One of the most common questions that gets asked as a newborn photographer is how to make all the images look perfect. These are squirmy, fussy (absolutely adorable) infants we’re photographing. The goal is to create a serene, sometimes almost other-worldly, scene. But I do this with newborn photography safety in mind!

The truth is that we work a lot of magic during and after the shoot. Pimarily with a little trick called composite imagery. In short, we combine multiple photos into one—in post-processing—to create the finished result. Sometimes, it’s a matter of capturing a better expression in one image and then combining it with another photo where the positioning is better. In other cases, we’re combining a backdrop scene with the image of your baby. Ensuring newborn photography safety through composite work is critical. You can see many images here, https://mjmemories.photography/newborn-photography-rochester-ny-portfolio. Here is an example of a composite image.

This is done both for aesthetic effect and to ensure your child’s safety. For example, sometimes it looks like a newborn is hanging out on a motorcycle or nestled in a swing. These would be dangerous poses to actually attempt, so we rely on composite.

Speaking of newborn safety, it’s our absolute number one priority in any newborn photo session. We won’t do anything the parent isn’t comfortable with. We adhere strictly to newborn photography safety guidelines.

The Importance of Newborn Safety

When hiring a newborn photographer, your preferred photographer must be trained. Not just in how to wield a camera, but in how to ensure the baby is kept happy, comfortable, and safe throughout the session. This means posing babies in a way that’s safe and comfortable while also beautiful, and utilizing post-processing techniques—such as composite imagery, eliminating jaundice, and even smoothing out things like scratches and blotchy skin that are very common with newborns.

The bottom line is that there are things that a seasoned newborn photographer will know how to do well that novice shooters simply don’t know about. You’ll often find that newborn images are more expensive than other types. That cost is a reflection of this key knowledge and attention to detail to maintain newborn photography safety. If you ask us, it’s worth hiring a seasoned pro for newborn photography 100% of the time.

I would love to capture some sweet memories for your family! http://www.mjmemories.photography