they already are. For me, the inclusion of props can take away from how utterly perfect they are. There is nothing like that moment when you have laid them down and are content to watch them sleep, despite having a million other things to do, including sleep. Its that sense of peace and wonderment that I like to capture in my approach.

A reminder of just how little - and precious - they are

Fourteen days of perfect

The little things

In baby-led photography, your newborn is left to do exactly as they wish - either lie sleeping or awake, or be carried, as needed, and then work around their needs. It provides plenty of opportunity to capture all the details of your precious newborn - from rosebud lips, to chubby wrists and squidgy thighs, perfect button noses and those large eyes.

An older newborn, at 12 weeks, still allows us to capture all the little details

I love to capture those tiny little details that in the midst of the early days, we sometimes forget to treasure them

The relaxed approach

Lifestyle newborn photography is a shorter and relaxed approach to capturing your newborn. Your newborn is photographed as they are - either sleeping, simply lying down and looking and being carried. Obviously, the session allows for feeds, settling them and changes and I allow plenty of time for this.

This relaxed approach also allows us to shoot until around 10-12 weeks, there is no restriction that means after 10-15 days we’ve missed the boat. We still manage to capture enough images, even at that stage, that captures the beauty of a newborn.

There is also the advantage of having the session in your home - if you have a window, then your home will be suitable! A little tidy up may be needed, however as a mother of 2, I work around this as a perfectly clean and tidy home is not a priority in those exciting, wonderful and sometimes bewildering first few weeks.

Keeping it chilled, while the little man has a nap

Photos are taken around your little ones needs, so if they need a nap….thats absolutely fine!

Parents in the frame!

It’s not a newborn shoot without the parents in the frame (or big brothers & sisters)

As much as I love to capture every element of your newborn, there is nothing like capturing that indescribable look of love and awe a new parent has as they gaze upon their newborn. Its this look that simply elevates the lifestyle approach.

It’s when a mother holds her child close towards her, comforting them and you catch that expression of devotion or a father holds his newborn protectively or an old brother or sister excitedly peers at the new arrival..sometimes waiting for them to “do something”. That feeling of wonderment combined with tenderness is the world we enter when we hold our child for those first few days and weeks and it is that I want to preserve for you.

Even the ordinary moments are special with a new arrival

Capturing the awe of the early days

If you are pregnant or your little one has already turned up, then drop me a line if you are thinking about a newborn photo session and let’s chat.

My newborn sessions start at £180, and are offered as complete packages, including a selection of digital and print images.