Top 10 Cutest Baby Photoshoot Ideas & Poses

Baby Photoshoot Ideas

Every parent knows just how quickly babies change and grow. Although some of those babyhood days and nights seem like they will never end, one day you’ll wake up and realise they suddenly feel like a lifetime ago! ⏩ From newborn to infant to toddler, everything changes in such a short amount of time. Let’s talk baby photography — newborn photo ideas, photography tips, and lots of baby photoshoot ideas ideas to make your photo session successful, no matter your little one’s age. 📸

Photo: Taena in Maui for Flytographer. Vikki and family capture a beautiful afternoon together in Maui at the Po’olenalena Beach with a family photoshoot.  

1. Monthly progress photos

These days, monthly baby photos of your baby boy or baby girl are as commonplace as annual first day of school photos are for older kids! 👶 Whether you’re documenting your new baby next to a toy, stuffed animal, calendar, letter board, with a sticker, or any other photo prop, snapping a pic on the same date during each of your baby’s first 12 months is a special way to look back on that first year and see just how much changes in a short time.

Monthly progress photos can be as simple or formal as you want them to be, although for many of us, the simpler it is, the easier it is to stay consistent for the full 12 months! 📆

Monthly progress photo tips:

• Pick a spot near good natural light — this can be in a rocking chair or on the floor, ideally close to a window. 🪟 Keep in mind that as your sleepy newborn baby grows, they’ll quickly become mobile, so a bed or other high surface may not be ideal.
• Add a note to your calendar the day before your baby’s “monthly birthday” so you can grab your photo prop/measuring device and the item you want your baby to wear (onesie, bow, etc.), as well as to get your space ready (aka: shove everything out of the way). Doing this little bit of prep work beforehand plants the reminder in your head (#mombrain/#dadbrain), and gives you time if anything needs to be cleaned or adjusted. 👍

Do it early. ⏰ Generally speaking, mornings are happiest with little ones, and many times early mornings are a little more peaceful if older siblings are also in the house and snoozing. There’s something about daylight hours where they seem to speed up as they go by, and if you push your photo op to later in the afternoon, there’s a good chance time and lighting will pass you riiiight by! As soon as baby is up and there’s enough natural light, take the picture and check this off your list for another month, then scoop up that little baby of yours and snuggle them since it’s the youngest they’ll ever be. ❤️

Photo: Marie in Maui for Flytographer. Montana and family celebrate a family trip in Maui at the Po’olenalena Beach with a family photoshoot.

2. Capture the seasons

Another great baby photoshoot idea to capture your little one is to seize the time of year. Easter? Christmas? Summer? Fall? Take advantage of the holiday and/or weather seasons by incorporating them with your baby’s growth! For a lot of parents, a formal photo session or photoshoot with a professional photographer seems too labour-intensive to do frequently, but nearly every season it’s easier than you think to synchronize the time of year with a few quick photos of your baby. From pumpkin patches to Santa pics to taking advantage of the first snowy day, your baby’s face and changing features are what’s important! 🥳 (Not to mention, these seasonal photos are often some of the most fun photos to recreate as your little one becomes a bigger one.)

Photo: Emily in London for Flytographer. Jen and family capture a day together in London with a family photoshoot.

3. Incorporate others

Don’t forget how important and special it is to incorporate older siblings, grandparents, godparents, caretakers, and others who are close to your family during this season when it comes to photos. 👵 There is nothing quite as irresistible as a sleeping baby, and for people close to you, they’ll similarly love to look back on times when they held your little bundle of joy so peacefully! We’ve all heard “it takes a village,” and whether you’ve booked a professional photographer, or are just snapping photos with your phone, cute baby photos surrounded by those who love your family and your little one are sure to be cherished forever.

Photo: Mary in Destin for Flytographer. Stephanie and family capture their family trip together in Destin at the Henderson Beach State Park with a family photoshoot.

4. Take your little one outdoors

One of the best tips for new parents and/or photography beginners wanting to take beautiful photos of their little ones is to go outside! Natural light is your best friend, as it’s so flattering for newborn baby skinTry to find a spot that’s shady, but near a good natural light source — some of the best places are on porches, under trees, or inside a covered structure, like a gazebo. 🌥 If you’re at a park, beach, or other outdoor location to take photos, cloudy days are ideal, but even if the sun is out, don’t fret! As long as you protect their delicate skin from the intense rays of the sun, play around with options and have fun in the fresh air with your baby.

Photo: Tati in Cancun for Flytographer. Krystle and family capture a day together in Cancun with a family photoshoot.

5. Think through outfits

Clothing intimidation is one of the most arduous parts of any photoshoot: “What do we wear!?” More than during any other seasons of life, newborn photoshoots can be a little more complicated to plan since those babies can grow in such unpredictable ways! A little growth to a newborn baby can translate very differently in clothing, and what fits today may not fit tomorrow. If you try on an outfit and it fits, don’t wash it before the shoot! Oftentimes that minor shrink will alter the fit entirely (conversely, if it hasn’t been laundered and is too big, throw it in the wash to see if it shrinks up at all). Fits on babies are fickle, so if all else fails: swaddle or diaper! The good news is babies look cute in everything, and also, they look good in nothing. 😜 Although it seems intimidating, think through outfits, but don’t get too overwhelmed.

One of our top photography tips related to choosing outfits is to start with mom. Mom feeling good about herself is a great start to setting a happy mood. Most often, dresses are the most comfortable clothing for a new mama. 👗 (If you plan to spend some time breastfeeding baby before or during your photoshoot, keep dress necklines in mind since not all are nursing-friendly.) Once mama feels good, attire for the rest of the  family can fall in line.

When it comes to newborn photoshoots, remember that trends ebb and flow. If you love trendy items, utilize them (more on props in a minute), just don’t forget some simple, timeless details as well! Onesies, swaddles, and just diaper shots are always a good idea. 👏

It’s important to remember that babies don’t often love outfit changes, so don’t push it! If baby typically gets mad when being changed, ditch the clothing swaps during your photoshoot. Remember: a cute outfit is not worth an angry baby. 🚫 Although younger babies can often be distracted with a binky or quick feed, older babies can get really worked up during an outfit change, and no matter how cute that jumper is, it’s not worth red faces and lots of tears! We recommend waiting until you’re ready to start snapping photos — feed and change baby, then dress them at the last minute (it’s no secret that babies poop at the most inconvenient times💩)!

Photo: Claudia in Lisbon for Flytographer. Kimberly and family celebrate a trip to Lisbon at Portas do Sol Square and the streets of Alfama with a family photoshoot.

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6. Bring baby photo props

Bows, headbands, and other accessories/props can be fun to utilize during your photoshoot. Gifts like baby name signs, books, or heirlooms from grandparents can be sentimental to document, so have them handy during your newborn photoshoot.

For newborns and older babies, stuffed animals, soft blankets, “lovies,” or other favourite items not only provide comfort during your photoshoot, but also create valuable keepsakes in the form of photos, which last forever!

Photo props don’t have to be elaborate, but they can be special to document as part of your photoshoot.

Photo: Rojeena in Maui for Flytographer. Alina and family capture a family trip to Maui with a family photoshoot.

7. Adjust expectations

Worried that your newborn will cry the whole time? 😱That’s fine! Tears are nothing your photographer hasn’t seen before, and it is wise to count on it happening every single time little ones are involved! Not every season is seamless and tear-free, and that’s the point of documenting the season you’re in right now. Tears happen. Messes happen. One day you’ll miss that little pout and those tight little angry fists. One of the hardest lessons as a parent is knowing when to let go, and going into your photoshoot with open expectations is one of the best ways to make the event painless and more likely to happen again.

Photo: Marie in Maui for Flytographer. Tanisha and family enjoy a beautiful day in Maui at Polo Beach with a family photoshoot.

8. Take a breather

Anytime you have a sad, angry, or otherwise uncooperative baby (or older sibling!), take the time to pause. Take a breather. This is a perfect time for your photographer (or for you) to focus on close-up shots. Using a shallow depth of field (the lower the aperture the better — ideally 2.8 or below) allows you to get shots of tiny baby toes. 👣 Or fingernails. Or baby hairs. Or belly buttons. Or sentimental outfits or accessories. Any of it! All of it! If tears are happening up high, it won’t show by those feet. Taking a breather for a quick drink, snack, walk, or just a moment to not have a camera near your little one’s face re-centers everyone, so don’t be afraid to stop or slow down.

Photo: Darine in Banff for Flytographer. Sandeep and family celebrate a birthday in Banff at Lake Minnewanka with a family photoshoot.

9. Don’t be a harsh critic

Similar to our previous recommendations during your baby photoshoot: remember not to be a harsh critic. 🙅‍♀️ We’re not always creating a fine art painting to hang over your fireplace mantle for generations — we’re photographing this incredible baby stage with all the nuances that come alongside!

Although you as a parent may feel more beautiful with a fresh blow-out, if you haven’t showered in 2 days and your greasy hair needs to be in a bun, just put it in a bun. When those photos come back, remember what your body was able to do — take care of you, and also another human! 💌 Long days, sleepless nights, endless amounts of multitasking … it’s not easy! Go easy on yourself. Love yourself. Don’t be your own toughest critic.

Photo: Elina in Amsterdam for Flytographer. Avneet and family capture a trip together in Amsterdam at The Jordaan with a family photoshoot.

10. Print your baby pictures

Our final tip when it comes to your baby photoshoot is to make something tangible with your images by printing them! Gallery frames or mailout announcements, photo books, prints for grandparents, or even DIY home projects are perfect for getting photoshoot images off the screen and into your hands.

Whether you’re hiring a professional photographer, or you’re the not-so-professional baby photographer, plan on baby pictures again and again. 📸 Print the baby pictures. Enjoy the baby pictures! We hope you’ve taken at least one of these baby photography ideas and are excited to capture something extra special with your little one. ☺️

Photo: Aly in Victoria for Flytographer. Leslie and family capture a day in Victoria at Parliament, Empress & Inner Harbour with a family photoshoot.