In-home newborn sessions can feel stressful for family photographers who are newer to this genre. Unlike an outdoor sunset session, the light is never consistent. Every home is unique…more or less windows, north or south (or west or east!) facing, a wooded property or open. The combination of not knowing what you’re walking into for light, design, or baby temperament can feel overwhelming. How can we cut down on this overwhelm? Go in with a posing plan! Having a list of 10 newborn poses in your arsenal can take that piece out of the worry list, leaving your focus on the factors that you *can’t* control.

As I enter my 7th year as a Boston newborn photographer , I have definitely developed some preferred poses. Not all work for all families and babies but having 10 memorized allows me to execute the majority during most sessions. Without further adieu, let’s chat about the 10 newborn poses I use in most every session.

The Best 10 Newborn Poses to Have In Your Arsenal

I. The White Backdrop Simple Portrait

Believe it or not, the solo baby portrait can stress lifestyle newborn photographers out the most. There’s pressure to make it something elaborate, akin to posing that you’d see in a studio. But here’s the secret…simple is best. Find the most neutral backdrop you can with good light and put that baby on it. Clothes or no clothes? Doesn’t matter! Awake or asleep? That doesn’t matter either! Keeping it simple helps the baby and their adorable features be the star of your image.

II. The Baby Sandwich Snuggle

Once you’ve found that bed in the best light for your simple baby portrait, put those other family members up there too, baby in the middle. This is a great pose for multiple siblings AND for the whole family.

III. The Overhead

After you’ve snagged the newborn snuggle shot, sit everyone up and stay standing on the bed for overhead angles. This is a great way to incorporate pets, siblings who don’t want to stay still enough to snuggle, and parents from a different angle.

IV. The Nursery Floor

The nursery floor, using the crib as a backrest, is a GREAT way to get an alternative shot versus everyone on the couch in the family room. Maybe the family room doesn’t have great light or maybe you just want to incorporate more of that beautifully designed nursery. The bonus is that toddlers LOVE when their parents sit on the floor and tend to be more invested in being in the portraits!

V. The Crib Shot

This may seem obvious, but make the most out of the portraits you take with baby in their crib. Overhead shots are great for incorporating dogs and siblings. Step back for a wider angle shot of the nursery decor. Get low and photograph baby through the rungs for some nice foreground blur to help frame baby.

VI. Baby snuggled into parent.

I’m about to say something controversial…the baby’s face DOES NOT need to be visible in all images!! Snuggle that baby inward, even if your client looks at you with a very confused expression. This position is something that a new parent does ALL the time…and it shows off those tiny little back rolls!

VII. The little details.

These little detail images do not need to be complicated either. They can happen during baby’s solo portraits or in arms! You do not need a macro lens either. I get right up close at 24mm or 35mm to get these.

VIII. The Wide Angle Nursery Photo

Most first time parents (and some subsequent kid parents) put a lot of effort into designing their nursery. Shout out to the second and third time parents who don’t even set up one like me, haha. Don’t forget to take a step back and include all the elements they worked so hard to design!

IX. The Nose to Nose

There is nothing sweeter than being nose to nose with your baby and getting that sweet newborn stare back at you. This pose is super versatile and works with baby awake or asleep and with parent standing or sitting!

X. The Rocker

If you’re a parent of one little kid or multiple kids, you know that your rocking chair is one of the most valuable items in your house. If I had to guess how many hours you’ve spent rocking babies in that chair, the answer would probably be…thousands! The rocking chair is always an item I like to incorporate in my top 10 newborn poses for this very reason.

Want to see more adorable newborn content? Follow me over on instagram for the latest!