The Magic of Froggy Position | Step by Step & How to Safely Pose

Located in Houston, Sarah Borchgrevink shares newborn posing tips on how to safely composite the popular & precious "froggy" pose.

“Sarah is AMAZING! The time and care she takes setting up everything for the newborn session to be perfect is great. She was so patient and careful with our son like he was her own. You can tell she has so much fun doing her job and loves what she does. Dont waste your time calling other photographers, Sarah is the person to go to document you little one. What Sarah does is truly a gift! She is outstanding!!”

— Deborah

Please note the following: This post is intended to show parents how we safely creating this classic newborn pose that is commonly requested. 

See Behind the scenes images of newborn posing in a studio atmosphere 

Greetings and welcome! Today's blog post topic is an overview on the popular froggy pose. This is the most requested pose by parents and one that I truly enjoy doing. There's something super sweet & special about baby's chubby cheeks being showcased and seeing their darling little tootsies! However, this pose is very advanced and requires special training.

Moreover, parents typically ask, "What do you mean by training?" Newborn safety and training, for instance, is mentoring and taking hands on workshops in which you learn how to safely handle and pose a newborn baby. While newborn photography should look effortless, as if baby posed themselves even, it is anything but. It requires much safety, skill and time.

As one of the best newborn photographers in Houston, I do pride myself on always being respectful of my most petite clients. Part of this is creating beautiful fine art images of brand new cherubs through the use of safety techniques. 

A few things to note:

• Not every baby likes froggy pose. If baby resists, we move on.
• This is best achived with a new baby who is 5-8 days new 
• If baby is not flexible enough, we do not force this pose
• This pose is ALWAYS a composite. 
• Do not EVER try to do this on your own. It is not worth the risk of hurting a new baby.

What is a composite?

Froggy pose is always done as a composite. A composite image is when two or more images are merged together in post processing software, such as Photoshop. It's sort of like building an image: you take multiple photos in which baby is fully supported and then through the magic of editing, a beautiful image is created in which we're able to truly showcase the stunning aspects of a new baby. 

Hands on Baby at all times

Once baby is in a very deep sleep, I place baby on my bean bag. I ensure baby is completely supported through the use of posing beans, which are the must have safety tool for all photographers.

Tips to ensure baby is sleepy:

• White noise machine playing (mimicking the sound of the womb)
• Warm environment - typically around 77 - 80 degrees 
• Lots of patience and soothing
• Pacifier is a huge help

Step One: Hands supporting baby's chin from beneath

The baby you see here is Sebastian. He was very laid back and easy to work with; because he was also very new and flexible, we were able to quickly pose him into the froggy pose perfectly. As you can see, he is sleeping peacefully and my hand is holding him in place. At no point did I ever remove my hand from the baby. I took two images here. He is supported on my bean bag and then has posing beans beneath and behind him to ensure he does not slide forwards or backwards.

Step Two: Hands Supporting Head From Above

After baby is in a very deep sleep, I place my hand on his head from above. I am holding his weight and he is supported beneath through the posing beans I linked in an earlier paragraph (above). 

Merge your images in processing through photoshop composite

Switch up the angles for more interest

When working with a newborn baby, it's fun to do a profile angle of baby during froggy. If they're very laid back, I am often able to  do more than one angle, such as straight on or side view. I like side view, however, because it shows off baby's face better and is more interesting, in my opinion. However, I do like front on, too, and this is the preference of most parents so I include both if possible. 

Check out other recent froggy poses that I've done in studio.

Thanks for stopping by the blog to read how to safely pose a newborn baby in the perfectly precious froggy pose! I hope you enjoyed reading a little bit about the magic of Photoshop and how we achieve these fine art looks! While froggy is a stunning image and makes for gorgeous portrait of your baby, please remember this is an advanced pose and should never be attempted without taking a workshop and hands on training. Parents: also remember this looks easy when you see behind the scenes photos, but it's not anything you should attempt at home. Do not ever risk your baby's safety for a DIY photo shoot. Always trust professionals like myself! :-) 

If you liked reading about newborn safety, these posts may pique your interest, too!

• Tricks to Implementing  Bean Bag Posing into your Workflow
• Striking a Pose: How to Add Vibrancy to a Newborn Color Scheme 

Specializing in posed baby portraits, Sarah Borchgrevink Photography is a Houston Newborn Photographer serving the surrounding areas including Houston metro area, Cypress, Katy, Spring, The Heights, Sugar Land, West University, Bellaire, and The Woodlands, TX. In addition to breathtaking newborn images, Sarah also offers stylish natural light family photography as well as dynamic outdoor maternity sessions for expecting couples.

 

Houston Newborn Photographer | Preparing for Baby’s Posed Studio Session

Hi there! Thank you for choosing me to document your baby’s first photos. As a professional photographer, I document newborns full time and have been doing so since 2013. Your baby is in great hands! Not only do I have 4 young kiddos myself, I have mentored under some amazing newborn artists, taken many newborn workshops, and have tons of experience in newborn safety, handling, posing, etc. I also use top of the line gear when it comes to my lenses, camera body, and custom built PC and the type of lighting I utilize.

The quality of your images is very important to me! This prep guide is helpful because posing a baby for two hours is much different than putting baby down for a nap at home. We must keep them slumbering through several set ups! I cannot thank you enough for entrusting me to document this time for you. I promise to handle your baby with love, care, and respect.

Designing Your Session: What You Can Expect

• I provide everything needed for your posed newborn session. Your session will be 2 hours long. The styling questionnaire ensures all your color preferences and favorite props are displayed.  

• If there is a personal item you'd like included in your session, let me know in advance and it’ll be worked into your session. Check out this blog post on how I incorporate props from home into your session. 

WHAT TO WEAR

• Children looks nice in dark jeans or khaki pants with a white t-shirt or neutral colored top. Dad looks nice in a light grey/white V-neck and jeans; Mom looks lovely in a maxi dress or a light colored tank top. Colors that photograph well are grey, white, cream, black, tan, lighter colors, etc. I use the wood wall in my studio for the family images and will also utilize the backlit white sheer curtains. I will wrap baby for the family portion so we may go straight into the session. Please avoid anything with a pattern. All photos are hip up to showcase baby. Nothing is full body. Mom – feel free to wear a pair of yoga pants if you like so you can be comfy

Studio policy on session start times and tardiness:

• Your newborn session begins at the time you have been given. Clients who are late by 30 minutes or more will automatically be rescheduled to the next available date and a new non-refundable retainer will be due to secure your appointment on the calendar. I highly recommend you check travel times a few days before your session so there are no surprises on the day of. The studio is located near Barker Cypress/290 so keep this in mind when traveling from other parts of Houston.

Sibling Studio Policy:

• It is studio policy that siblings aged 2 or under are asked to leave with Dad after the family portion. There is a park and many fast food options with an indoor playground around the corner, which is about ½ mile away. Your session will be anywhere from 1-2 hours long and while young toddlers add much joy and spirit to life, we need the studio to be calm.

BEFORE YOU ARRIVE:

• From experience, babies that have been asleep prior to arrival are very difficult to pose. If baby has been sleeping, they often will not cooperate. To encourage this I highly recommend stimulating the baby at least two hours before your scheduled arrival. A warm bath always does the trick. The bath also makes sure their hair is clean and fluffy for the session. Clean hair photographs beautifully!

• This also means keeping them awake during the car ride here and refrain from feeding 2 hours before arrival as well {if possible}. Play with their feet, tickle their toes, talk to them - I promise it is well worth it!

•  Please dress baby in loose fitting clothes to avoid lines on their skin. A sleeper outfit is best. We want to avoid anything that must be pulled over baby’s head. I also request a pacifier for baby. I understand not every mama uses a pacifier so I respect your parenting wishes. A pacifier, however, helps soothe baby for the prop shots.

• Please bring additional diapers for baby and formula if you're bottle feeding. It's always best to be over-prepared than be in the middle of a session and have nothing to feed baby. Baby is happy with a full tummy!

Keeping in mind these instructions will most certainly give you a well- prepped baby. In return we’ll be able to maximize the time you have in the studio with plenty photos so for that reason please do not underestimate and risk how well your baby sleeps after a feeding. We need your bundle of joy to be tired and a bit hungry. I know it will be hard, atop of your own sleep deprivation but I promise you, it will be well worth the effort. Your gallery will be amazing. I promise!

Once You Arrive at the studio:

• Once you arrive you will feed your baby right away, once burped, we will then start preparing him/her for their session, meaning any and all clothing must be taken off, except for the diaper.
• I'll have the temperature set to 77 degrees, white noise on, and I'll have everything set up & ready to go for our time together. 
• Family, parent and sibling photos take first followed by Baby as the star.

DURING YOUR SESSION:

• If you are comfortable pumping a bottle for baby, I highly recommend doing so. This allows us to begin the session immediately and ensure we hit all the poses, props, and setups within the allotted time coverage. If you do prefer to nurse baby, however, let me know so I can bring you in half an hour early so we begin/end the session on time. In no way do I want to cause you any stress so this is just a tip, nothing more. I understand the breastfeeding experience is very delicate and I respect your wishes.
• If you do not pump, you can also formula feed baby just for this session. Breast-milk doesn’t keep our babies fuller longer so choosing to formula feed for the session, will not only be a little easier for you but it will keep them asleep longer during the handling and posing for a scene. Moms, please just be advised, it’s just a recommendation so if you choose to do neither, it’s completely okay. As a newborn photographer, I feel it’s my duty to offer any advice or tips that you as a parent can use to maximize the time we have in the studio and in return you’ll be able to showcase and display more than the average number of baby photos! I have four young children myself so I understand the way you feed baby is very personal and important to your family. 
• Feel free to sit back and relax. I won’t need any assistance so take advantage of this time to rest. Feel free to bring a tablet or laptop to catch up on work or even take a nap. Also feel free to bring a snack or drink with
• Think of me as your baby sitter. I am very comfortable working with newborns and really enjoy my time with them. Don't worry is baby goes potty or spits up on anything; everything is cleaned and sanitized after each session so no worries! 
• Always feel like you can ask a question. I am an open book and if you're ever curious about a pose or why baby is in a certain position, I am happy to explain. I want you to feel comfortable during our time together. Your comfort is very important to me. :-) 
• Please do not take DSLR photography during our time together. You will have access to all of the best shots and if a parent is standing behind me with a camera, I cannot work efficiently. I will need all of allotted time for the session. 
• While I do my best to ensure you receive each set up that comes in your session, sometimes baby dislikes a pose or set up. In this case, I replace the missed pose/set up with something else that baby prefers. If we've spent 10 minutes or more one set up and baby is crying, I will move on because I do not want to sacrifice the whole session for the sake of one pose. It's important to remember babies are little people, too, and have their own autonomy. 

AFTER YOUR SESSION:

•  2 weeks after your session, your final edits are completed. I retouch sessions in the order in which they’re photographed. Kindly note I do not edit or release any sneak previews until your final balance has been paid. The two week timeline does not begin until your final invoice has been fulfilled.

• There is a $30/day late fee (per your contract) for invoices that remain unpaid. Your final balance is due the day before the session. Late fees are added to your final invoice daily. If you would prefer to pay by check, let me know in advance.

• Please note, per my contract and studio policy, I have final say on which images make the gallery and how they’re edited. You will see the best images from each portion of our session together. If you have an editing request, they are subjected to a custom quote. While I will clean up baby’s skin, I do not remove every single imperfection because then the baby no longer looks like themselves. I leave a few flakes here and there; I also will remove a majority of redness and baby acne but as noted, it is my discretion.

If you have any questions about this prep guide, please notify me immediately. I truly want you to have an amazing portraiture experience! I know this can feel like a lot of information at once and I do not want to overwhelm you, however, I also want you to know that newborn photography is an art and often requires some prepping for the session. :-) I have a lot of experience working with newborns and I am committed to giving you a great session! These photos are once in a lifetime, so this is why you have received such a detailed prep guide so you may have these fantastic portraits to treasure. I cannot tell you how much I adore looking back at my own children's photos and am very happy to have invested in beautiful newborn photography.

All my joy and warmth to you,

Sarah

Sample photos of what you may expect: 

Father and Newborn Photography Posing

Mom and Newborn Photography Posing

Parent Posing during Family Portion of Studio Newborn Session

First Floor Prop on Rustic Wood Floors

Cozy, Sweet Wrapping is next

Second Floor Prop 

Third Floor Prop

Potato Sack Pose

Tootsie Wrap

Naked Bean Bag Posing (included in petite and full newborn collections)

Sarah Borchgrevink Photography is a Houston Newborn Photographer specializing in gorgeous posed newborn sessions. Her studio is located in Northwest Harris County. In addition to breathtaking baby portraiture, Sarah also offers stylish natural light family photography as well as dynamic outdoor maternity sessions for expecting mothers and couples. Sarah joyfully serves the entire Harris and Montgomery county areas including Houston, Cypress, Tomball, Spring, The Woodlands, Kingwood, Memorial & West Houston, Katy, Sugar Land, Pearland, Richmond, West University and Rice Village.

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Tate’s Studio Session | 10 Pounds of Newborn Cuteness

Houston Newborn Photographer, Sarah Borchgrevink, offers a stylish full newborn collection showcasing all things classic, simple and timeless about a brand new baby.

Baby Boy Tate | 10 Pounds of Squishy Newborn Goodness 

Hi, friends! I'm glad to see you've stopped by my blog! If you're here, you may be interested in seeing a session preview of a super cute and chunky newborn lad! You're in luck. I had the honor of documenting Tate's full newborn session recently, and he was simply marvelous. In fact, I adore his family because they've done several sessions with me from outdoor maternity portraiture, natural light fall family photos, milestone sessions for a baby plan membership and a newborn session with their first kiddo. Seeing them again for their second kiddo was an absolute dream! I'm excited to share my favorite images from my time with Tate.

When designing your posed newborn sessions, I am often inspired by classic pieces and an array of colored textiles. While I do offer neutrals for the parents who love all things muted, I really enjoy using color and texture. This is a cornerstone to my newborn portraiture work, so if you're a fan of color, this session is just for you! Here you'll find grey, red, turquoise and navy blue for my time with this precious baby boy.

Tate was a great sleeper! At 10 pounds, he has cheeks for days. He visited just at the 2 week mark, which is my preference for new babies. Sometimes parents are a little nervous how the session will go: have no fear. When booking, you're given a very detailed newborn prep guide so you know what to expect. I do not want you to be nervous. Just bring baby and their diaper bag essentials and leave the rest to me. It's important to me you have a great experience!

His little macro lip details are simply divine! Macro images, which are up close, sweet details of your baby's characteristics come with every newborn collection I offer.

For his floor props, I used vintage pieces such as this rustic blue crate, shown above, and then an old, antique bucket. The more classic and item is, the more timeless the photos will be. Paired with a super sweet bonnet, your baby's chubby cheeks and sweet little face will be the highlight of this image. The styling is super important because we do not want any of the props to detract from baby; baby should always be the star. You spent 9 months growing your darling little love, dreaming of them in your arms, so the newborn gallery must evoke a sense of tender, unconditional love when you see the final copies.

After the first two floor props, we used an adorable antique cradle I found at a shop. It's one of my favorite floor props! It looks lovely with baby girls or boys and is perfectly timeless. This vibrant red backdrop made the perfect cushion for his sweet little head. I wrapped him in one of my favorite wrapping styles called "tootsie" so his adorable little feet poke out - so precious! He is such a peaceful, serene baby. I loved my time with him. 

Following all of the floor props and flokati rug poses, which were showcased above, we did the naked bean bag posing portion of his full newborn collection. Here I pull stunning textiles that are classic, soulful and use my studio lights to ensure the light perfectly encompasses baby's face. The highlights, contours, and skin tones must be perfect so that every feature is defined. I personally like moody light and for the shadows to be on baby's outer face, but the triangle of light to be on their cheek. The royal navy blue and deep turquoise are amazing on him! His skin looks flawless and I cannot stress how much soul color adds to your newborn gallery.

I'd love to have your sweet newborn on my calendar. Here are more details.

Sarah Borchgrevink Photography is a Houston Newborn Photographer specializing in gorgeous posed newborn sessions. Her studio is located in Northwest Houston. In addition to breathtaking baby portraiture, Sarah also offers stylish natural light family photography as well as dynamic outdoor maternity sessions for expecting mothers and couples. Sarah joyfully serves the entire Harris and Montgomery county areas including North Houston, Cypress, Tomball, Spring, Jersey Village, The Woodlands, Magnolia, Conroe, Willis, Montgomery, Humble, Kingwood, Porter, New Caney, Waller, Memorial & West Houston, Katy, Fulshear, Sugar Land, Pearland, Hempstead, Richmond, West University, Rice Village and Porter TX. Sarah has also been ranked among the Best Houston TX Newborn Photographers on the criteria of reputation, credibility, experience, availability, professionalism and engagement. Connect to chat with Sarah today! Please consider booking your session at your earliest convenience in order to secure your appointments on the calendar.