When people hear that I’m a newborn photographer, they usually react one of two ways.
They either smile dreamily and say, “Oh, that must be the sweetest job!”
Or they look slightly panicked and ask, “How do you do it?!”

Both reactions are right, in their own way.

After 25+ years behind the lens, I can tell you that newborn photography is one of the most beautiful, challenging, emotional, rewarding things I’ve ever been part of. It’s not just about taking pretty pictures of tiny babies wrapped in soft blankets. It’s about witnessing beginnings. It’s about patience, artistry, safety, trust—and an endless well of love for stories that are just beginning to be written.

Today, I want to pull you behind the scenes and share what it’s really like to live this life. Not the polished Instagram version, but the real, messy, heart-filling reality of being a newborn photographer for more than two decades.

The Early Days: Film, Fear, and Figuring It Out

When I first started, digital photography didn’t exist the way it does now. Everything was shot on film. That meant no instant previews, no quick edits, no safety net. You had to trust your instincts—your exposure settings, your lighting, your ability to read a moment—and hope you nailed it, because you wouldn’t know until you developed the film later.

I remember my very first newborn session like it was yesterday. The baby was only a few days old, and I was terrified. Not because I doubted my camera skills, but because I understood even then what a huge responsibility it was. I wasn’t just photographing a baby. I was preserving the first visual chapter of someone’s life.

I quickly learned that photographing newborns wasn’t about commanding a perfect shot. It was about slowing down, tuning in, and listening—to the baby, to the parents, to the story unfolding in front of me.

Those early sessions taught me patience. Humility. And the importance of preparation, because babies don’t care how beautiful the light is or how ready you feel.

Every Baby Brings a New Story

Over the years, I’ve had the privilege of photographing hundreds of newborns—and each one brings a different energy, a different rhythm. Some babies snooze peacefully through the entire session, as if they were born knowing they were about to be photographed. Others have strong opinions about swaddles, backdrops, and anything involving being moved while they’re comfy.

And that’s the magic of it.

No two sessions are ever the same because no two babies are the same. Every tiny yawn, every stretch, every little furrowed brow is a new, unrepeatable moment. My job isn’t to mold babies into perfect poses—it’s to meet them exactly where they are, to honor their rhythm, and to create an environment where their natural beauty shines.

Newborn photography isn’t a formula you apply to every family. It’s a relationship you build in the span of a few hours. It’s an act of trust—parents trusting me with their brand-new human, trusting me to keep them safe, trusting me to see their child the way they do: full of wonder, hope, and limitless possibility.

The True Heart of a Newborn Session: Safety, Patience, and Presence

If I could shout one thing from the rooftops, it would be this: newborn photography is first and foremost about safety.

Long before I think about angles or lighting or poses, I’m thinking about how to keep that baby safe and comfortable.
How to support their tiny bodies properly.
How to read subtle signs of stress or discomfort.
How to create setups that are baby-led, never forced.

I’ve spent countless hours studying newborn physiology, infant reflexes, and safe posing techniques. I’ve invested in training, continuing education, and certifications that parents may never see—but that I carry into every session like a silent promise: your baby’s well-being comes before any photo.

Patience is the second pillar. Some sessions flow easily. Others require breaks for feeding, soothing, rocking, or just giving the baby a little time to settle. And that’s okay. Part of my job is holding space for whatever the day brings—without rushing, without stress, without making anyone feel like they’re “failing” because their newborn is being a newborn.

And presence—being truly present, tuned into the moment—is what ties it all together. I’m not just operating a camera. I’m noticing the tiny sigh when a baby falls into deeper sleep. I’m waiting for the softest smile to play across their lips. I’m seeing the way a mother’s hands instinctively cradle her baby’s head, the way a father’s thumb gently strokes their child’s arm without even realizing it.

Presence is where the magic happens. And it’s something that no amount of equipment or technical skill can fake.

What Parents Don’t Always See: The Hours Behind Every Session

For every newborn session you see beautifully displayed online, there are dozens of unseen hours that went into making it happen.

Before the session, I’m:

• Preparing the studio

• Sanitizing wraps, props, and surfaces

• Prepping heat and lighting for the baby’s comfort

• Planning setups based on parents’ style and preferences

• Reviewing poses that suit the baby’s age, weight, and flexibility

During the session, I’m:

• Setting up safely and cleanly between every pose

• Reading baby’s cues for breaks and transitions

• Adjusting posing and lighting minute by minute

• Comforting parents, guiding them gently into relaxed family portraits

After the session, the work continues:

• Culling hundreds of images to find the most genuine moments

• Editing each photo carefully to maintain the baby’s natural features while refining lighting, skin tones, and backgrounds

• Preparing galleries and creating albums that become family heirlooms

When you invest in a newborn photographer with real experience, you’re not just paying for the 2-3 hours you see on session day. You’re investing in the 20+ hours wrapped around it—all dedicated to telling your family’s story with care and artistry.

Why 25 Years Matters (and How It Shapes Every Session)

There’s no shortcut to the kind of intuition you build after 25 years.
No fast track to the ability to predict a newborn’s next move before it happens.
No quick way to learn how to sense when a baby just needs a little more snuggle time or when it’s time to move to a new setup.

This experience isn’t just about technical skill—it’s about emotional intelligence. About learning to read not just babies, but parents too. Knowing when to offer encouragement, when to give space, when to move quietly so as not to disrupt the moment.

It’s about building trust instantly—with families who might feel a little vulnerable, a little overwhelmed, or a little unsure about stepping in front of the camera during one of the most emotional seasons of their lives.

Every session I photograph today is shaped by the thousands of moments I’ve witnessed, the lessons I’ve learned, and the deep, abiding respect I have for what newborn photography really is: a celebration of life’s beginnings, captured with heart, skill, and love.

The Legacy of Newborn Photography: Why It Matters More Than Ever

Sometimes, when you’re in the thick of newborn life—the sleepless nights, the endless feedings—it’s hard to imagine how much you’ll miss this season someday. It feels endless and fleeting at the same time.

That’s why newborn photography matters. It freezes a piece of this wild, beautiful chapter that otherwise would slip through your fingers before you even realized it was leaving.

Photographs aren’t just art for your walls. They’re memory anchors. They’re future stories. They’re a way for your child, and for you, to remember not just what they looked like when they were tiny—but what it felt like to love them so completely from the very start.

And for me, after 25 years, it’s still the greatest honor. To be trusted with these beginnings. To be allowed to bear witness. To create images that will outlast me, telling stories long after the babies I photograph have grown into adults with stories of their own.

Conclusion: More Than a Photographer—A Keeper of Beginnings

Behind every sleepy smile, every tiny hand grasping at air, every perfectly imperfect moment, there’s a story being told. A story that deserves to be preserved, remembered, and cherished.

Being a newborn photographer isn’t just about getting “cute” pictures. It’s about holding a family’s beginning with tenderness and respect. It’s about building a legacy of love, one frame at a time.

After more than two decades, I’m still honored, humbled, and completely in love with this work. And if you’re ready to capture your family’s first chapter with someone who brings a lifetime of experience—and a whole lot of heart—I would love to be the one behind the lens for you.

Contact me today and let’s create something timeless, together.