Most of y’all have seen the video circulating Facebook that shows a newborn falling out of the “froggy” position. This is the adorable head on hands shot that many parents love and request. In this video, the photographer has the baby balanced with no assistance or spotting from a parent or assistant. Due to the negligence, the baby is unable to support the weight of its head and falls to the side. As far as we know, the baby was not injured; however, the outcome could have been far more dire. Due to this and many photos I’ve seen floating around on social media, I feel that it’s important to educate on newborn and baby safety during photo sessions.

Let’s start with one of the most requested photos by parents. The “froggy” pose. It’s absolutely adorable and can be done in many variations and modifications to make sure that baby is safe and comfortable. To get baby in this position, they must be super relaxed and sleepy. Even those super relaxed babies will fuss a little as we move them into the correct position. Sometimes, babies absolutely do not want to be posed in that manner and in that instance we move on to make sure baby feels safe and secure.

Hands were on Miss Felicity the entire time. The photos were composited in Photoshop to create the images below.

As we get started on this pose in studio, I always explain to the parents the process and that at no times will hands be off the baby. I explain the proper way to support baby’s head, hands, and wrists and do not let go until I’m certain that the parent has baby safely supported.

Did you know that a baby’s head is 25% of their entire body weight? It’s why they should never support their head on their own for this position. As always, several shots are taken and then composited together in Photoshop. The baby is supported properly the entire time.

The same types of rules apply for prop poses! There is a parent or assistant next to the baby at all times and they are spotted to make sure they are safe. Props should always be counter weighted with weights or beanbags and cushioned for support and protection.

Here is a great example. The bed is sturdy and baby is cushioned with support from posing beans. Mom was sitting right next to the bed and was spotting baby the entire time. The angles were a bit different in the image I edited, but the hand was always there, only hovering above him for a moment to get his back in the image.

Extreme care is always taken to ensure baby is safe and comfortable. It takes time and patience to get baby in the proper position for baby’s safety and the best shot. Posing is manipulated to never inhibit a baby’s airway or circulation. You’ll see me frequently using little posing pillows and stuffers and constantly moving and adjusting them under all the blankets to insure baby’s safety and comfort.

If you are looking for a newborn photographer, please choose someone who is experienced, educated, and insured. Yes, that usually comes with a higher price, but your new baby’s safety is worth it! If you do hire a less experienced photographer, as we all were at some point, please do not be afraid to ask questions to make sure your baby is safe at all times.

As a professional, I continue to educate myself on the best practices for safe baby poses and photography techniques to provide you with heirloom keepsakes of your newborn baby. Of course, I’d love it if you choose to hire me to capture these new moments, but most importantly, I want to educate you on what to look for when hiring a newborn photographer.

Newborn Photography Safety {Houston, TX Newborn Photographer}