Why I don’t pose newborns
Unposed newborn photography: my own baby album story.
When I was growing up, I remember being completely fascinated by Anne Geddes’ calendars. Those dreamy, whimsical photos of babies dressed as flowers or curled up in tiny props. To me, that was what “real” newborn photography looked like: polished, creative, and clearly very professional.
But at home, what I kept coming back to were the simple snapshots of my own first days: me in my parents’ arms, my first bath, my first bottle. I still have a simple pink album, a bit worn now, with a few words my mama wrote under every glued photo. Those everyday photos — imperfect, unstaged, meant so much more. I couldn’t remember those moments, of course, but I could feel them. They gave me a way to imagine what it was like to be held, and cared for in those very first days.
And that’s the kind of photography I’m drawn to now. The kind that feels like memory.
A gentle, real-life approach to newborn photography
There’s nothing wrong with posed newborn photography. Many families love those beautifully styled images, and many photographers do incredible work in that genre. But as a documentary photographer and a mother of three, I’ve realised that what I want to give families is something different.
I don’t pose newborns. I don’t use props or wrap babies in elaborate setups. Instead, I quietly document the way your family already is: sleepy cuddles on the couch, tiny hands wrapped around your finger, siblings tiptoeing in to say hello.
This approach isn’t just a stylistic choice. Why I like unposed newborn photography so much is deeply rooted in my belief that the most powerful photos are the ones that tell your story, the story of life just as it is.
Why real-life moments photography matters
The early days with a newborn are blurry, tender, messy, beautiful. You’re not always dressed up. Your home might not look “photo-ready.” But none of that matters. What matters is that this is your real life, unfolding moment by moment. And it deserves to be remembered. By you, and by that small, incredible human being you just created.
My documentary style of newborn photography means you don’t have to “perform” for the camera. You don’t have to worry about how the baby is posed, or whether you’ve cleaned the house. You just have to be there, with your baby, in this chapter of your life.
Check this blog post to see what a newborn session with me looks like.
You deserve to be in the frame
So often, new mothers are the ones taking the pictures, and are rarely in them. I believe it’s important that you, too, are seen. That your baby sees you holding them. That, years from now, they can look back and know what it felt like to be loved by you. They will want to know what you looked like, what their first home looked like, how life was back then.
This is why I don’t pose newborns. Because what I want to give you is more than a photo. I want to give you something that brings you back! To the warmth, the quiet, the chaos, the love. Your newborn deserves beautiful photos, but so do you. So you should be included, doing the hardest job there is: being a parent.
You and your baby deserve something that feels like memory.
Why home is the best place for newborn photos
One of the biggest benefits of documentary newborn photography is how relaxed and easy it can be, especially compared to a studio session. There’s no need to pack a bag full of nappies, changes of clothes, bottles, and comforters. No need to bundle up your baby and drive across town, hoping they’ll stay sleepy when you arrive.
Instead, I come to you.
You get to stay in the comfort of your own home, in your own rhythm, where everything you need is already close by. There’s no rush, we’re not working within a narrow window of time while your baby is still in that sleepy newborn phase. Your baby can be awake, asleep, or cluster feeding the whole time. It’s all part of the story.
This slower, more natural approach means less stress for you, and more authentic photos that reflect this fleeting moment in your life exactly as it is.
If this feels right for you…
If you’re drawn to quiet, genuine moments more than perfectly posed ones, if you want images that reflect the way it felt… Then an unposed newborn photography session might be just what you’re looking for.
Let’s create something honest, joyful, and full of love.
Photographs that feel like you. Learn more about my documentary family sessions and get in touch with me! I can’t wait to meet you.
