i’ve photographed over 500 babies & counting…these are my top props for your newborn session
There are endless options when it comes to what to include in your baby’s newborn photos…I’ve seen it all! Here are my top 3 things I would prioritize packing in your hospital bag for your newborn photos:
1. A swaddle you love
As your photographer, this is absolutely at the top of my list for all those sweet, snuggly newborn poses. I love a muslin option for great structure & the ability to wrap baby up nice & snug. Be mindful of size when choosing your swaddle as some options marketed as receiving blankets might actually be too small.
For truly custom Fresh48 photos, I would actually bring TWO swaddles that coordinate. One to be a background for bassinet photos, and the other to be the one baby is actually wrapped in.
This “I love you” muslin swaddle from Cloud Island by Target is a favorite I see again & again. It is an inexpensive option that photographs beautifully and creates a timeless look.
2. A quality name sign
If you know your baby’s name, this is next on my list. I’ve seen probably as many name signs as I’ve seen newborns & I think a quality name sign wins every time. It is perfect for that first announcement photo to share with friends & family, and can be a sweet keepsake for your nursery gallery wall. A name sign can also be a great prop for capturing a “faceless” portrait - my favorite is baby’s hands gripping the edge of the sign!
Skip the signs that require you to write in a bunch of details. First, it is a lot of pressure to have perfect penmanship. Additionally depending upon the material of the sign & the marker you use, bleeding can become an issue. Dry erase signs can also be an issue if someone picks it up & just barely rubs off part of a letter or number. Second, these have a lot of personally identifying information on them & I actually advise many of my families to not use these for posts on social media.
Love this name sign that is timeless enough to be added to a nursery gallery wall.
3. Something to show SCALE
Your newborn baby is only this size for so long. Hands are great for poses to show scale, but so are stuffies or other nursery items. Your baby will grow but those will always stay the same size and will probably remain treasured items for years to come.
