I am a mom who also happens to be a St. Louis newborn photographer. Since being a mom always comes first to me, I naturally think about my clients in terms of what I, as a mom, would want. As a mom, I love those perfectly posed, sleeping baby photos. However, I also love the natural moments that manifest themselves during a lifestyle session. I cannot imagine having one at the expense of the other! My solution is simple – I offer both! Many of my clients choose me for that very reason – they admire and want both styles in their newborn photos. I do give the option of a session that is more focused on one or the other, but the family photos I take in a posed session are lifestyle, and with a strictly lifestyle session, I’ll generally try to work in a pose or two if I can (without bringing my beanbag).
The following session is one that was primarily posed, but with some lifestyle mixed in. My ISO was anywhere from 800 to 1250 for this session, and my aperture is almost always between 2.5 and 3.2 for newborn sessions. I adjust my shutter speed last.
I will often start my sessions with the taco pose. Babies seem to be comfortable all curled up in it, and it often helps them get into a deeper sleep!
I then moved into another variation of the taco pose – this time with the toes beneath the baby’s wrist. I loved how this one looked in black & white – it had just enough shadowing to give a moodier effect, which is my favorite when it comes to black & white images.
This baby curled into almost every pose perfectly! Not every baby does this, but sometimes we newborn photographers get lucky! It always helps when parents closely follow my instructions as well, and these parents did.
I don’t always use a lot of pink, but I loved this pink keepsake blanket I got from Roses & Ruffles, and it happened to match a bonnet I had just gotten as well, from Pretty Pink Ruffles.
I’ll try to get the most of each pose/setup. I didn’t move the baby at all for the next photo but, instead, I moved and stood up above the baby and photographed her profile. Camera straps are a must when doing this!
Seriously, isn’t she just perfection? Such a great little model!!
I always finish my posed sessions with a prop or two. I sometimes will use my flokati as a floor – it adds just the right amount of texture.
I then moved into the lifestyle part of the session. These parents were so clearly in love with their new baby. I positioned them on the bed, and made sure everyone was touching each other. It’s all about the connections!
I then took the same photo, but I moved out into the hallway in order to get that feeling as though I was on the outside looking in, while the family had their own little private moment. Hallway shots are also great framing opportunities.
This next photo is always a favorite. I set the parents back a bit from the baby, but focus on the baby with a somewhat shalllow depth of field so the parents are blurry. In this photo, I chose to capture only their hands. Other times I’ll stand further back to the parents faces are in it as well (but blurry).
I always get a photo of the baby holding a parents’ finger. Sometimes I’ll do this for dad alone, other times for mom alone, and sometimes I’ll even have mom and dad’s hands together holding the baby’s hands.
I always get a photo of the baby in the parents’ hands. Sometimes I’ll do this for dad alone, other times for mom alone, and sometimes I’ll even have mom and dad’s hands are together holding the baby.
Another favorite photo to take is of mom holding baby in the nursery. It is likely the case that by the time of the session, this has already become a familiar place for mom, and it will become even more so in the months, even years, ahead.
Individual parent photos area also another must in newborn sessions. Moms generally appreciate photos that do not emphasize their post-pregnancy stomach, even when they really do look amazing!
Baby in a crib is another popular choice – parents love it.
And finally, when dad is a firefighter, you take a shot like this!! This was a composite, folks. Mom was right there on one side, and then on the other side for the next photo. J Baby’s safety is ALWAYS my first priority.
Heather Mohr is a St. Louis newborn, maternity, and birth photographer. She understands how fleeting those early days of life are, and it brings her joy to capture that time, so parents will forever be able to live those precious moments again and again. Heather is a mom to 3 amazing children who inspire her every single day. She is also thankful for her very supportive husband.Find Heather Mohr Photography on the Web: Website | Blog | Facebook | Instagram | Pinterest
