When booking a newborn session, parents are sent a styling questionnaire in which they're able to share their favorite props, colors, and also must have poses. It never fails: every parent requests a bucket shot because what is more precious than a newly earth side little one perfectly tucked into an adorable bucket?

As a professional baby portrait studio, I truly love working with my most petite & darling clients, particularly when it comes to a floor prop set up, such as an antique bucket. I have a huge array of props on hand, all of which are available to you. They're all vintage-inspired, often purchased from local antique shops.

When posing a baby in these rustic pails, parents often ask, "How do you achieve this look?" Have no fear! I am happy to share some tips on this so you, as a potential client, can be informed on how I safely pose little ones.

Moreover, this blog posts also showcases babies who visited in the last week so you can see variety in how I style my dreamy, timeless and stunning newborn sessions.

7 Tips for the bucket set up:

Baby must be in a deep sleep for these images. I keep my heat on 77 degrees so baby is nice and warm, but also mold-able and peacefully slumbers so we have serene, gorgeous galleries! Part of being one of the Best Houston Newborn Photographers is providing parents with amazing galleries. The foundation of an amazing floor prop set up must always be a warm room so we have a sleepy, sweet baby.
Place weights in the bottom of the bucket. This keeps it from toppling over and helps baby stay in place.
Don't pose baby naked in the bucket. You see, we want to create the "illusion" that baby is naked, however, if their legs are out, this could be a danger to baby's well being because newborn babies are much stronger than they appear! They could push forward with their legs, thus launching baby out. This would be a disaster so in order to avoid this, keep baby's legs wrapped and their arms out.
Select a bucket, pail or another floor prop that coincides with baby's size. I know, I know: all buckets are the same, right? Actually: this is not true! I have different buckets for different sized babies. 5-pound babies, to elaborate further, will need a different bucket than a 10-pound baby. The baby should fill most of the prop and you should not be stuffing tons of items in the bucket. To ensure we have the perfect prop for your precious, sweet little baby, I send a questionnaire once little one has arrived so you may share details such as their weight.
Make sure baby is fully supported. You do so by using posing beans.
Pose baby's arms before placing them in the bucket. You do not want to be picking the baby up and moving them around whilst in the bucket. The placing of the baby should be seamless: pose their arms, while the baby is in your lap, and then move them into the bucket. This keeps their head supported and you're not jolting their ever so fragile limbs.
Get those elbows hooked. Essentially, this means that you have to hook their elbows over the rim of the bucket so baby does not slip downward. This is why it's ever so important to place weights (such as 20 pounds) inside of the bucket so it will not be top heavy.

Joshua's aquamarine set up

Isabella's neutral bucket pose with galvanized pail

Gorgeous Aria's Mint and Seafoam Green Rustic Pail

Mia's ivory, lavender, and warm wood classic baby in a bucket pose

maternity and newborn photography houston

Chase's feminine and girly lavender & purple floral styling

Desmond's Pale Green & Spring Greenery Newborn Portraits on barn wood flooring

Are you currently pregnant and expecting your own bundle of joy? Let's connect so I may more information about the newborn collections I offer.

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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.

Sarah Borchgrevink

January 16, 2018

Newborn, Featured

Vintage Meets Classic for Timeless Results | Newborn Studio Props

Sarah Borchgrevink

January 16, 2018

Newborn, Featured

Full Time Newborn Portrait Artist, Sarah Borchgrevink, shares her favorite studio props that are vintage, classic and timeless. Check out the list for parents to view for session styling!

The Cutest Baby Props for Houston Newborn Portraits

Good morning, gang, and welcome to my blog! This post is a preview of my studio space so potential clients may see the sort of props I have on hand. If this is your first time here, welcome! As a professional photographer, I exclusively photograph precious newborn babies in the first 14 days of life. I take 15-18 due dates per month with most of my clients booking in the second trimester. My preference to have you in studio is between 5-8 days, however, for the most squishy, darling posing. The earlier the better! This is when baby is most curly and still flexible enough to move through many poses.

Let's get started, shall we?

My studio serves the Greater Houston Area and is located in Northwest Harris County. Many parents travel to me from locations such as The Woodlands, Galveston, Sugar Land, College Station and Brenham, as well as West University or Montrose.

In my experience, clients select me based on the type of newborn photography work I offer and the unique style I provide. I am fully vaccinated and insured while running a completely legal and tax paying business. Unfortunately, there are many "photographers" who are not running legal businesses, so this is why you see the rates you see on my pricing guide. My newborn profession is how I feed my little ones and take care of my family.

I'm often asked if I offer in home newborn sessions. Many parents do not understand that I would have to close my studio for the day and would be unable to take any other sessions, ordering appointments or consultations. I do not offer in home photography sessions, however, because as you can see in the photos below, the type of equipment I use is huge. My lights, for example, are 86" and I have three of them. My wood wall is 8'x10' - it is not able to travel as it is mounted into the studs on my studio wall for baby safety. Moreover, I do not like natural light or use any natural light in my baby portraiture, so this is why they all take place in studio.

My studio is extremely cozy and is around 400 square feet. I've done by best to utilize the small space. I've even watched episodes of "Tiny House" for ideas and inspiration on how to use my square footage and make the most of what I have. Inside my space, you'll find everything you need for the best Houston newborn photography. I have every color of wrap, backdrop, numerous antique floor props, a custom wood wall, classic white bed, and lovely light just for you. :-) I also have a huge array of hand made headbands and newborn baby accessories likes caps, bonnets, hats, tiebacks and the most dainty little items to adorn your precious baby!

I provide everything for your session. I request parents do not bring props, however, I will add 1 personal item into your session if you wish. :-)

Organic Wraps | Inspired by Texture and Color

Wrapping newborn babies is a huge cornerstone to the type of work I do with my most petite and precious little clients. I pull inspiration from an array of color and hues as well as textures. I like to use organic and wispy items for a soft, feminine look but also chunky knits for a more robust session tone. Babies loved to be wrapped - it's cozy and sweet. The wrapping keeps little one content and allows us to come up with a variety of gorgeous newborn images in a short time. My typical session lasts around 1-2 hours, very rarely do I go to three hours.

I also use the wraps for lovely layering pieces during naked bean bag posing, too.

Sarah Borchgrevink - Houston Newborn Photographer.

Antique Floor Props for a Classic and Timeless Baby Session| Inspired by a love for all things vintage

All of my floor props are hand picked and selected so they're classic, timeless and inspired by my love of vintage newborn photos. I have everything you could possibly need for our floor prop session from buckets, pails, baskets, crates, boxes, etc. If there is a certain prop you love, be sure to let me know so I may pull the item for you. :-)

Precious Classic Knit Bonnets for Your Cherub plus dainty, feminine and girly newborn girl accessories such as headbands and tieback pieces

Below is just a small sample of the type of newborn hats, bonnets, caps and other accessories I have on hand for your little one. I also have a huge stash of newborn girl tiebacks and headbands to adorn your sweet little girl! I have nearly 100 bonnets and close to 200 headbands so I assure you there is something for every taste and preference. Whether you like muted pastels, vibrant jewel tones, or laid back neutrals there is the perfect piece to style your baby's first professional portraiture session with Sarah Borchgrevink Photography.

sarah borchgrevink photography newborn studio

feminine and dainty newborn girl headbands