How to Safely Pose Your Newborn for Photos

A guide to understanding the importance of choosing a trained and experienced newborn photographer for safe, beautiful images.

Why Newborn Photography Safety Matters

When it comes to newborn photography, safety isn't just important, it's everything. Your baby is delicate, flexible, and entirely reliant on the adult handling them. While those sleepy, curled-up poses may look peaceful and effortless, the truth is they require very specific knowledge of newborn anatomy, development, and behaviour to pose safely.

As a parent, it’s easy to fall in love with dreamy, picture-perfect images. But behind every beautiful photo should be a photographer who not only understands lighting and composition, but also knows how to safely support your baby’s tiny frame, spot signs of discomfort, and respond appropriately.

Whether your little one arrived naturally, via cesarean, or after a long journey through loss and hope, they deserve to be treated with the utmost care.

What Is a Trained Newborn Photographer?

A trained newborn photographer has completed specific education in:

Newborn safety posing techniques
Infant physiology and developmental needs
Safe studio environments (temperature, cleanliness, lighting)
Use of props and posing tools
Reading a baby’s cues and recognising distress
Supporting baby’s head, neck, and joints correctly
Post-processing safety (for composite images)

Training may come from courses, certifications, mentoring by top professionals, or recognised industry bodies like BANPAS, The Baby and Newborn Photography Association, or the SWPP (Society of Wedding & Portrait Photographers), for which I hold a Licentiate qualification.

My Training as a Newborn Photographer

When you’re trusting someone to hold and pose your brand-new baby, their training and experience matter more than anything. This is why I’ve made safety and education the foundation of my work.

I’ve completed specialist newborn safety posing training with some of the UK’s top industry professionals. This includes hands-on workshops focused on how to safely pose, support, and soothe newborns, always putting baby’s comfort and well-being first.

I also hold a Licentiate qualification in photography through the SWPP (Society of Wedding and Portrait Photographers), which means my work has been formally assessed and approved by a panel of top photographers and industry experts.

Safety doesn’t stop at posing, either. I hold an enhanced DBS certificate and bring over 20 years of experience working with families and children, including those with additional needs from my background as a special educational needs (SEN) teacher. I understand how delicate this time is, especially for rainbow parents or those who’ve experienced loss, and create a gentle, calm, and fully baby-led environment from the moment you walk through my door.

My studio is always warm, welcoming, and designed with your little one in mind. Every prop, blanket, and setup has been carefully chosen with safety and softness at its core. Because your baby deserves nothing less.

What Is an Experienced Newborn Photographer?

While training provides a foundation, experience is what brings it to life.

An experienced newborn photographer has:

Worked with hundreds of babies (including premature and medically complex babies)
Navigated real-time baby cues like feeding needs, startle reflexes, and tiredness
Adapted sessions for colic, reflux, or sensory sensitivities
Established a calming workflow for soothing and transitioning between poses
Built the confidence to know when a pose isn't safe, and when to stop

Every baby is different. Experience teaches a photographer when to change course, slow down, or improvise, all while keeping baby safe and comfortable.

Experienced Newborn Photographer

Training is vital, but experience is what truly refines a photographer’s ability to create timeless, safe, and heartwarming images of your baby.

With over a decade of hands-on experience photographing newborns and young families, I’ve worked with babies of all temperaments, ages, and needs. I know how to read the subtle cues of a newborn, when they’re starting to stir, when they need a break, or when they’re in that perfect milk-drunk snooze ready for posing.

But it’s not just professional experience I bring, it’s maternal instinct too. As a mum of three myself, I understand the emotions, the exhaustion, and the deep love that come with those early days. I treat every baby as if they were my own, with care, gentleness, and patience. That natural intuition guides everything I do, from the way I hold your baby to how I sense when they need extra comfort.

Over the years, I’ve also taught parents and aspiring photographers how to safely pose and photograph newborns, ensuring others can learn the same high standards I live by. Sharing this knowledge and watching others grow in confidence and care has been one of the most rewarding parts of my career.

Each baby is different, and experience has taught me how to adjust quickly and gently to suit your baby’s unique rhythm. Whether they need extra soothing, have reflux, were born prematurely, or are a rainbow baby with a tender journey behind them, I’m confident and calm in any situation, always putting baby first.

I've also had the honour of working with families who’ve experienced IVF, loss, or high-risk births, and my sessions are always emotionally sensitive and deeply respectful of each family’s story. I’m not just capturing images, I’m preserving moments that will mean everything to you one day.

This depth of experience allows me to deliver consistent, high-quality images while keeping your baby comfortable, supported, and safe throughout the session.

Common Newborn Poses and Why Training Matters

Here are some of the most beloved newborn poses, along with why only trained professionals should attempt them:

1. Froggy Pose

Baby’s chin rests on their hands, legs folded beside them.

Safety Note: This pose should always be created as a composite image (two or more photos edited together). No baby should ever support their own head.
Trained photographers use spotters, hold the baby at all times, and blend the images during editing to create the illusion of balance.

2. Taco or Womb Pose

Baby is curled with feet tucked near the chest, mimicking the womb position.

Requires an understanding of how newborn hips and joints bend.
An experienced photographer will know when this pose is suitable (not all babies are comfortable in this position).

3. Side-Lying Pose

Baby lies on their side with hands gently resting under their cheek.
Safe and natural for most babies, but still requires correct head and arm support.

4. Chin on Hands on Prop

Baby is posed on a cushion, with chin resting on folded arms inside a bucket, bowl, or basket.
Safety Note: Props can easily tip without proper counterweights and safety measures.
A trained photographer will never leave baby unattended and always use weighted, stable props.

5. Wrapped Poses

Baby is swaddled snugly, often asleep.

Wrapping requires knowledge of swaddle tension, airflow, hip health, and circulation.
Trained photographers monitor baby's breathing and temperature, and make sure no pose is too tight or stressful.

6. Parent Hands Poses

Baby is cradled in the hands of a parent or photographed in a family embrace.
Requires coaching for parents and careful posing to keep baby secure, especially for standing shots.

Why Parents Shouldn’t Try These Poses at Home

While DIY photography might seem tempting, it can place a newborn at risk, especially without training in infant safety. Many poses you see online are composites or have invisible safety supports edited out. Trying to replicate them at home could lead to injury or distress.

Your baby deserves care, calm, and connection, not pressure to “perform” or be placed in an unsafe position.

Why I Prioritise Safety in Every Session

As a mum of three, two of whom are rainbow babies, I understand just how precious this moment is. I hold certifications in newborn safety posing, have completed advanced training with top UK photographers, and am an enhanced DBS-checked professional.

Sessions in my studio are baby-led, meaning we go at your baby’s pace. If they need to feed, we pause. If a pose isn’t right for them, we adapt. My goal is not just to create stunning images, but to make the experience calm, reassuring, and safe for your whole family.

Final Thoughts

Newborn photography should be as gentle as it is beautiful. Behind every pose is an understanding of anatomy, safety, and care. So when you book a trained, experienced photographer, you’re not just investing in a photo, you’re investing in your baby’s wellbeing, your peace of mind, and timeless memories captured with heart and expertise.

About Me

Hi, I’m Adele Morris, a multi-award-winning newborn and family photographer based in Porthcawl, Bridgend, South Wales. I specialise in maternity, newborn, and family photography, and I’m also a proud mum of three, including twin toddlers and a little girl, two of whom are rainbow babies. My own journey into motherhood, through both joy and heartbreak, is what inspired me to create a safe, loving space for other families to capture these fleeting, magical moments.

With over 20 years of experience working with children and families, including as a trained special educational needs (SEN) teacher, I bring a deep understanding of emotional care and safety into every session. I hold an enhanced DBS check, a Licentiate qualification in photography, and specialist certifications in newborn safety posing from the UK’s top trainers. I’m also the only photographer in the Bridgend area with these combined credentials.

My studio is designed to be a calm, baby-led environment, where you can relax knowing your baby is in gentle, experienced hands. Every photo I take is crafted with love, patience, and deep respect for your little one’s safety, comfort, and story.

If you’d like to know more or have any questions before booking your session, I’m always happy to chat. You’re never “just another client” here — your journey truly matters to me.