6 Must-Take Newborn Photos

There is one piece of advice we hear over and over when we welcome a new baby into the world; the [...]

By Devan McGuinness

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(Photo: courtesy of Pure Natural Newborn Photography)

There is one piece of advice we hear over and over when we welcome a new baby into the world; the time goes by really quickly so cherish it.

While the advice is good and valid, the problem with it is during those first six weeks when your body is healing from growing and birthing a baby, you're also trying to survive with a whole new set of major responsibilities, and losing your mind with sleep deprivation along the way.

But, it's true, during those first six weeks your newborn quickly changes into an infant and their smallest features change so much in that short time. Taking photos is one of the best ways to help you recall the small details of your little one as they grow up and there are some images you'll want to look back on when your children grow into adults.

If you're planning to hire a professional photographer or looking for some inspiration to take your own, here are 6 photo poses that you must take of your newborn while they're still little.

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(Photo: courtesy of Pure Natural Newborn Photography)

Detail Shots

"My personal favourites are the detail shots (lips, eyelashes, toes, etc.) because they change so fast that you absolutely need to document them!" says Stephanie de Montigny from Ottawa, Ontario in Canada, who has been specializing in newborn photography through her business, Pure Natural Newborn Photography, for five years.

"A great way to commemorate these little treasures is with an image cube, which you can get from each of their milestone sessions to compare."

She suggests taking the shots at three month intervals to so you can watch those small details grow as your child does.

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(Photo: courtesy of Pure Natural Newborn Photography)

Baby and Family Shots

"You've just brought this little miracle into your life, and in just a few weeks your baby will have gotten so much bigger and will never be that tiny again," says de Montigny. "Don't worry too much about the specific poses, but make sure you get in those photos with your baby."

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(Photo: courtesy of Pure Natural Newborn Photography)

Open-Eyed Portraits

"Not all newborns are the same, and some might be more awake than others, especially if they are a little older," de Montigny shares. "Many wide-eyed images are actually quite stunning when captured with correct settings."

Another must-reason to capture those little eyes when they're so young is because eye color changes a lot in the first two years of life as well. A baby could be born with very dark blue eyes, but have them turn the brightest of blues by their second birthday.

"While younger newborns are not actually able to see the same way adults can, with some serious effort we can get their eyes looking toward the camera," she says.

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(Photo: courtesy of Pure Natural Newborn Photography)

Baby Rolls

"It's probably the one time in their lives that the more newborn chub they've got the better," de Montigny jokes. "So it's important to celebrate that and capture the beauty of a healthy growing baby."

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(Photo: courtesy of Pure Natural Newborn Photography)

Profile Shot

It may seem like a generic photo and not one that's really important, but it can actually be used as a look-back for years to come.

"[The profile shot] is often the one part of baby that stays very similar over the first year and into childhood, and can tend to resemble other family members," says de Montigny.

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(Photo: courtesy of Pure Natural Newborn Photography)

Comparison Setup

When you're around your baby all the time, it can often seem like you've blinked and suddenly they've grown out of all their clothes and seem so much older. That's why newborn comparison shots are a must-take because it helps you see where all that time went.

The comparison set up is "where your photographer captures your newborn in a particular prop setup that is to be replicated at your baby's milestone sessions along their first year just to see how big they are getting," de Montigny explains. "The prop helps establish proportion and keeps things consistent for a cohesive 'Watch-Me-Grow' wall display."

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(Photo: courtesy of Pure Natural Newborn Photography)

Finding the Right Photographer

For many parents, hiring a professional photographer to capture the important memories of their newborn is a luxury. It doesn't come cheap so finding the right photographer who can bring those photos to life and leave you with images you cherish for years and years to come.

But, like all professions, not all photographers are made the same, so it's important to look for key qualities before you hand over your money.

de Montigny suggests hiring a professional who specializes in what you're looking for — so, if you want to get images of your newborn, find someone who runs a legitimate business and has a portfolio to back up their experiences.

"In the case of specializing in newborns: they would also learn how to carefully and safely handle babies, and the lighting, posing and composition factors for newborns are a world of difference!" she suggests.

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