Once you’ve selected a photographer and done all other prep for your newborn photos, you’ll need to think about newborn photo poses. Photographers typically offer two main types of newborn photos: lifestyle and posed. Lifestyle photos are taken around the newborns home in their own element, with little posing. Posed photos are typically done in a studio and focus on strategically placing each hand or finger and focusing on every detail.

If you hire a posed newborn photographer, there are a couple “standard” newborn photo poses, but each one can be altered and will look slightly different with each baby, depending on their size and proportions. Newborn posed photos are typically done on a bean bag, with a flokati rug, or using props such as baskets, tubs, pillows, and quilts. Depending on your photographer’s style, posed photos can range from very minimalistic with the focus on your baby, or very elaborate, incorporating flowers or an entire theme.

While your backdrop, props, or theme will alter the overall look, here are 18 essential newborn photo poses to plan around:

All photos by Katy Hayes Photography

1) Parent

2) Family

3) Sibling

4) Potato Sack

5) Natural Swaddled Posing

6) Taco

7) Modified Taco

8) Bum Up

9) Side-Lying

10) Chin on Arms

11) Partially Swaddled in a Prop

12) Partially Swaddled on Flokati

13) Swaddled on Flokati

14) Swaddled in Prop

15) Swaddled on Blanket

16) Under Blanket

17) Forward Facing Prop

18) Baby in Hands