Newborn photography styles explained

If you have a baby on the way and start looking for a photographer to take photos when they are born, you quickly realise that there are many different styles of newborn photography, and it can be confusing! You want to choose the right photographer for you, and this means ensuring that their style is to your taste.

Let me help you by explaining some of the popular styles around so that you can decide what you’re looking for.

Posed newborn photography

This style of photography involves the photographer carefully posing the baby in various ways, often using props and blankets to create a visually appealing image.

These sessions usually require babies to be in a deep sleep (milk coma as it’s often called), and this can mean sessions of up to 3-4 hours in length.

2. Lifestyle newborn photography

This style of photography is more relaxed and naturally posed, often with their parents or siblings in a domestic or outdoor environment. These shoots can be also be in a studio that is specifically designed to look home-like (usually with a strong boho vibe that is very in fashion at the moment).

The intention is to look authentic and to capture real moments, but to still be aesthetically pleasing through styling (outfits & props etc) and positioning.

3. Documentary newborn photography

This style of photography documents the baby's first few days or weeks of life, capturing all the little moments that make up this special time in their natural environment.

These are taken at home or outdoors, and are typically unposed, unstyled and intended to show life as it truly is with a newborn. If done as pure documentary style, very little is directed and the photographer is literally a fly on the wall for a few hours, looking for those moments that tell the story of your baby and the family.

Very evocative for those hazy memories.

4. Fine art newborn photography

This style of photography uses artistic techniques to create images that are both beautiful and timeless. These can include digital backdrops and are often very posed and exquisitely styled (whether set up to look opulent or minimalistic).

5. Naturally posed Newborn portraits

This style of photography focuses on capturing the baby's individual features and personality, and has lifestyle elements as well as a knowledge of posing and angles without using a strictly traditional posing flow.

Babies don’t need to be in a deep sleep, and can be awake for some or all of the session. Baby is skilfully positioned in a way that looks comfortable and natural, and parents and siblings are included for some relaxed family photos.

No matter what style of newborn photography you choose, the most important thing is to find a photographer who you feel comfortable with and who you can trust to capture your baby's special moments in a way that you will cherish forever.

Make sure you love their colours, lighting and general style.

It’s so important to consider what these photos will mean to you in years to come. You get what you pay for, and only you can decide what these are worth to you.

Naturally posed ‘lifestyle’ newborn photography

My style is a bit of a mixture - I do offer in home sessions which tend to be a mix of lifestyle, documentary and naturally posed. I do mostly naturally posed newborn portaits with a lifestyle feel in my studio, and am very happy capturing candid moments that occur along with more skilful positioning.

If someone is looking for posed or fine art images, I would usually point them to someone who is more specialised in this type of imagery.

the little things

For me it’s about attention to detail and getting angles and little things right. The result looks effortless and natural, but it’s not a case of plonking a baby down and taking pictures.

I love things to look rustic and textured, but also symmetrical and tidy. This adds to the timeless, natural look of the photos. Between poses I also love taking candid shots as babies wiggle or look around, stretch and yawn.

It’s important to me that sessions are able to unfold spontaneously. I don’t have a set of flow poses that I follow - the best photos happen when things are kept fluid and experimental.

Babies are unpredictable, and while there are several things I’ll do the same in every session to keep them calm, or similar types of shots I get because they’re my ‘tried and tested’ favourites, babies have a way of pushing their personalities into the session, and often the shots that come out of a shoot weren’t planned at all. And that’s what’s awesome about it!

If you’re interested in a naturally posed newborn session with me get in touch - I’d love to hear from you!