One of the most popular ways to pose a newborn for a photography session is Upright in a Prop. In this pose, the baby is positioned inside a prop such as a bowl or bucket, with their elbows up and chin resting on the back of the hands.
This is one of my favourite ways to pose a newborn, but, as always, safety and awareness must be a priority when working in the studio with babies. In this article, I’ll share some tips for ensuring the safety of your subjects, as well as creating beautiful images.
For a full tutorial on posing and photographing newborns UPRIGHT IN A PROP, see my tutorial.
LIGHTING TIP
Once positioned, turn the baby on a 45 degree angle towards the light. Allow the light to fall softly across the baby’s face.
SAFETY TIP
When working with a prop which is elevated off the ground such as a bowl, bucket, suitcase and so on, safety is priority.
Always use a spotter.
If you don’t have an assistant in your studio, you can ask a parent or family member who is attending the session, to sit beside the prop, within arm’s reach of the baby. They can place a supporting hand on the baby, removing and replacing quickly but gently, while you take each shot.
COMFORT TIP
Some props have characteristics which may be uncomfortable if the baby were to come into contact with them. I use cloth nappies or towels between hard/rough or cold surfaces and my decorative layers to provide extra padding and protection. This ensures the comfort and safety of the baby. Taking an extra level of care will also help reassure and create trust with your clients.
I also recommend using more padding and supports than less, when preparing the prop. It’s easier and less disruptive to the baby’s comfort to gently remove excess supports if required, than to add more once you have the baby positioned.
ANGLE TIP
Photograph from an elevated position. This will ensure you aren’t photographing up the baby’s nose.
Additionally, it will help you eliminate potentially distracting elements in the background.
For further information, my UPRIGHT IN A PROP video tutorial will teach you how to achieve great results all while keeping the baby comfortable and safe. I will show you how to position the baby, as well as lighting techniques and the best camera angles to capture this pose perfectly.
Posing a baby ‘Upright in a Prop’ is a popular posing style, much loved by clients. As you learn and develop your style, don’t forget to look back on your earlier work to see how far you’ve come. You are always welcome to share your progress in my online community on Facebook.
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Kelly Brown’s tips for choosing Bowls and Buckets for newborn photography props.
