How do you do that? | Utah Newborn Photography

Time for another Q&A:
How do you get the babies in the positions you do?
Well, I am the first to admit I am not anywhere close to where I want to be when it comes to photographing babies, but in the last few years I have learned a few tricks. And, I do feel like each session I do gets better and better. Newborns can be really tricky to photograph (not everyone loves to do them, because honestly, they can be hard!), but they are one of my all-time favorites (along with maternities and couples). So, the first thing you need, above all else, is patience! Lots of it. I schedule three hours for my newborn sessions, because babies all work on their own schedules. Often times being handled in ways, in environments and by people they are not used to, can upset them. So you have to take your time holding and shushing and patting and swaddling.

Now, on to your actual question. :D I assume you are talking about the position of getting the little baby feet up by the face. The thing is that not every baby will let you do that. I will work on getting a baby really asleep before I ever attempt that position. Many babies rebel at first, and it can take several minutes of gently folding them over on themselves. I MUST STRESS THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING GENTLE! You cannot just plop a baby down in this position. Although newborns are incredibly flexible, it still takes time to ease them down. As I said, I start by getting them good and asleep. After they've fallen asleep I start by putting their feet down on whatever I'm using to position them. Once their feet are down, I still hold their heads and upper bodies and work to put their face down by their feet. This can literally take ten minutes because the baby will squirm and we'll rework the position. Sometimes they will fold in half and then I'll go to take the picture and then they'll start fussing. The baby is more important than the picture, and if they are uncomfortable, they'll let you know! In this instance, I just don't get the shot. I try, but if it's not going to work, I move on to something else. Sometimes I get a baby that sleeps really well for me, and let's me fuss a lot with him/her and I get a ton of shots, while other times I only get a few because the baby doesn't want to be handled. Either way is okay with me. The important thing is to get the shots you can. Newborns change so quickly and Mom and Dad will cherish those little pics forever no matter what.

And here's a sneak peek from one of my latest newborn sessions. I was dying over this little one. So cute!


If you have a question, please email me at joannataylorphotography at gmail dot com.

And for those interested in my spring mini sessions, I only have 2 spots left! These make a great Mother's Day gift at an excellent price.