Newborn Safety

Choosing a newborn photographer can be an overwhelming experience. Especially when considering all the factors that make up the perfect choice. The safety of a newborn is the MOST IMPORTANT factor when considering newborn photography. When parents entrust their little one into another person’s arms at 5-15 days of life, they want someone who truly takes into consideration all the safety factors. Most likely, they have researched the best strollers, car seats, cribs and more. Why wouldn’t they extend the same level of care when choosing someone who is going to photograph their brand-new baby? Just because someone has newborn photography listed on their social media and website does not make them the safest and most qualified person to handle a new baby. Here are a few things you may want to consider when choosing the niche of newborn photography.

 

– Can you afford to hire or use a spotter/assistant for newborn photography sessions?

 

Having a spotter present during your session is crucial to ensuring baby is always safe. Babies can be STRONG and kick out of poses or try to roll out of poses sometimes. Having a spotter to help you make sure baby stays put can be extremely helpful. I have a trained assistant at every studio newborn session. She always has hands and eyes on baby to ensure they are in the safest environment possible. I understand that hiring an assistant is not feasible for every photographer. If this is the case, you can have the parents assist you. If you have parents assisting, it is your responsibility to show and tell them exactly what you need them to do. Reminder: Parents can be sleep deprived which means reaction times can be delayed. You need someone who can immediately assist if a baby were to kick forward out of a pose or roll to the side.

– Are you practicing safe posing methods?

 

You should never promise parents specific poses. Posing should always be based on the baby you are photographing. Every baby will not always do every pose. Some babies may not like being on their tummies. Some babies may photograph better if they are wrapped or swaddled. Posing should always depend on the baby. Some images you see are simply composite photos that are manipulated in Photoshop to achieve the result, and if they were tired alone could endanger your baby. For example, the famous “Froggie Pose” should always be photographed as a composite. You should never try to make baby balance in this pose. Another example is the “Stork Pose” or any hanging pose. These poses are always photographed as a composite. What is a composite? A composite is a series of photos that include your assistant or spotter’s hands on baby, or other aids such as posing beans around the baby visible in your images. A composite should be done if you’re posing on or in props that baby could easily roll off or kick out of. Baby’s head and neck should be supported at all times.

A word about wrapping/swaddling baby. When wrapping babies, you should always make sure that no part of the wrap is around the baby’s neck or restricting their airway at any time.

 

-Is your studio sanitized and cleaned between sessions?

 

Newborns have fragile immune systems, so it is crucial that all fabrics and props be sanitized thoroughly after each session. Fabrics should be washed, and props wiped down. Poo and pee are an occupational hazard for newborn photographers. It WILL happen. Keep plenty of hand sanitizer and disinfectant wipes on hand for these situations. A word on personal hygiene… WASH YOUR HANDS! Be sure that your hands and fingernails are clean. Acrylic or long fingernails can be a hotbed for germs. Be sure you are washing and sanitizing your hands a lot during your sessions. It is also a good idea to be mindful of fingernail length. Long pointy fingernails can potentially poke baby and that’s not a good thing.

 

-Is baby comfortable? Is the temperature suitable for a newborn session?

It is essential to learn baby cues and to pick up on them quickly. You should constantly be watching for circulation issues, limitations on posing, baby being too hot or too cold, and ant airway concerns. You should never force baby into a pose. Babies may have limited mobility due to issues from birth (broken clavicles or even hip dysplasia) and should never be forced into poses that could potentially injure them further. Often it can take some time for babies to go naturally into specific poses… be patient with them. Trying to pose a fussy baby can be difficult and frustrating. Take a deep breath and move on to something else until baby is settled enough to pose. Temperature is a crucial factor on how well a newborn session may go.  If you are posing baby nude or in thin wraps or outfits, you will need your space to be warm. Exactly how warm will depend on your location and the baby you are photographing.  For example, Oklahoma summers can be very hot (reaching 100*) so keeping my studio space at 90* for a session is unreasonable. I personally keep my shooting space around 75-80* and I adjust depending on posing and baby.  Space heaters are a good tool to use, but never face it directly on the baby.  A heating pad may be used to warm your posing area (bean bag or table) but should never be directly under baby.  I do not personally use this method as I do not feel like it is safe for baby. The temperature will need to be adjusted when you are wrapping baby. If you choose to wrap the “Potato Sack” style you may want to adjust your temperature because baby will be wrapped in several wraps, and you do not want them to overheat. Babies will certainly let you know if your temperature is too cold!

 

-Is your studio equipment safe and secure? Are you using props that are safe and free of sharp edges?

First and foremost, you should always use a camera strap or harness while photographing newborns. You would never want to accidentally drop your camera on or hit a newborn with your camera or lens.

If you are using studio lighting, you want to make sure that your light stand is secure and not able to tip over. Be mindful when young siblings are present for your session. I once had a sibling kick my lighting equipment. Thank God I had it anchored down with weights.  Also be sure to check for loose cords. You don’t want clients tripping on your cords.

When choosing props for your session be sure that no sharp or pointy areas touch baby. Antique props can be adorable, but they can have sharp areas that could potentially injure a baby. Be sure you are using adequate padding to cover these areas. If you are using buckets or a prop that could potentially tip over, be sure to weigh it down with a weight. Sand weights are generally a good option to weigh props down. When placing baby in a prop be sure that they fit nicely. Not all babies will fit into a specific prop. You should never use a prop that can easily break such as glass or ceramic.

 

-Are you fully insured and covered if disaster strikes?

 

This may be the most important part of the entire article. Heaven forbid that an accident does occur while you are photographing a newborn in your studio or even in a clients home. Having business insurance is essential to making sure you are covered in case of an accident. Turning your business into an LLC can also help, but you defiantly need some form of insurance if you plan to photograph newborns in studio.

-Experience and Education:

Education is one of the best ways to ensure you are photographing newborns and creating a safe space for your sessions. I highly recommend an in person newborn mentorship or workshop. These will often give you hands-on experience handling babies while a trained professional guides you. There are also amazing online courses, but I personally feel that at least one in person experience is the best route to go for education.

A word about Illness… If you are sick be sure to reschedule your tiny clients! It should go without saying that newborn immune systems are not as strong as ours so being around them while you are sick is never a good idea.

Are you ready to elevate your newborn experience? Join me for a 1:1 newborn mentorship tailored specifically to your business and learning style. I will teach you safe posing methods and how to elevate your newborn experience.