Christmas kitchen45 Newborn and 1-Month Baby Photoshoot Ideas to Create Beautiful Memories
If you’re wondering what might be the number one picture ever asked for, the answer is Newborn or one-month-old photoshoots! This is because having captured a recently born baby when he/she has just arrived in this world, is a unique and memorable picture that both parents and kids would want to look at, remember, and observe with tenderness.
Babies, for the first years of life, are constantly changing, one week can make a difference in how they look and behave. So it is important to get a photoshoot as soon as possible (and as often as possible) during the first days of life, so as not to miss every little feature that makes the baby unique, cute, and perfect with all the imperfections!
So whether you’re a parent of a newborn (congrats!) and you’re looking for inspiration for the perfect baby photoshoot, or you’re a photographer with the goal to capture the cutest newborn, or 1 month old, pictures… we wrote this for you! Keep on reading to get creative tips and photo ideas for your newborn shoot, as well as our best photo props and background recommendations!
Newborn Photoshoot Ideas at the Hospital
The most memorable pictures you could ever take of a newborn baby, are the ones taken after a few seconds, or hours, of life.
Whether you photograph a newborn baby that is born at home or in a hospital, taking some everlasting shots of the moment right after the birth will result in one of the most beautiful memories a mom, a dad, and a kid could have.
As a photographer, capturing birth is such a deep and important responsibility, as in this particular case, poses and backgrounds will not be so fundamental for the shot to end up looking great, rather your sensibility to capture a meaningful, spontaneous instant of a new life that has been created.
So let’s start with inspiring tips and some of the best newborn photoshoot ideas to be taken at the hospital, or a home birth.
1. Welcome to the world
The most precious shot can be taken right at the very moment of birth. When the mom finally holds the baby for the first time after 9 months of wait, or when the father holds him/her and gently carries him/her towards the mom. Delicately capture the first moments of ecstasy, of excitement, of the child’s birth and the parents’ re-birth, the look of serenity in the mom’s face after going through her child's delivery, and the look of pride of the dad. Capture those unmissable instants as they will want to be cherished, remembered, and relived, forever.
Image from Pexels
2. The newborn’s safe place
After getting a general shot of the whole emotional scenery, you can respectfully get closer to the mom while she’s holding her newborn. Capture her exhausted, yet ecstatic, face of pride and the newborn’s face of belonging while gently leaning on his/her safe place: the mom.
Image from Pexels
3. Dad’s got me
After the emotional pictures with the mom, let’s also not forget the important role of the dad. A memorable shot of the newborn, seconds or minutes after being born, in his dad’s arms is key! Whether you choose to take it from the dad’s back while holding onto the baby, or a picture of him sitting while the newborn is in his arms… that’s up to you! Remember that the grown family will be tired, excited, and overwhelmed by a mix of feelings, so be respectful and considerate while taking the hospital (or in the case of an in-home birth, home) pictures.
Image from Pexels
4. A moment for the newborn
A significant newborn shot would be to capture him, or her, right after birth, while they cut the umbilical cord, while they measure or weigh him/her, while they clean her/him. Those are the very first instants of the baby’s life and it will be so meaningful to have them endlessly captured.
Image from Pexels
5. The first fed
One of the most special moments in a mom’s life, especially for a first-time mom, is to breastfeed her child for the very first time. It is such a primal, feminine, motherly connection that every woman loves to experience as soon as she gives birth. So, during your newborn photoshoot, get some respectful and discrete shots of the mom feeding her baby for the very first time so that you can capture the mom’s love and bliss, together with the tiny baby’s serenity and fulfillment.
Image from Pinterest
6. The chest pic
After taking those precious pictures, right after birth, you can wait hours or just one or two days and get back to the hospital to take other photos of the newborn while he/she is already clean and dressed up. One idea is to shoot the baby while sleeping on the parents’ chest - you could take one with the dad and one with the mom. This is such a cute idea because besides showing the parents’ bond with their baby, it will also enhance the mini size of the little one as a tiny newborn.
Image from Pexels
7. The baby’s bottom
A very cute idea includes having a close-up of the baby’s bottom while held in the mom’s or dad’s hand! This will be such a cute zoomed-in version of the newborn’s tiny legs and feet, together with the proof of how small he, or she, was - fitting in a palm! It’s the kind of picture that a mom can show up to her kid one day saying “You were really this small!”
Image from Pexels
8. The cocoon
For a symbolic newborn portrait, you could consider asking the parents to lay him on a white or clear sheet, while wrapped in a soft baby blanket and take a sweet portrait of the baby sleeping, or simply being in it, while resembling an innocent cocoon that’s about to grow into a beautiful butterfly.
9. The fresh and clean sleepy beauty
While still in the hospital, maybe after a few days of the baby being born, you can take a shot immediately after the newborn’s being bathed. Recently born babies feel very comfortable and at peace in water, since they have been in a water sack for nine months! So during the first days of life, they usually tend to feel “at home” in water and therefore extra relaxed when being bathed. So this shot can end up reflecting a very peaceful loving and homely energy to the picture.
10. The newborn family
During the first days of a newborn life, the baby is not the only human who’s recently been born! Mom and Dad are equally newborns, as neo-parents of a new life, of a tiny baby that will need their full attention, love, and nourishment for the next years of life. There are so many overwhelming and interesting feelings that invade neo-parents during the first few days after their baby’s birthday, as they usually live in a love bubble filled with bliss, discovery, and tenderness. A beautiful shot includes one with the three of them, embracing each other while emotionally embarking on this new life journey together!
Newborn & 1 Month Baby Photoshoot Ideas at Home
After the hospital photoshoot, you can choose to take some newborn, or 1 month baby photoshoots at home, while in the safe place and comfort of the baby and his/her parents.
Where you will not only capture the essence and features of the tiny model, but also the cozy place where he, or she, got to spend her first days of life, and most probably, where her, or she, will get to grow up and live the most tender, youthful moments.
So let’s get more specific into either newborn or 1-month babies photo ideas specifically to be done at home.
11. The tiny features
The cutest part of a newborn’s baby is his tiny features - the little fingers, hands, mouth, and feet - it is such a cute idea to capture a close-up of one of these features, maybe the parents’ favorite one, or even of all of them.
Image from Pexels
12. Bath time
As mentioned before, newborns love to be in the water and most of them look forward to their bath time. So, while taking your baby photoshoot at home, you can consider taking some cute content of the newborn in his/her happy place, while taking a bath (you could also consider using a cute transparent bathtub for the special occasion) with the sweet bonus of some after-bath pictures where the baby gets to be all dried up and the face expressions are filled with peace and relaxation.
13. The costume
Now, a kid in a costume is cute. Though, a baby in a costume is definitely cuter! Consider dressing your tiny model up in a simple costume that can be anything from a Mikey mouse, a fairy, or the simple addition of a baby suit that includes ears. See how the picture will effortlessly take so much loveliness and personality.
14. The cutest parcel
For a forever cherished newborn photo, you can consider placing the baby, especially while sleeping, in a basket or a box, to make it look like a parcel or present.
15. The sweetest details
Even if your 1 month-old model is too young to have developed a strong personality, he/she will for sure have something she/he likes to hold, whether it’s a soft blanket, a stuffed animal, a little toy, or a cute detail… it would be such a sweet idea to capture it while in the baby’s hands, so to have a tender memory of the first little passions.
16. Hello world!
A creative newborn baby photoshoot idea includes placing the baby either in a basket or on a bed and, right next to her, or him, positioning a creative, customized sign saying “Hello world!” or “I am finally here!” etc. It will turn into a personalized shot.
Image from Pexels
17. One with mom
The at-home picture with Mom cannot be missed! A mom is a newborn’s happy place, especially for the few years of life so try capturing this bond during the first days at home can turn into some magical and meaningful captures!
18. Let’s get changed
Photoshooting the little baby in his/her daily habits can turn into sweet memories to look back at. A few examples include shooting the newborn while getting changed, while playing with a favorite toy, while being cuddled, and so on.
Image from Pexels
19. Mom, feed me, please!
Another special bond between mom and baby involves breastfeeding. After a few days at home and some practice, the mom by now would have surely mastered her breastfeeding game and knows what’s the best position, and the baby’s favorite one to breastfeed. So let the mom be the creative director for this shot, allow her to feel comfortable and empowered, and then capture her in her nourishing and loving role, while the newborn is in total bliss.
Image from Pexels
20. Feed me again but with the bottle
Sadly, not all mothers can breastfeed and not all mothers are comfortable being captured while breastfeeding. So if this is the case, you can recreate the same picture but with the bottle variant! I can assure you, the baby will still show a blissful and satisfied face in the shot.
Image from Pexels
21. The ancestral mom
Some women love to carry their newborns in a baby shawl and if you happen to photoshoot a mom who does, this will definitely be a must-do shot that will result in a sweet picture that captures the ancestral tools of motherhood, as well as the loving bond between a mom and her baby.
22. Dad and baby’s bond
That’s a lot of mom-and-baby shots! This is because the baby tends to be especially connected and comfortable with the mother in the first months of life. However, it is special to capture also the father’s bond. Make sure your newborn and 1 month baby photoshoot includes some shots of the dad holding his baby too!
Image from Pexels
23. A backlit love
An artistic and creative newborn photoshoot idea includes a backlit shot, that will look especially great if taken at sunset or sunrise. Have the dad, or the mom, hold the baby in their hands, and place their forehead together with the newborn’s. Capture their silhouette in the backlight, with the sun doing its magic in the back.
Image from Pexels
24. The family union
The family will be slowly and happily settling into their new life as parents, at home with their newborn. Save some captures for the loving bond connection between the three of them. A tender idea includes having them lay next to the baby while sleeping.
Image from Pexels
25. Sibling’s love
If the family is not a new family but a growing one that includes one, or more, siblings, you need to consider having a shot with the big brother or sister. Have him/her/them sitting on the couch or a chair while holding onto the newborn, embracing their big sibling role! It will be such a cute capture to look back at in the future.
26. We’re all in this together!
For the same kind of family, where the baby doesn’t happen to be the firstborn, you can consider capturing all of the family together with a focus on the newborn! An idea includes having them all sitting on a bed or the couch, with the parents sitting in the back, the sibling(s) in front of them, and the newborn, focused, in the very front.
Newborn & 1 Month Baby Photoshoot Ideas in the Studio
If you aim for next-level, creative, unique, and professional newborn and 1-month baby photoshoots, then considering shooting in a studio would be best!
When you’re photoshooting babies, you need to keep in mind that there won’t be much they can do to make the shot look unique, as they’re too little to pose and even smile. They will most probably be sleeping during the shooting.
However, even if the little model cannot pose, you have the power to make the newborn photoshoot look extra unique thanks to the addition of photo props, backdrops, and cute accessories that will enhance your photos by making them look extra personal and special.
Here are some studios' ideas for a newborn photoshoot.
27. Our little star
As mentioned, babies will mostly be sleeping during the shooting. A sweet, tender idea for your newborn photoshoot includes having the baby sleep on a black background and lay on a moon pillow prop with the addition of some stars. With this inclusion your capture will end up looking like a painting and as if it is whispering “A star is born”.
28. A baby wrap
Wrapping the baby up in a cotton swaddle blanket as if he/she resembles a cocoon is such a newborn classic. It is a picture that will look great captured in the hospital, at home, and in a studio. However, if you choose to recreate this in a studio, you can make it look extra dreamy with the addition of a unique backdrop that will effortlessly enhance the picture’s quality. You can pick the backdrop that mostly fits the baby’s sex and personality. Keep on reading till the end to see how to choose the best backdrop for your newborn photoshoot.
29. The sweetest bunny
An extra creative newborn photoshoot idea involves dressing up the baby as a little bunny! You could place the little model in a basket, cover him/her with fluffy blankets, wear a bunny hat, and intensify the personality with a fitting backdrop. Of course, you could also recreate the same concept with a mouse, dog, cat, or chick.
30. Tiny Love
Another innovative idea involves laying the baby on top of a dark background or abstract backdrop (you can also have him lay on a round or squared basket for an extra cute touch) and writing with a towel or blanket the word “love”. This is just one of the ideas, you can also choose to write something else that is not too long and has a profound meaning. An extra touch can be to adorn the letters with some fresh flowers.
Image from Pexels
31. The super babe
For a personality touch, but with a minimal vibe, you can choose to place a colorful blanket on a white background and get the baby to raise one arm as if he is a superhero (this would look especially good for boy photos, but it can be fun and doable for a girl shot too). Of course, the newborn will not be able to follow any direction, but if the baby is sleeping during the shooting, it can be easy to simply move his arm and get him to keep it still for the photo.
Image from Pexels
32. As mom made him/her
A naked newborn picture is such a must-do! Babies look like little angels when they are just born and it would be beautiful to capture all of their essence, without hiding nor excluding anything. This shot will look especially good with a cloud-style backdrop.
Image from Pexels
33. The flower lady
For newborns, there is not much gender difference when talking about photoshoots. However, there can be few details that can make a picture more girly or manly than others. So, if you’re planning to photoshoot a newborn baby girl, you could consider adorning the surroundings and herself as a little flower - either choose one flower and make it the theme or be wildly floral and get different flowers together. She will transform into a little flower lady.
34. Boys will be boys
If who you’re photographing is a boy, then you can adorn your photo setting with some boyish elements such as little cars, or a particular sport. An idea is to put some details that his dad particularly loves or loved as a kid, to make the picture extra symbolic for the future.
Image from Pexels
35. Put a name on it
Another unmissable idea involves a picture with the baby’s name so that it turns out extra representative and unique! Whether you choose to have the name written on a sign, on a blackboard, or in wooden cubes… that’s up to you! You can choose to have the baby lie on a wooden bed, on a fluffy blanket, in a basket, on a pillow… explore your creativity!
Image from Pexels
36. Family home
It would be really beautiful to add the whole family to your newborn studio photoshoot! One idea involves getting the mom and dad to hold on to the baby while looking at him, in front of a white background, while under a dark light. You will see how this position will make the picture look like their silhouette is resembling the shape of a home, resulting in a deep, yet extra artistic picture.
Image from Pexels
Newborn Props and Accessories We Recommend
As you’ve seen, newborn and one-month-old photoshoots in a studio will look great, especially with the addition of specific props and accessories that will make the baby feel comfortable, cozy, and at ease while also adding to the picture’s style and professionalism.
So here are five props and accessories we particularly recommend in order for your newborn photoshoot to level up!
1. The wool handcraft blanket
Blankets are such simple accessories that have the power to make your newborn photoshoot immediately stand out! We specifically recommend a wool handcraft blanket as it won’t only allow your tiny model to feel homey and hugged by warmth, but it will also add coziness, cuteness, and simplicity to the picture without having to add eccentric details.
2. An angel is born
If what you aim for is a picture with personality and uniqueness, then this accessory is what would suit you best: the little angel feathers. Newborns really do resemble little angels, and this accessory will efficiently add up character without the need to exceed.
Image from Pexels
3. The bamboo basket
A bamboo basket is such a must-have if you aim to level up your newborn photoshoot game, in an elegant, classy, and creative way. There are so many different ways you could use this prop in your shooting, and every one of them will add extra cuteness and character to your pictures.
4. The wooden bed
If what you are aiming for is something truly original that will make your pictures stand out and not easily matched… here’s our recommendation: the small wooden bed. Yes, you can actually get a prop that looks exactly like an adult’s bed, but newborn size! This will permit your pictures to be way different than the regular blanket or pillow pic and end up being amusing, sweet, and original altogether!
5. The floral headband
A lovely accessory that we recommend, especially if shooting a baby girl, is the floral headband. This is an adornment that can be placed directly on the baby, immediately adding up to the picture’s personality. Then, it’s up to you what you’d like to do with the surroundings! Allowing you to either have a minimal setting or a more eccentric one. A great tip includes having this accessory, together with the bamboo basket prop for a super beautiful result.
Image from Pexels
How to Choose the Best Backdrops for your Newborn Photoshoot?
After the unique addition of props and accessories that will help you enhance your photos while making your little model feel at ease, another newborn photoshoot upgrade tool involves the use of backdrops.
Backdrops make a photographer’s job way easier as you can choose from a wide range of different ones that perfectly match what you aim to convey through your shooting.
So, how to choose the best backdrops for your newborn photoshoot? You may ask. Here are our bits of advice.
1. The abstract
Abstract backdrops are those kinds of backdrops that smoothly make your picture feel simple, minimal, and elegant, allowing you to enhance its personality with the addition of elements, props, and accessories that you can choose according to what you aim your pictures to share.
So the abstract backdrop is your perfect one if your goal is not to have too much visual noise in the background so that your tiny model and/or the addition of personal details and features, can be highlighted.
2. Themed backdrops for boys
If your photo shoot involves a baby boy, then you’d want to consider choosing a themed backdrop that is a bit more boyish.
Themed backdrops are perfect if you don’t want to use other details or elements to give personality to your shooting, rather than the backdrop itself. There are so many different backdrops to choose from, so if you aim to play safe with your newborn photoshoot, check the wide range of birthday backdrops and focus on the ones for boys.
3. Themed backdrops but way more girly
Similarly, if you are photo-shooting a baby girl but don’t want to use many external details and your goal is that your newborn photoshoots effortlessly level up, then you can check the birthday-themed backdrops and focus on the more girly ones.
4. The creative backdrop
If what you aim for is for your baby photos to be noticed for their creativity and vibrancy, but without forcing it too much, nor putting too much effort into the setting preparation, then you’d want to choose a creative backdrop that is filled with colors which will make your pictures look like an actual painting.
It’s our deepest desire that these words motivate you and give you some great tools, tips, and recommendations so that your newborn and 1-month baby photoshoot will truly stand out.
Remember that since baby cannot pose nor follow creative directions; props, accessories, backdrops, and external elements are the secret ingredients for your shooting to level up and be outstanding.
