I was shocked to learn last week of a well known newborn photographer posting a video on social media demonstrating newborn photography and handling a baby (in my opinion) very aggressively. I feel that this is the perfect time to remind beginner & experienced photographers to always focus on safety with a newborn baby whenever in our care.

What an incredible opportunity it is to capture this time in a family’s life. The start or expansion of a family and their precious newborn baby. Not only is this a privilege but it is also a responsibility that must not be taken lightly. Babies are fragile and delicate and must be handled with care throughout their entire time in your studio. 

Please always keep these in mind during your sessions:

Room Temperature

We want babies to be comfortable in their sessions and part of that means making sure that the room is warm for them. However, we don’t want the room to be TOO warm. 

  • Watch for signs of overheating – sweaty neckline, mottled skin, redness in the face, irritability. Make adjustments to temperature if you see any of these signs present for baby’s comfort and safety.

Cleanliness

  • Have hand sanitizer available and/or a place to wash hands thoroughly with soap and water.
    • Make sure that all surfaces that parents and baby will be on are sanitized and clean. Ensure that anything that touches the baby (wraps/blankets etc) are clean and freshly laundered.

Tripping Hazards

  • Keep cords taped down or out of the way
  • Use a rug pad with floor boards. 
  • Waste and spills should be cleaned immediately, without delay.

Antiques and Wooden Props

  • Watch for splinters and sand these surfaces away
  • Don’t choose props with nails
  • Make sure that props are weighted properly.
  • Newborns should NEVER be positioned in or on glass or ceramic containers or objects that can break or shatter.

Other Safety Tips

  • Choose a newborn bean bag from a reputable newborn photography vendor. These are created specifically for babies safety and comfort.
  • DIY (PVC piping, dog beds etc) set-ups may not be safe for baby
  • Ensure the newborn is supported by human hands at ALL TIMES throughout risky poses (composite two images together to get your final image)
    • This ensures that babies will not be at risk of falls, central cyanosis or positional asphyxiation – three very dangerous scenarios that can result in very serious injury or even death.
  • Should the baby show signs of hunger such as rooting when they are being posed or they sense and smell their mother, they should be given appropriate time to feed. A satisfied baby will not be unsettled due to the smell of milk and some babies require smaller feedings more often than others.
  • Where and when illness may delay your session beyond an appropriate timeline of around 1-2 weeks, a photographer should either have an assistant photographer on hand to complete your session or provide referrals to other respected photographers working in a similar style. For posed newborn work, your session is time sensitive and should be completed sometime within the first two to three weeks of life. Unposed, documentary or lifestyle sessions can be completed in longer timelines and rescheduling should be easier with these types of sessions
  • You do not need to touch, move, or attempt to remove any medical items such as belly button clamps, circumcision gauze, etc.
  • Provide adequate seating and changing areas that are available and suitable for new moms and those recovering from C-sections.
  • Easy access to drinking water.
  • Ensure that you are insured prior to seeing clients in your home or studio in order to protect you in the event of accidents.

 It is a privilege to capture this beautiful, fleeting time for families. And we must always handle babies with extreme care and attention.

Many excerpts of this post were referenced from https://apnpi.com/newborn_safety/. Please read through for a detailed approach to safety measures.