Best Newborn Session Props

An experienced newborn photographer will know what props to use during your session to maximize and capture your baby’s fresh newborn cuteness. Props, in my opinion, are mostly there to support your baby in sweet poses, however they can also add to the aesthetic beauty of the overall image. If there are specific props that you want included, mention them to your newborn photographer so they can tailor the session for you.

My go to props are a shallow, wide bucket and a tiny baby bed. I’m partial to neutrals, so I love a white prop, or a natural or dark wood. You cannot go wrong with neutral colors, as they are timeless. I can get a wide variety of poses and angles using both of these props. They are also adorable additions to any session. Here are a few images using my favorite newborn posing props. The addition of different colors, layers and textures on top of the props completely changes the look of the images, and is a beautiful way to tailor the session to your client’s desires.

My newborn studio is stocked with a full inventory of layers, textures, colors, and props, and my clients are welcome to use anything they see during their session!

Newborn Hospital Sessions are Adorable!

I had never heard of “newborn photography” until I gave birth to my twins in a hospital in New York. The day after delivery, a photographer employed by the hospital knocked on the door to our room and asked if I wanted some photos of my new babies. I was delighted and agreed. The photographer took very simple, natural photos of my newborns. She placed them together, lightly swaddled by the white hospital sheets, and photographed them leaning into each other. Somehow, just a day after birth, she captured marvelous hints of their personalities, like my daughter’s sweetness and my son’s playfulness.

Those simple, natural, beautiful images are still some of my most favorite photographs, and I have them framed decorating my home. Looking at those photos, I remember how little my babies were when they were born. I remember the pumping and nursing, the sleeplessness, the magic and awe of holding them in my arms. It’s hard to believe they were once so tiny!

Because I treasure those photographs from my own hospital newborn session, I particularly enjoy capturing the day after birth for clients. Newborn sessions at the hospital are called “Fresh 48” sessions, because they capture your baby in the first 48 hours after birth. I focus on capturing the feel of those early hours, the closeness, the love, the tiredness and the beauty of those early moments. I like to focus on snuggles and tiny details like toes, fingers, and eyes. I capture your family together, including any visiting grandparents or siblings. I of course capture lots of parent/baby images.

I love Fresh 48 sessions so much! They last about 45 minutes to an hour, and I usually provide my clients between 50-90 unique images edited for exposure, color and contrast. If you are thinking of doing a Fresh 48 session, and have questions, feel free to reach out! Here are a few images from my most recent hospital newborn session. This gives clients an idea of what to expect in terms of style during my newborn sessions. As you can see, I keep things simple, organic, natural and beautiful during hospital newborn sessions — just like my clients.

A Little Fisherman's 8 Month Baby Milestone Session

It’s hard to say which type of sessions I love the best — newborns, babies and maternity sessions are special, unique and beautiful. This month, I’m loving the baby milestone sessions, particularly the 6 - 8 month baby sessions. Baby photography during the first year can capture your baby during all of his or her milestones, freezing time for a moment, when your baby is growing and changing at light speed. My style is modern, natural and timeless, keeping the focus on baby with understated props, soft colors, and natural textures.

At 6-8 months, your baby can do so many things! Babies can sit, have awesome tummy time abilities, are smiling and laughing, playing with their toes, and giving you all kinds of adorable expressions. There is so much to document. So much to remember. Every baby is different, and I always customize the photography session according to my client’s style preferences, and also to ensure it is safe for whatever stage your baby is at.

This handsome little boy gave me all the smiles! He has huge bright laughing eyes, and a contagious grin. He was an absolute joy to photograph. The session was triply sweet, as I had photographed his two sisters for their baby milestone sessions, and done a maternity session for his parents. That’s one of the gifts of being a photographer, you get to work with clients over years, building relationships and seeing their families grow. As a photographer you are in a privileged position, trusted to capture your client’s memories. I just love it.

Getting back to this little one, it turns out his grandfather and father love fishing, so naturally his very prepared mother brought along a miniature fishing pole to use during the session as a prop. Little man gave us all the feels when he picked up and held the fishing pole during the session, beaming a huge smile the entire time. What an amazing image to capture for his dad and grandfather, and for him when he is old enough to look back at the image. I have a feeling there are going to be a lot of fishing trips and wonderful family memories in store for this sweet little boy.

October 2018 (One Year)

A lovely one year birthday photography session with a lovely family. I have so much fun photographing babies and catching them as they hit all the milestones of the first year: smiling, tummy time, sitting, crawling, walking, and of course turning ONE! This little boy is adorable, and we captured so many sweet moments between him and his parents during our outdoor photography session. I love the photograph of his daddy enveloping him in a hug after he had walked to him, and all the images of him and his beautiful mommy are simply precious. What a beautiful family!

March 2018 (Baby)

10-Month Baby Milestone Session

I love Baby Milestone Photography Sessions! I especially love returning clients because I get to capture images of their beautiful babies growing over time. (Check out  my "Grow With Me" Packages). I first met this handsome fellow at his 5-month Baby Milestone Photography Session, and then had the honor of photographing him here at his 10-month Baby Milestone Session.  I had a wonderful time seeing his family again and photographing this little guy.  He was a sweetheart and gave us huge smiles, particularly when we let him play with some wooden blocks.  As a special treat, we were able to capture some lovely images of him with his grandmother - something I think everyone should do!