When I started my photography business more than 16 years ago, newborn photography looked very different.
At the time, newborn sessions were often filled with baskets, colourful props, elaborate setups and heavily posed images. Babies were wrapped, curled and positioned into all sorts of shapes, sometimes creating photographs that looked beautiful at first glance but didn’t always feel particularly natural to me.
And, importantly, some of those poses weren’t especially safe for newborn babies.
Even back then, I found myself drawn in a different direction.
I kept coming back to the same thought: a newborn baby doesn’t need much added to them.
They are already extraordinary.
Letting your baby be the focus
There is something incredibly beautiful about a brand-new baby exactly as they are.
The impossibly tiny fingers. The soft skin. The little wrinkles and creases. Their sleepy expressions. The way they naturally curl into themselves.
And then there is everything around them that makes those first days so meaningful. The way a new mum looks at her baby. The protective way a dad holds them. The tiny hand wrapped around a parent’s finger. The closeness of a family adjusting to their newest member.
These are the details I want my photographs to preserve.
For me, natural newborn photography isn’t about doing less for the sake of doing less. It is about being intentional about what belongs in the frame.
If something doesn’t add to the story, I don’t believe it needs to be there.
You can see more examples of this approach in my Newborn Photography Portfolio.
My approach to newborn posing
Over the years, my approach to newborn posing has remained centred around simplicity and natural movement.
Rather than trying to make a baby fit a particular pose, I prefer to work with the way a baby naturally settles.
There is a gentleness to allowing a newborn to curl, stretch, tuck their little legs in or simply relax in their parents’ arms. These movements are part of who they are at this fleeting stage of life, and I want their photographs to reflect that.
Of course, newborn photography still involves careful positioning and an experienced photographer. Safety is always the priority. But I don’t believe a photograph needs to look complicated to be beautiful.
Sometimes the simplest image is the one you will treasure most.
True-to-life colour and beautiful skin tones
Colour is another important part of my photography style.
There are always trends in photography. At different times we’ve seen cool tones, dark and moody editing, pastel palettes and, more recently, very warm, golden and heavily toned imagery.
Trends can be beautiful, and I have nothing against photographers developing a distinctive visual style.
But I have never wanted to edit a newborn’s skin into something it isn’t.
I want your baby’s skin to look like your baby.
Soft. Real. Beautiful.
When you look back at your newborn photographs years from now, I want you to remember exactly how your baby looked in those first precious days, rather than remembering the editing trend that happened to be popular at the time.
For more on why I love capturing these fleeting details, you can read Newborn Photography Details: Why These Tiny Moments Matter.
Why I don’t chase photography trends
Photography is an art form, and every photographer develops their own way of seeing.
Some photographers are inspired by elaborate styling. Others love dramatic colour grading, bold props or a very particular editorial aesthetic.
My inspiration has always been found in something quieter.
Connection.
Light.
Beautiful simplicity.
The tiny details that are so easy to forget.
The relationship between a new baby and their parents.
The beauty of your family exactly as you are in this moment.
That doesn’t mean my work hasn’t evolved. Of course it has. Photography, technology and the way we create images continue to change, and after more than 16 years behind the camera, I’ve learned an enormous amount.
But evolution doesn’t have to mean abandoning your artistic voice.
I’ve never wanted to change the way I photograph newborns simply because something new became fashionable.
Instead, I’ve focused on refining my craft and creating photographs that feel beautiful, honest and timeless to me.
Timeless photographs for your family
When you’re choosing a newborn photographer, there are so many styles to choose from.
You might love heavily styled newborn photography. You might be drawn to beautiful props and elaborate sets. Or perhaps, like me, you find yourself drawn to photographs that feel calm, natural and uncomplicated.
There is no right or wrong answer. Your photographs should reflect what you love.
For me, though, I want to create images that won’t feel dated.
I want you to be able to open your newborn album in 10, 20 or 30 years and still see your baby.
Not a trend.
Not a particular editing style.
Not a collection of props.
Your baby. Your family. Your story.
That is what has guided my work for more than 16 years, and it remains at the heart of every newborn session I photograph.
If you are looking for a natural newborn photography experience in Sydney or the Sutherland Shire, I’d love to create something beautiful and timeless for your family.
If you’re preparing for your baby’s arrival and wondering what to look for when choosing your photographer, you might also enjoy Your Sydney Newborn Photoshoot: Choosing the Right Photographer.
