Gorgeous Posed Newborn Styling through Vintage Inspired Floor Props

Vintage Meets Classic for Timeless Newborn Portraiture | Gorgeous Posed Sessions through buckets, bowls, baskets and other floor props.

Floor Prop Styling during a studio newborn session with Sarah Borchgrevink

Friends, hi! I'm excited you're visiting today! This blog post is a great overview on floor props, how to style them, and from which I pull inspiration. Many parents ask, "What's a floor prop?" If you're curious about this, I've got all the information you need! 

If you've visited before, you probably know my name is Sarah and I adore all things newborn portraiture. I spend my days in studio wrapping precious babies, snuggling them, getting to know their parents, and truly delighting in capturing the custom art of posed baby photography. I'm located in Houston and it's my favorite place to be! 

All of my newborn collections include at least three floor props during our time together. Sessions are around 2 hours long so we have plenty of time to feed baby, do lots of cozy, unique wrapping, implement naked bean bag posing, and ensure we utilize many classic floor props, which will be previewed below.

Before we get started, floor props are literally what they sound like: props that are placed on the floor, ha! Examples include:

• Buckets
• Pails
• Bowls
• Baskets
• Trenches
• Many more! Anything is possible in the world of baby photos, ha! 

Floor props are also a wonderful way to add variety to your session because baby may be wrapped or added into many different types of props so that your session is full of stunning images! We want each image to stand alone and be gorgeous. 

Classic Wooden Bowl & Trench

My favorite floor props to use are typically of the wooden variety since they're both rustic and organic. After all, why be trendy when you can be timeless? As women, we all have that special little black dress in our closets. My floor prop stash is like that black dress: dependable, classic, timeless, classy, totally gorgeous no matter the occasion, ha! For instance, the baby girl featured above is named Sophia. She visited my studio space when she was 7 days fresh and new. Her mama relayed she liked girly set ups, so I pulled an antique quilt I picked up at a local shop an paired it with an organic wrap, that's soft and peach. This exudes all things girly and precious! After all, little girls are angels and should look feminine and dainty during the session. This type of wooden bowl is also versatile because you put baby on their belly, side, back, and shoot from many different angles. 

However, wooden bowls and trenches can also be styled to look more masculine. This bowl, shown above, features Dylan who visited at 11 days new. He is wrapped in a taupe textile and has an adorable bear hat and matching teddy in his hands. The styling is vintage and timeless so that nothing is distracting from his handsome face. Look at his sweet little lips! His precious pout just made me sigh with happiness during our time - capturing details like this makes my day!

Rustic, Organic Wooden Boxes & Crates

Crates and boxes are excellent choices for vintage inspired newborn photography! They can be styled to reflect either gender; they look fantastic with any color option and also can fit pretty much any size baby. 

When parents notify me of their little darling being earth side, I do take their weight and size into consideration. After all, baby should fit into the prop but not be swallowed up so that you cannot focus on them. 

Wooden, classic props are also an excellent opportunity to document baby's macro images, too. Macro images, you see, are those up close, darling details of a new baby. These are the characteristics parents spend hours memorizing; you will not want to forget these! Examples of macro images are lips, toes, nails, eyelashes, etc - everything newborn! Since baby is styled perfectly, you can take your time and capture these detailed images. This adds much soul and breathtaking portraiture to your final baby gallery, too! Parents love these! 

Sloane, for instance, shown above, has the most lovely little lips and hands. She has cheeks for days, so when she is wrapped so snuggly into this box, I made sure to take advantage of her sleeping so soundly. 

As you may have noticed, wooden boxes and crates can be styled in numerous ways. They look amazing with deep, vibrant tones or even soft, muted neutrals and pastels. I like to have fun and be creative here when working with newborn loves; I have many vintage quilts, textured pieces, and adorable knitted hats/bonnets/caps to adorn your sweet baby. 

Wooden Bench

This wooden bench is an absolute dream! It cradles baby perfectly and can be either styled with neutrals or color, though I do prefer muted color schemes with this floor prop. 

Antique Scale

The antique scale is the perfect vintage prop because it fits any baby or gender! This sweet boy, for example, is over 10 pounds but when he visited I was able to add him into this floor prop piece. I don't use the scale often, but when I do I am reminded how cute it is, ha!

Wire Baskets 

Wire baskets are a huge must have for any newborn photographer! Wire baskets are versatile because they come in any shape, size, or color. I happen to have several of these and enjoy using them in my posed newborn portraituer because the styling is always timeless. They make for the perfect bed or snuggly set up. 

This gold one, for example, was purchased from Home Goods and is dainty and fresh. Anytime a mom tells me she likes the color gold I remember this basket and pull it from her. It can be used with peaches, pinks, mauves, white, purple or even cream and ivory.

A circular wire basket is a great vintage prop because it's a nice alternative to a wooden bucket. You can use any color here, too, based on your preferences. 

Furthermore, a square or rectangle wire basket is also a lovely option because it's super versatile. The next image you see, shown below, is all things rustic earth tones and neutral. 

But then of course, a round circular basket is fantastic because it can hold baby perfectly. 

Woven Basket

Finally, a woven basket can be styled for vintage newborn portraiture because it can look lovely with any color, baby, or gender. This little girl, for instance, visited for a full newborn collection at 8 days. Addie is about 7 pounds here, but fits perfectly. I think it's extra sweet when their little fingers hand over the prop, too! 

As always, I graciously thank you for taking the time to visit my blog and read about what inspired me as a newborn portraiture artist. If you liked reading about how to style posed newborn sessions through vintage inspired pieces, such as floor props, you may like reading the following:

• Creating Unique Baby Portraiture through Texture
• Newborn Prop & Accessory ideas for Baby Boys 

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.

 

A Mother’s Love | Favorite Ways to Pose Mom and Newborn Baby

Sarah Borchgrevink Photography, located in Houston, previews the most stunning and sweet mothers who have visited the studio recently! Read about Sarah's favorite ways to pose new mothers and their precious earth side babies. 

There is no greater love than a mother has for her child

Howdy, friend! I am super excited to see you're visiting my little 'ol blog! Today's post chats about my favorite ways to pose newborn babies and their mothers as well as why parent posing is included in all three custom, curated collections I offer to fresh new babies in Houston TX. Please allow me to introduce myself! My name is Sarah Borchgrevink. Yes, yes - I know my last name is a mouthful but the fellow I am married to is such a sensational lad I had to take that last name, ha! We've been married since we were 19 years old and 8 years later we have four little ones! Motherhood influences my portraiture work because it allows me to relate to my clients on a personal level. 

Because I am a mommy myself, I truly believe parent posing is of the utmost importance and it's included in all three collections I offer. If you'd like to take a quick peek at them, check ' em out. :-) There is a mini, petite or full session; these typically takes place at 5-8 days new, though I will take newborns up to 14 days if needed. 

There is no greater love than a mother has for her children. I often am reminded that the depths and multifaceted dimensions to our relationships with our children deserve to be preserved and honored. This in mind, I enjoy working with parents during our newborn session together. As a perk, I do include parent/family set ups in all of my sessions and I do hope you take advantage of this.

I include parent posing in all of my sessions because this time is incredibly special and fleeting; parents have no idea how quickly time passes until they bring their new baby home from the hospital or birthing center. All of the sudden, your baby is months old or even a year! The first year of life, for instance, is a whirlwind of adjustments and milestones in which we are constantly looking forward and not always in the moment. By including parent and family posing, such as mom and baby, in my collections you will fondly look back on these images and be filled with love for your sweet newborn cherub. I know many new parents do not feel camera ready, however, you'll be super happy to have taken these. 

BACK LIT MOTHER AND NEWBORN PHOTOGRAPHY

Creating soulful, dynamic and stunning portraiture is one of my favorite parts of being a Houston Newborn Photographer. In my studio, you'll find the most gorgeous ethereal lighting and this is truly a cornerstone to my baby sessions. I simply adore the way the light fills the room, illuminating the subjects, thus adding a sense of peace, serenity and joy to the final product.

I always include back-lit images in all of my sessions and galleries. While I do have an impressive wooden wall, this gives two looks, so diversity is a wonderful element, too.  When implementing back-lit images into your session, the process is simple: back-lit simply means Mom stands paralell to the light and is lit from behind. I like baby to be facing her at all times so we're able to see a beautiful profile of darling little one's features.

The Criss-Cross Pose of Mom and Baby

I love posing a mother and her newborn baby in the "criss-cross" pose, which is essentially a pattern of intersection straight lines or paths, meaning the arms of mom are crossed over her shoulders with baby sweetly nestled into her palms. This can be done in many different ways. Each baby is different; some are longer, shorter, chubbier, more petite, or curly. However, they're wrapped for each and every parent shot, as wrapping is a huge cornerstone to how I create unique and timeless newborn portraiture. 

When doing this pose, you can always have mom back-lit, explained above, or you can use a simple background. I usually use my wooden wall in studio since it contrasts with parents. If you're unsure about to what to wear to your session, have no fear. Each parent is given a detailed newborn prep guide on what to expect and clothing suggestions are given. 

The Shoulder

The third pose I typically implement is baby gently placed against Mom's shoulder. I like this pose because you're able to see Mom's face and all of baby's gorgeous little features such as their sweet little newborn toes, button nose, hands gently folded beneath their chin, and of course their faces! 

This pose is simple to achieve and never causes me stress or worry. I am able to do it quickly, too, and make mom feel comfortable because she is not awkwardly holding baby for a long period of time while we adjust things. I personally like wrapped parent and baby images, so this helps me do a session much faster. By wrapping baby, baby is the perfect little package and easier for parents to hold, I can leave their diapers on and it makes for much less clean up and messes, and also makes baby happy. Babies adore being wrapped - I cannot stress this enough. 

As always, I would love to thank you for visiting my blog! I enjoy writing about new topics and creative projects I'm working on. Check back in a few days to see new posts! Looking forward to your visit. :-) 

Now that you've read a little about mom and newborn posing, you may be interested in reading about:

• Three safe poses of Dad and a Newborn Baby
• Back-lit Images During a Newborn Session
• Candid and Natural Everyday Photography of Children
• Cozy Styles of Newborn Wrapping I Adore

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.

 

Ultimate Nap Fighting Champion | Working with Alert Newborns in Studio

Sarah Borchgrevink Photography, located in Houston, shares how to photograph an alert newborn in a posed studio setting. 

Dylan's Petite Posed Newborn Session | 12 Days Fresh & New

Hi, gang! Welcome and greetings! I'm glad you're here to read about ways to photograph a newborn who may not be interested in sleeping during the posed newborn session. As a newborn photographer who specializes in posed studio work, I am always really excited when a brand new baby visits my space! In fact, for this particular baby boy named Dylan, I already had the honor of documenting his parent's natural light maternity session so take a peek at that post if you'd like to more information on creating meaningful pregnancy portraits. Today, however, is all about working with babies who are alert.

Before we begin, it's important to note that newborn sessions take place in the first 14 days of life. I offer three options for parents to consider, so click on over to the full pricing guide to see a mini, petite or full newborn collection. Dylan's parents chose my petite newborn collection, which is a lovely option! Featuring all things cozy wrapping, a handful of naked bean bag posing, vintage inspired props, and family/parent images this session is a remarkable and authentic way to preserve this incredibly special time in your baby's life. Once you've notified me of baby's earth side arrival, I send you 3-4 dates to consider that take place in the first two weeks. You're also given a detailed prep guide on how to have a successful newborn session and also how I keep baby content during their posed studio session.

Nevertheless, despite prepping baby and visiting my Houston Newborn Portrait Studio in the first 14 days, some babies are simply more alert than others. They are all individual people and it's important to treat each baby with respect. They have their own autonomy. I can spend hours soothing, rocking, feeding, and providing a calm environment, however, sometimes baby is just a nap fighting champion.

Here is my studio policy on alert babies:

*If baby is already close to the 14 day mark, we spend the 2 hours capturing what we may capture. If your baby is 4-5 days old and is just cluster nursing non-stop, we will bring you back in on day 7 to try again if we've spent 60 minutes and baby is crying or seems unhappy. 

Let's get started, shall we? :-) 

Cozy, Sweet Potato Sack Wrap

Potato sack wrap is the best way to keep baby asleep when they're feeling alert. This is because the wrap is snug around baby's joints and reminds them of being back in the womb. Paired with white noise and an 80 degree environment, it's sure to help them go to sleep. At this point, you can take advantage of baby sleeping. Take this opportunity to take images of baby with a hat, without a hat, on their side, sitting up, in a floor prop, etc. The trick to working with an alert newborn is making sure you make the most of each and every set up. Newborns are challenging! Even the most laid back newborn session can take around 2 hours to photograph. However, by starting with potato sack wrap, you're sure to keep things running much more smoothly than if you began with a naked bean bag pose.

Floor Props & Keep Baby Snug

Another trick to working with a newborn who's not sleepy is to utilize different floor props. If baby finally falls asleep, try not to disturb them. Keep the heat close so they're content and very carefully wrap out hats, wraps, and floor prop items. All of my floor props, for example, are low to the ground and also keep baby safe. For this session, Dylan was ready to party and while he is super duper handsome, he truly made me work, ha! I pulled a classic wooden trench bowl, antique metal pail and a simple, rustic weaved basket to provide variety for his parents. 

Moreover, to create more variety in your sessions, don't be afraid to experiment with different colors and textures. While baby is wrapped in very similar styles, I used texture to ensure each set up looks different, despite being in three different wrapping styles. Since his parents chose my petite gallery, I needed to come up with 30 images that are all different. Thankfully, I am very experienced in posed newborn portraiture and am comfortable working with alert newborns, however, three years ago I may have felt a little frazzled. 

This brings up another point: don't get stressed. I know it can make newborn photographers feel anxious when you have a baby in studio who is not sleepy. You have a game plan in your mind on what you want to accomplish and you also are eager for the parents to love the photos. Newborn photography is truly customized and a special art because it takes someone with patience, skill and attention to detail to truly create beautiful baby images. Keep calm. Remember your newborn training and mentoring. You also may go over on time a little bit and that's okay: don't forget parents have invested in these images and while it's great to stay on schedule, if you spend an extra half hour in order to achieve the look you need, it is well worth it! 

Dylan made me work but he is just so handsome!

Tootsie Style of Newborn Wrapping

After floor props, I moved Dylan into tootsie wrap style. This is the foundation for all my macro images from his session. You'll see those below. Once I was able to get him back to sleep, I moved him to bean bag and pulled the most lovely, charcoal grey color scheme featuring a matching wrap, back drop, and bonnet. I did have to rock him for a bit and rub his eyes, but his Dad was very helpful and kept the heater really close and moved my white noise machine so baby would sleep even deeper.

The sweet smiles make the whole session worth it for me! His parents will truly treasure his adorable little smirk and stunning features. Even on the most challenging of sessions, I am happy to be with babies. Each baby is also a learning experience and way to better yourself as a newborn portrait artist. 

Don't forget your precious macro images

Since Dylan is already wrapped in a precious tootsie style, I took this as an opportunity to capture his macro details. This is an example of making the most of each set up during your time with baby. Instead of moving him and risking him waking up, I delicately adjusted his body so he is parallel to my light and photographed his darling characteristics such as his brand new, curly toes, sweet profile, his lips, nose, cheeks and eye lashes. He did not want me to touch his hands so I kept his hands inside of the wrap, but we still achieved enough variety for a petite newborn gallery. I ended up showing his parents around 80 images! I call that a successful newborn session, even if baby did not want to sleep. :-) 

Get Creative With Your Sliders in Processing

The final tip I suggest is to be creative with sliders in post processing of images. All of these images were photographed on a blue back drop, but by adjusting my sliders in Lightroom, which is a post processing software professional photographers utilize, I was able to give his parents 4 different colors. So, for each image shown below, I gave them a grey, green, teal and blue version of the photos plus a black/white edit. 

Thanks for stopping by my blog to read ways to work with alert newborns, even if they are the ultimate nap fighting champions, ha! I hope you enjoyed seeing styles of wrapping, vintage floor props, and tips for a successful posed newborn session. If you liked this post you may enjoy reading about the other topics such as:

• Setting Your Business Apart with Top Notch Customer Service
• Creating a Natural Light Look Through Studio Lighting
• Three Safe & Easy Ways to Pose Dad with Newborn Baby

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.