Favourite Mum Poses
Last week, I wrote about My Favourite Dad Poses for newborn sessions. And equally important are my favourite Mum poses. For mum's newborn portraits can fill us with dread. We have just spent 9 months watching our bodies change and grow as we carried this precious tiny human inside us. Then there was birth, and now you are faced with sleep deprivation and round the clock feeding. Your body is going through huge changes at a very rapid rate, not to mention the hormones.
I know. I have had 3 babies. I remember those early days, the fog, the fatigue. I also know how fleeting this time is, and I am passionate about getting mums in front of my camera and capturing them with their beautiful new baby.
It is my job to make you feel and look comfortable and beautiful and to capture the overwhelming love you have for this tiny baby. So here are my Go-To-Mum-Baby-poses for a newborn session.
- Mum kissing baby whilst baby is lying on the bean bag – This is a perfect pose to start for Mum’s who are little nervous, as the baby is already posed and settled on the bean bag. All Mum has to do is come over to the bean bag, lean over and interact with their baby. I use prompts such as, “Kiss your baby; smell that babies beautiful head; touch your nose to babies nose; think about one thing you cannot wait to teach your baby; close your eyes and breath that baby smell in.” This pose can work with baby wrapped or unwrapped, posed on their back or on their tummy. I always check with Mum's how they are feeling before we do this pose, to make sure they are ok to get down to the height of the beanbag and lean over baby.
- Kisses with baby in Mum’s arms – Baby can be wrapped or unwrapped and it is an easy transition from baby on the bean bag to Mum’s arms for this pose. I make sure I place baby quite high up in Mum’s arms so that Mum can easy turn her face down towards her baby to kiss and interact with her baby. Again I use prompts such as, “Kiss your baby; smell that babies beautiful head; touch your nose to babies nose; think about one thing you cannot wait to teach your baby; close your eyes and breath that baby smell in.” If baby is awake and settled this pose can lend itself to some beautiful interactions between Mum and Baby. This pose works well if baby is wrapped or unwrapped.
- Holding Baby against Mum’s chest – Some Mum’s find this a really natural way to hold their baby and others can really struggle. But when it works it is just beautiful. Make sure that baby is nice and high on Mum's chest, sitting above her breasts and just below her chin ensuring that Mum can interact with Baby from above with kisses and snuggles. This is also a great pose to bring Dad in on once you have some photos of Mum alone with Baby, and Dad can come in to cuddle both Mum and Baby.
- Hands - Tiny baby hands or toes and Mum's hand or finger, or just Mum hands on their tiny baby. I love the contrast of these poses and for the very reluctant Mum they are perfect as the focus is purely on their hands.
- Curled up in Mum's Arms - This is wonderful pose to capture Mum's and Baby's faces close together. I ask Mum's to close their eyes, breathe in their new babies smell, exhale and then open their eyes. They are usually already smiling from smelling that beautiful baby smell. Again this is great pose to bring Dad into, wrapping his arms around both Mum and Baby for a family shot. Baby can be wrapped up or naked, or egg wrapped to have their little arms and legs exposed.
Those are my favourite poses for Mum's with newborns. Of course, there are a whole host of other poses which I do with Dad and Mum, with Mum and older siblings, and some others with just Mums and their babies but these are my go-too-poses in nearly every session. I think there is something simple, beautiful and natural about these poses, leaving the focus on the beautiful connections and bonds between these new Mum's and their new babies.
Book in for your newborn session today.
Favourite Dad Poses
Favourite Dad Poses
When it comes to Dad's and newborn babies, a lot of Dad's feel head-over-heels in love, but also a little overwhelmed, at a loss as to what they can do, and sometimes terrified. I see so many Dad's come into my studio with their adored newborn, but just not quite sure how the photo shoot is going to go, what they are going to do, and feel really awkward in front of the camera.
It is my job to make them feel relaxed, at ease, and help them love the experience. There is nothing better for me, then when a Dad says at the end of the session, "Wow that was so much better than I thought it was going to be. I felt really relaxed even though I was dreading this."
So here are a few of my go-too-Dad-poses for a newborn session. They are my favourites for a number of reasons, they are simple, they show so much connection between a Dad and a Newborn, they involve little movement which helps Dad's feel more at ease, and they perfectly show the contrast in size between a Dad and his new baby.
- Dad kissing baby whilst baby is lying on the bean bag - This is a perfect pose to start for Dad's who are little nervous, as the baby is already posed and settled on the bean bag. All Dad has to do is come over to the bean bag, lean over and interact with their baby. I use prompts such as, "Kiss your baby; smell that babies beautiful head; touch your nose to babies nose; think about one thing you cannot wait to teach your baby; close your eyes and breath that baby smell in." This pose can work with baby wrapped or unwrapped, posed on their back or on their tummy.
- Kisses with baby in Dad's arms - Again this is a great one for Dad's who are feeling unsure, awkward or a little nervous. Baby can be wrapped or unwrapped and it is an easy transition from baby on the bean bag to Dad's arms. I make sure I place baby quite high up in Dad's arms so that Dad can easy turn his face down towards his baby to kiss and interact with his baby. Again I use prompts such as, "Kiss your baby; smell that babies beautiful head; touch your nose to babies nose; think about one thing you cannot wait to teach your baby; close your eyes and breath that baby smell in." If baby is awake and settled this pose can lend itself to some beautiful interactions between Dad and Baby. This pose works well if baby is wrapped or unwrapped, and again shows that beautiful contrast between Dad's hands and the tininess of their new baby.
- Holding Baby against Dad's chest - Some Dad's find this a really natural way to hold their baby and others can really struggle. But when it works it is just beautiful. Make sure that baby is nice and high on Dad's chest, just below his chin ensuring that Dad can interact with Baby from above with kisses and snuggles. This is also a great pose to bring Mum in on once you have some photos of Dad alone with Baby, and Mum can come in to cuddle with Dad and Baby.
- Baby up on Dad's shoulder - this is the burping pose many Dad's naturally put their babies into after a feed. It works well in just this instance during a session when Baby has had a feed and needs a little burp. Again it can work well for awake or asleep babies and really captures the connection between Baby and Dad.
- Hands - Tiny baby hand or toes and large Dad hand or finger, or just Dad's big hands on their tiny baby. I love the contrast of these poses and for the very reluctant Dad they are perfect as the focus is purely on their hands.
Those are my favourite poses for Dad's with newborns. Of course, there are a whole host of other poses which I do with Dad and Mum, with Dad and older siblings, and some others with just Dads and their babies but these are my go-too-poses in nearly every session. I think there is something simple, beautiful and natural about these poses, leaving the focus on the beautiful connections and bonds between these new Dad's and their new babies.
Book in for your newborn session today.
5 Tips for Settling Your Newborn
In many of my newborn sessions, new parents ask me if I can come home and help settle their baby, especially at night. As a mum of 3, I remember those early days of parenthood, with a brand new human at home with us and trying to get it all right. Especially the settling and sleeping.
I remember pacing the hallway at all hours of the day and night, bouncing on a yoga ball, or going for long drives with Brahms Lullaby playing. Anything to get this tiny human to settle and go to sleep.
I remember my first baby who would only sleep for 20 minute intervals during the day, and my second baby who wanted to be fed every 2 hours, even when the previous feed had taken over an hour to complete! I remember being more tired than I had ever been in my life.
After 3 babies, 3 very different babies as far as sleeping and settling go, these are my top 5 tips for settling your newborn that really made a difference for me.
1. Feeding
When you’re breastfeeding it’s hard to know when your baby has had enough. Trying to keep them awake long enough finish a feed fully can be a real challenge in those early weeks. A few things I did to help make sure they had a good feed:
- Clothes off. A warm baby is much more likely to fall asleep when feeding so taking their clothes off helps. I didn't want them to be cold, but stripped down to their nappy and warm against me whilst they fed, was just enough sensation to help keep them awake.
- I tickled their feet as they fed to just stimulate them a little.
- Changing their nappy halfway through the feed helped to wake them back up if they had dropped off to sleep.
2. Burping
Babies don't always burp straight away after a feed, it can take a little while and they all have their own unique little preferences about how best to get that burp to come up. My husband was best at burping our babies and found holding them up on his shoulder and patting their back or bottom was the best way to get them to burp.
I found sitting my babies on my lap with their little head supported in my hand worked best for me. Or even lying my babies across my knee and patting their backs.
It can take a little while to figure out what works best for you and your baby so don’t be afraid to try a few different things until you find what works for you and your baby.
3. Swaddling
My first baby had such a strong relaxation response to being swaddled it was adorable to watch. He could be crying and angry and beside himself, but as soon as his first arm was wrapped securely next to his body he started to calm, his eyes would begin to close and he would have calmed down by the time I had him all wrapped up.
My 3rd baby loved to be in her Love to Dream Swaddle with her arms up by her face, and she too started to relax and calm as soon as she was in her swaddle. I just wish I had of had these zip up swaddles with my first 2 babies, it made the exahusted-middle-of-the-night swaddling so much easier!
There are lots of different techniques for wrapping, so find the one that is easiest for you but always remember to wrap firmly so they can’t escape too easily. I found that stretchy fabrics worked best for swaddling and this is especially true in my studio as well.
If you have a winter baby it’s easier as summer babies can get quite warm so it is best to use a lighter wrap in summer.
4. White noise
I use white noise in all my newborn sessions. It has put all my newborn clients to sleep and even a few parents! I used white noise with my first baby as well, and with my subsequent babies it was definitely a must with all the noise their older siblings created.
Having sound playing while your baby sleeps means that they are less likely to wake at a loud noise. Keeping the house completely quiet was never an option for me and would usually lead to even the quietest noise causing my babies to wake crying.
5. The 4 S's
When my first baby was brand new, and we were totally overwhelmed, our paediatrician gave us a video about the 4 S's of settling our baby.
- Swaddle
- Suck
- Side
- Swing
It literally changed our lives. When all else failed we would make sure these 4 things were done and we would soon have a happy, sleepy baby.
We would swaddle our baby, give him a dummy to suck, hold him on his side and we would swing or rock him back and forth. We had a rocking chair which was perfect for exhausted parents, but walking around with him in a carrier or sling, or going for a walk with him in the stroller or even a drive in the car, all served the same purpose of creating movement for our baby.
Babies are in constant motion in the womb, and recreating this movement really helped to sooth our babies in those early days, weeks and months.
Bonus tip!
One final bonus tip for settling your newborn! Brushing your finger gently down your babies nose or over their eyes can help them drift off to sleep in those final moments when they are fighting sleep with all their might. I do this a lot during my newborn sessions and this natural reflex still amazes me.
Do you have a new baby? Book in now for your newborn portraits. Capture this precious new baby before they grow any bigger.
Top Baby Names for 2024
NSW has released their 2024 Top Baby Names! Did your babies name make the Top Names list?
2024 NSW Top Names – Boys
- Noah
- Oliver
- Theodore
- Luca
- Henry
- Leo
- Hudson
- Charlie
- Lucas
- Elijah
2024 NSW Top Names – Girls
- Charlotte
- Amelia
- Olivia
- Mia
- Isla
- Chloe
- Harper
- Hazel
- Evelyn
- Sophia
Here at Bree Hulme Photography, we had so many newborn babies come through our door last year, and even more babies up to 1 year old. Here is our list of 2024 Bree Hulme Photography Top Names for newborns who visited us last year!
2024 Bree Hulme Photography Top Newborn Names – Boys
- Nathaniel
- Cohen
- Lukas
- George
- Louie
- Charlie
- Finley
- Hudson
- Vincenzo
- Oskar
2024 Bree Hulme Photography Top Newborn Names – Girls
- Rita
- Mila
- Rey
- Marley
- London
- Millie
- Ava
- Serena
- Halle
- Savanna
And here are a few of our other favourite names of the beautiful babies who visited us for their sitter sessions or 1st birthday cake smash sessions or family sessions in 2024:
- Remy
- Will
- Finn
- Noah
- Tyler
- Ruby
- Grace
- Ivy
- Lily
- Ava
Are you choosing your baby name right now? What are some of the names on the top of your list? Already in 2025 we have seen a few new names with the babies who have come into the studio for newborn portraits.
Let us know your favourite baby names! And if you are planning a baby name, don’t forget to book in for your newborn portraits session! You can see some more of our newborn portraits in the Newborn Portraits Gallery and contact us to book in for a session here.
Is your baby already here? Then book in for a Sitter session or some family portraits whilst they are still chubby little babies! You can see some of our older baby portraits here!
Top Baby Names for 2022
NSW has released their 2022 Top Baby Names! Did your babies name make the Top Names list?
2022 NSW Top Names – Boys
- Noah
- Oliver
- Leo
- William
- Theodore
- Jack
- Luca
- Henry
- Thomas
- Charlie
2022 NSW Top Names – Girls
- Charlotte
- Amelia
- Isla
- Olivia
- Mia
- Ava
- Ella
- Matilda
- Sienna
- Willow
Here at Bree Hulme Photography, we had so many newborn babies come through our door last year, and even more babies up to 1 year old. Here is our list of 2022 Bree Hulme Photography Top Names for newborns who visited us last year!
2022 Bree Hulme Photography Top Newborn Names – Boys
- Maverick
- Cruz
- Austin
- William
- Theo
- Edward
- Jack
- Henry
- Harry
- Fraser
2022 Bree Hulme Photography Top Newborn Names – Girls
- Henri
- Isla
- Lily
- Scarlett
- Evie
- Millie
- Audrey
- Sienna
- Ellie
- Josephine
And here are a few of our other favourite names of the beautiful babies who visited us for their sitter sessions or 1st birthday cake smash sessions or family sessions in 2022:
- Remy
- Will
- Mack
- Arthur
- Tyler
- Oliver
- Austin
- Darian
- George
- William
- Emily
- Sophia
- Alice
- Claudia
- Skye
- Ruby
- Grace
- Ivy
- Lily
- Kiara
Are you choosing your baby name right now? What are some of the names on the top of your list? Already in 2023 we have seen a few new names with the babies who have come into the studio for newborn portraits.
Let us know your favourite baby names! And if you are planning a baby name, don’t forget to book in for your newborn portraits session! You can see some more of our newborn portraits in the Newborn Portraits Gallery and contact us to book in for a session here.
Is your baby already here? Then book in for a Sitter session or some family portraits whilst they are still chubby little babies! You can see some of our older baby portraits here!
Should I buy the digital images from my photographer?
When deciding on and booking your family photography session this is a question many of my clients ask. Should they buy the digital images or physical prints and tangible products like albums and wall art? Or do they get both?
The first question to ask yourself is: Do you print your own photos on a regular basis or are all they are they all just sitting on your hard drive or phone?
Have you and been meaning to print out some photos for ages?
Are you terrified that if something happens to your hard drive or phone that you will lose all your photo as you have never got around to printing them?
Have you had time to put together albums of all of your kids photos?
Did you find the time to complete their baby book with all their baby milestones?
The true reality:
Most of our photos these days are sitting on our hard drives on our computers and never get printed. When you go to a professional photographer it's a perfect opportunity to get some beautiful photos printed and framed to go on your wall or beautifully printed into an album that you can flick through in years to come. This will mean that your family will be able to enjoy those photos every day, and treasure them forever.
The digital files are generally one of the most expensive options on the photographer’s price list. You've got a bear in mind that that the photographer is giving you full print rights to print from those photos which means you can go print photos as many times as you would like. This may sound great but the reality is that most people will never get around to printing their photos and so you end up paying for an expensive product that you never actually do anything with. Those digitals just sit on your USB or hard drive or phone for years.
It may seem like a more expensive option to get the photographer to print it for you but you've got to remember that your photographer is using a professional printing lab, beautiful archival paper that will last your family a lifetime, all their framing is also archival and will last a lifetime.
Ask for your photographers help:
Your photographer is regularly helping their clients with how to best display their photos on their walls, so they have the best knowledge in regards to what will work in your home and your space. Ask them if you can take some photos of the rooms you would like to hang your photos and they will be able to help you with the correct sizing for the space you are wanting to display them.
So should you buy those digital images? I think in this digital age, digitals images are important to us, but don't lose site of also getting some beautiful professionally printed and displayed portraits for your walls. You have invested in family portraits, don't you want to show them off in your home?
Plus displaying family portraits can boost your child's self esteem! Read more about this in my recent blog post.