Professional photographers like myself, who have been trained how to safely pose newborns, are horrified by images like those that made headlines not too long ago, where babies were being posed inside glass containers. This type of newborn baby photography certainly makes a statement but it also sends the wrong message to parents that babies can be posed any way in virtually anything, or that newborn baby photography isn’t beautiful or cute enough when a baby is photographed while simply wrapped in a cozy blanket, sleeping inside a basket.
Newborn baby photography has come a long way as far as creativity goes, but it seems that even some ‘professional photographers’ are pushing the limits to be the next Anne Geddes. As a rule, any newborn baby photography that takes place at my studio is performed with baby’s safety first. Don’t get me wrong, I love the challenge of posing babies with new props and outfits, but I will never attempt to position a baby in a way that I feel risks their safety or makes them uncomfortable. Little necks aren’t yet strong enough to support heads, even newborns can sometimes roll over. If a pose isn’t possible without these potential dangers, I won’t do it.
It’s because I feel so strongly about practicing safe newborn baby photography that I teach other professional photographers how to use a variety of proven techniques which allow us to capture those breathtaking images that perfectly incorporate parents’ hobbies, passions and occupations, while guaranteeing that our little subjects are safe at all times.
Each Newborn Baby Photography Session is Unique
One of the things I think some photographers and parents forget is that every baby is different and that a pose or prop which works well with one baby might not be safe for another. Professional photographers who don’t assess each baby individually before agreeing to parents’ requests to pose their babies inside construction hardhats, on top of guitars or from hanging weigh scales run the risk of endangering their tiny subjects.
Something I always teach other professional photographers is that they’ve got to be prepared to say ‘no’ when a parent requests a pose or a prop that can’t be used safely. A baby that’s wriggly and alert may not be a good candidate for a sling pose, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t countless other poses and props that can be used with appropriate techniques to achieve memorable and meaningful images.
Using Composite Images
A few years back, I successfully photographed a baby in a first-ever stand-alone helmet pose. It was an exciting moment for me as a photographer, and the images certainly spurred many more requests for babies posed inside their parents’ motorcycle, construction and firefighter helmets.
Thanks to technology, I was able to capture this image safely using the composite technique. Instead of taking one photo, with a baby posed alone inside a helmet, the image is created by layering a few images together with Photoshop editing. I take a photo of the baby inside the helmet with their hands folded underneath their chin, while their father or an assistant supports the baby’s head. Then, I simply remove the spotter’s hands in Photoshop and layer the images to reveal a beautiful photo that was captured safely.
Newborn Baby Photography with Spotters
In my post last week, I mentioned that I used my assistant as a spotter so that I could safely photograph the daughter of Amir Johnson, while she lay sleeping on top of a basketball. I use spotters regularly in sessions at my studio and teach other professional photographers how an extra set of hands can make the difference between a pose that’s not possible and one that’s totally safe. As I also explained in last week’s post, using the mothers of my subjects as the spotter isn’t ideal, as babies are naturally drawn to their mothers’ scents and will fuss and wriggle to be close.
I know professional photographers are excited by the possibilities when it comes to infusing their newborn baby photography sessions with creative new poses and props. I’m excited by the possibilities too, but what excites me more is the challenge of making each and every photo session as safe as possible, while still capturing images that are artistic and unique.
When I see photos that couldn’t have been taken without putting a baby’s safety in jeopardy, I can’t help but think that professional photographers should know better, or that the parents of those precious little people should be better informed.
If you’re a parent who would like more information on the safety measures I use during each and every session in my studio, or you’re a photographer who would like to learn how to use posing and editing techniques to make your own newborn baby photography sessions safer, please call me: (905) 449-2200.
