Belly Beautiful by Karen Marie

Sometimes, you just need a great picture of a cute baby to make your day better...

There are a million and a half ways to make an eye-catching portrait. But when it comes to capturing portraits of babies, much of the photographer's success will rely on just a few factors.

How the baby is posed, what they're wearing, the angle of the camera, and props are among the most important factors in newborn photography.

As you'll see in these adorable examples, these master photographers used one or more of these principles to generate some jaw-droppingly good newborn portraits.

Let's have a look!

Sweet Embrace Photography

In this sweet shot, the photographer used props masterfully as a way to create a more impactful newborn portrait.

Not only does the basket offer a nice tonal contrast to all the white in the shot, but the fact that the handle of the basket helps frame the faces of the babies makes it that much more effective of a prop.

Note as well that when you use props in portraits that they should feel natural to the shot. In this case, the basket feels like an integral component of the portrait rather than a cheesy add-on.

Props in portraits can go wrong very quickly, so be careful when you use them!

Learn More:

• Newborn Photography Tips That Will Completely Change Your Images
• Shop for Newborn Photography Props

Belly Beautiful by Karen Marie

The angle of the camera relative to a portrait subject also has a strong impact on how the final image turns out.

When photographing a newborn, looking down toward them is usually a pleasing look because it's so familiar to us. However, because it's a familiar look, you need to take steps to enhance the interest of the shot.

In the image above, note how the photographer used texture to provide that interest. But even though there's a lot of texture in the shot, the fact that it's all the same color helps keep it from becoming overwhelming to the eye.

Another subtle touch is the floral crown the baby is wearing. It adds a little more texture and just enough color to give this image a little extra visual appeal.

Learn More:

• Newborn Photography Tip: How to Master Close-Up Shots
• Shop for Newborn Photography Accessories

Axsys Designs Newborns

Another factor that influences the success of a newborn portrait is how the infant is posed.

The great thing about newborn photography is that babies are extremely moldable, so photographers can create unusual poses that generate adorable photos, like the one seen above.

If the baby is asleep, you can do things like tuck their legs under and place their arm and hand under their face, as was done above.

Naturally, great care must be taken when posing a newborn such that their head and neck are supported at all times.

You can use bumpers under the baby (as was done above) to give them the support they need.

Learn More:

• Basic Composition Tips for Newborn Photography
• 4 Tips for Stunning Newborn Photography

Sweet Embrace Photography

What the newborn is wearing can have a significant impact on the look and feel of the image as well.

In the case of the image above, a simple tieback is all that's needed to add a little texture to the shot.

But since the baby's wardrobe is so simple, the photographer used other principles discussed above (using props, the angle of the camera, and posing) to create a more dramatic newborn portrait.

Sweet Embrace Photography

In this image of a rainbow baby, we see a different approach to the wardrobe.

With such bright colors (and so many of them) the neutral color and linear lines of the background help ground the image.

What's more, notice how the blanket in the basket is the same color as the top of the baby's gown, thus helping create harmony between the dress and the prop.

The fact that the floral crown mimics the colors of the gown helps create even more continuity in the shot.

Learn More:

• Newborn Photography Tips You Can Use at Home
• Shop for Newborn Photography Outfits

J Marie Photography

With that, you have a few beautiful examples of newborn photography to get you through the rest of the week.

And if you're a photographer, take these quick tips and see how you can utilize them to improve your newborn portraits.

You don't have to be a pro to implement these strategies, either. If you're a mom or dad, see what you can do with these tips to take better shots of your newborn!

About Sew Trendy

This is a company that photographers absolutely need to be in touch with. Their gowns, crowns, and other high-quality accessories (like those shown in the images above) are just what you need for maternity photos, photos of newborns, and mommy and me sessions. These accessories not only make your clients look and feel great, but they also add a depth of detail and interest to your photos that elevate the images to an entirely other level. What started out with just a few people manufacturing these eye-catching items is a growing business that provides accessories to photographers worldwide. Help your clients look and feel their best by partnering with Sew Trendy Accessories.