Whether you are photographing your own baby at home or you’re a newborn photographer looking to get better photos, I have a simple tip that will help!

My number one tip for better newborn photos is…

Pay attention to the angle of the baby’s head!

You might have thought it was going to be more complicated, but honestly it’s that simple.  New babies  don’t have neck strength, so their head can tilt too far back and it’s not a good angle.

If you have the baby positioned in the crook of an elbow, just use the bicep to push the babies head slightly forward to make an even better photo.

Babies don’t have to be dead on to the camera.  If the person holding the baby uses their hand around the back of the babies head, they can easily control the angle.  You might need them to go up or down to  get the best view of the baby’s face.

Placing the baby on a bed can also help.  You’ll get the baby’s head in the best angle, then have the parent kiss or snuggle in close to the baby.  The adult can move and the baby stays stationary, so you’ll always have a good angle!

Another pose I like to use is having the babies on the parent’s chest. I always place their hand under their cheek, so they don’t ‘melt’ into the parent’s body too much.  You can then have the parent look at you,  gaze down to the side for variety, while the baby stays in the same position.

I hope these tips helped you take even better photos of your newborn!