Is newborn photography safe?

There is nothing more important than the safety and well-being of your new baby. Some methods of newborn photography are completely safe, and others definitely have some risks. Here’s what you should consider before booking a newborn photoshoot.

First and foremost, choose an experienced photographer who specializes in newborn photography. Most of use who do this professionally are licensed, insured and educated on safe newborn handling.I am very passionate about newborn safety. I use a method called baby-led posing, which is the safest way to photograph a newborn. Everything is done at the baby’s pace, I’ll get into this more later.

Next thing, there is nothing about the camera or the flash that is harmful to your baby. Where the safety concerns come in is posing and “soothing” practices.

The number one safest place to have newborn photos done is in your home with a professional newborn photographer. I would recommend against using the photography services offered by your hospital, those photographers are often inexperienced and their business wouldn’t survive without the contracted work, which tells you that they aren’t being hired by people outside of the hospital, and probably or a reason. When you choose your own photographer, you get to vet them yourself and ask about their posing and soothing practices before the session even takes place. Absolutely do your research. Also, please do not use a big box company or a brand new photographer who bought a camera last Friday. You want someone with experience when you are trusting them with your baby, even if it does cost a bit more. Budget-friendly should not be the only factor in your decision.

Studio newborn photographers are one of the biggest offenders in poor safety practices. Studio photography is often highly posed and often in unnatural and unsafe ways with props that are not good for babies. Studios will do things like, overheat the studio, over feed the baby, and remove the baby from the parents. All of which I would never recommend. When you hire a studio photographer, you are giving up control of the environment and may feel like you can’t say “no” to things that you may not feel are good for your baby. Not all poses are safe for babies. Overheating/feeding a baby to make them sleepy is not safe and will cause your baby discomfort. Please say “no” to photographers who use these practices. There’s also no way to know how many baby’s have been wrapped in that swaddle since it was last washed. Don’t get me wrong, some studios are great, but please buyer beware, do your research before you book.

I only do newborn photos in my clients homes, because I believe it’s the most empowering place for parents to be with their baby, because it’s their home and their rules. My clients are in control of their thermostat, so the environment is what the baby is comfortable in and used to. I tell parents to feed their baby before I arrive as much or as little as the baby wants, no need for upset tummy’s. I will photograph babies asleep or awake, so I don’t need unsafe practices to do my job. Every pose that I use is completely safe, no weird positions that risk your baby’s well-being and I have taken courses from a neonatal nurse and cleared the poses with another to be sure, that everything I do is safe. I’m a mother, myself, and I was an anxious one as a new mom, I get it and I want your baby to be safe just as much as you do. The only props I use are swaddles, and I only use swaddles that are provided by the parents so no weirdness there. I personally do not use flash when photographing babies, because I feel that it is unnecessary and disruptive to the peaceful postpartum environment, I bring as little equipment with me as possible for this reason.

So, is newborn photography safe? Yes, as long as you choose an experienced photographer who does not use the unsafe practices mentioned in this post.

Want to learn more? I have tons of newborn photography tips in my blog. Check it out here.

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