Worried Your Newborn Will Cry During The Photoshoot? Let Me Help You.
What Happens When Baby Won’t Settle at my Newborn Photo Shoots
This is a big anxiety when you book newborn photography. You are tired, you are still figuring out this tiny human, and you’ve invested time and money in a photoshoot. This might sound like a lot of pressure. You have visions of a sleeping angel, and the fear of a red-faced, squalling reality is very real. So…what happens if it goes wrong.
I am here to tell you Please don’t worry.
It is completely normal for a baby to be unsettled. Actually, I expect it. Babies will cry. They get hungry, they need winding, they need a nappy change. Sometimes they just want to be held and definitely do not want to be put down.
The good news is that this will not ruin your photos. Here are my thoughts about what happens when a newborn is unsettled during one of my sessions, and how my approach will handle it.
The Documentary Approach
The first thing to remember is that I am a documentary (or lifestyle, or candid, whatever you may call it!) newborn photographer.
This means my goal isn't to contort your baby into a pose, wrap them tightly in a prop (no buckets here), or put them in a tiny outfit. Those highly posed studio sessions require a baby to be deeply asleep to be safe and successful.
My style of photography is different. It’s about capturing connection and real life in your home. Real life involves soothing, rocking, feeding, and crying. My lens is focused on the love between you, not just on whether the baby is perfectly still.
What Baby-Led Really Means
My sessions are 100% baby-led. This isn't a buzzword to describe what i do, it’s how the photoshoot works. It means your baby is the boss (of me). Their needs dictate the pace and the flow of our time together.
If your baby starts to become unsettled, here is exactly what happens:
I put my camera down. Take your time to get them settled
You do what you need to do. Does baby need a feed? A nappy change? Do they just need to walk around the kitchen for twenty minutes being bounced? All good
There is zero rush. I build padding into my session times specifically for this reason. We have plenty of time for multiple feeding breaks and soothing sessions.
I am never tapping my watch or waiting impatiently. I am usually chatting with you or just enjoying the quiet moments while you tend to your little babaí
Taking Photographs during the Unsettled Moments
Sometimes the most best images come right after, or even during, an unsettled patch. My photography is about storytelling. A photo of a mother or father gently rocking a fussing baby against their chest. This is a beautiful moment to see, and it shows the reality of early parenthood. A mix of exhaustion and love.
And lets not forget that an awake, alert baby who refuses to sleep also offers us the chance to capture those beautiful wide eyes and their emerging personality.
Your Only Job is to Cuddle
If your baby is having a tough day during our shoot, the very best thing you can do is stay calm and go with the flow. Trust me and trust my process. I have seen it all, and I promise you, I have never left a session without a gallery full of beautiful images.
Your baby doesn't need to be perfect on the day, they just need to be loved. You do the loving, and I’ll handle the rest.
