children

Breathtaking Backlit Photography for Timeless, Airy, and Dreamy Portraits

Ethereal Backlighting for Stunning Newborn and Family Sessions

Houston newborn photo studio

In my Houston Newborn, Baby, and Infant Portrait Studio you’ll find amazing lighting that makes for stunning images! One of my favorite ways to light my subjects is called “backlighting” which is simply a controlled technique in which a light is placed behind or at the proper angles to produce a separation between the subject and the background. The end result is heavenly and absolutely beautiful. These take place during each session and parents always select these during their proofing.

When booking your preferred portrait artist it is always a great idea to peruse their portfolio and see if the type of work they produce makes your heart sing. Each photographer has their own style and branding behind the images; for instance, at SBP, the heart of the styling, shooting, and editing is dreamy, rustic, and timeless. 30 years from now the images will not look dated and instead the images are all about the subject, interactions, and embracing the spirit of this momentous time in your life.

Preserving Family Bonds | Examples of Backlit

When you visit for your baby’s first professional photo shoot, we’ll cycle through several setups such as family, sibling, parents, dad with newborn, and mommy with the new baby, too! You may be interested in reading more about the family portion posing, too!

backlighting photography examples

You’ll be told what to wear to the session and even given a styling questionnaire to ensure your favorite colors make their way into our session. When photographing a new family from the backlit perspective, I love to see you in solid colors; neutrals are the most timeless and fantastic colors for this part of your session.

bright backlit photography

When using the all white, bright light the focus is interacting with one another. I may have Dad kiss Baby, Mom smile down at Baby, or perhaps have parents look into one another’s eyes and think about how much they love the new addition.

backlit photography with flash

We also focus on family bonds and incorporating the older sibling, too, if you have another little one. As a mama to four young kiddos, I can attest you’ll treasure this portion of your gallery!

backlighting photography studio

We’ll also take time to photograph each parent with your earthside cherub, too, and the white light will frame beautifully in any home decor.

using backlit photography in newborn photos
baby and family portrait studio Houston

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If you’re a fan of all things classic, timeless, rustic, and dreamy, I would love to provide you with cherished heirlooms of your precious family. I am currently booking due dates into October of 2019. Let’s chat and connect!

Hello, World! Happy, Little, & Loved | Poses with Family, Siblings, and Both Parents

A new baby brings much joy and adventure to your home! Beautifully preserve this incredibly special time in your life with a custom newborn session for the whole family by Sarah Borchgrevink.

newborn family photography

Type of Combinations & Setups Offered:

At SBP there are currently, as of 2019, four main session types that encompass the first 14 days of life, specifically your newly earthside baby boy or girl. The bean bag and wrapped newborn sessions include the option to add family, sibling, or parent images, while the petite and full options include all things family. While there is no pressure to book one session over the other, these do appeal to many parents who would also like to participate in the spotlight! After all, Little One will only be small for a short time; as one of the top Houston newborn photographers, four years in a row, and also a Mama to four spirited kiddos, I can attest this time is fleeting.

There are three main components to this portion of your little one’s first professional photo shoot. These include the following:

  • Family as a whole

  • Parents

  • Sibling

    We generally spend about 30-35 minutes of our time together cycling through several setups and options so you’re sure to have a fantastic proofing gallery full of gorgeous setups, connections in which everyone interacts with Baby, and also traditional portraits, too. Much care and thought is put into the posing, lighting, wrapping, and preparation for your time in front of the camera. There is an even more detailed breakdown of behind the scenes at this post. There is also the option to read about an adorable, simple, and timeless gallery of first-time parents.

This blog post will showcase the groupings you can expect as well as the type of lighting and posing implemented. Let’s get started!

Baby + Family Photography

During time part of your baby’s session with Sarah we will spend plenty of time capturing your immediate family as a group, such as family images with the newborn and also any other kiddos you may already have. If you would like to bring Grandparents please let me know in advance and you made add them for a small fee if you would like to do so. Moreover, if you’re unsure about what to wear to Baby’s photoshoot, have no fear: all of this is covered in your newborn styling questionnaire.

We always use a solid backdrop, such as a rustic wall, and also use the all-white, gorgeous lighting that’s called back lit. Both types make for dynamic images, variety, and truly encompass all the beauty of your clan. It’s always nice to have a traditional, classic image in which everyone is smiling and looking happy! However, lifestyle options, in which everyone interacts and focuses on the youngest member, is also a wonderful addition to your gallery.

Houston family & baby photography
Family and Newborn Portraits in Houston TX
family with newborn baby photography
family photos with newborn baby
family photography poses with newborn baby
newborn family photography poses

Parents | Studio Poses with Mom & Dad

newborn photography with mom and dad

The second portion is an even smaller breakdown of our time together, too! The ‘parent’ portion includes both individualized setups of each parent with Baby, but also parents together. For instance, it is nice to have setups showcasing father and newborn photography, photos with both parents, mommy and new baby together, too, as all of these are part of your story. I am honored to capture these for you!

newborn photography with both parents
mom and newborn photography

Dad & Baby

If you’d like further reading on Safe Poses for Newborn & Father click on over for more details and explanations.

father and newborn photography
newborn photography with dad and baby
dad and newborn photography poses

Mom & Baby

A mother’s love knows no bounds. This post showcases my favorite poses and ways to showcase the bond and connections between new mommies and their cherub loves.

mom and newborn photography
newborn photography studio in Houston Texas
mom and newborn baby posing ideas
mom newborn photography

Sibling

Newborn photography with sibling(s) is a very popular request! Like family and parent images, sibling setups include classic, rustic, and timeless images for a dreamy gallery of your little ones!

For more information ways I safely pose your new addition please click on over to 3 Safe & Simple Baby Photo Ideas with a Sibling.

newborn photography siblings
newborn sibling photography
big brother and newborn baby sibling
newborn baby brother and big sister poses
newborn sibling photography

Thank you for stopping by this week’s blog post to read about how we pose your family with the new bundle of joy! If you are currently pregnant I would love to connect with you below. I am currently booking posed, in-studio newborn sessions for March - October 2019. Appointments take place in my Houston Portrait Studio 6 days per week. See more information about online booking & scheduling as well as a fully transparent digital pricing guide with full resolution images for download.

The Snuggle is Real | 3 Safe & Simple Baby Photo Ideas with Sibling

3 Best Ways to Safely Pose a Newborn Baby with their Proud Big Brother or Sister!

There are few things things more important to a new mother as a precious images showcasing the love and connection between her children. As a mom to four little ones, I identify with how special these images are! For instance, when I announced I was expecting Baby Number 4 (who turned out to be a boy!!) I instantly began looking for the perfect photographer to capture a sibling portrait of all my little ones. In fact, this image is hung in my house as 40x50” gallery wrapped canvas, so it’s a great way to wake up and see my spirited tribe of kiddos all snuggled together!

However, this blog post also shares transparency! In the world of posed infant portraiture, safety is key! I cannot stress this enough! Sometimes a new Mom will send me a Pinterest image of a child holding a younger sibling and relays that she would love to have that particular image! While I am happy to take client inspiration it is always important to keep these facts in mind:

  • Is the pose age appropriate? For instance, a 13 month old cannot stand and hold a new sibling even if you did see it on Pinterest, ha!

  • How comfortable is Big Brother or Sibling interacting with the new addition?

This in mind, I have compiled a list of 3 ways to safely photograph your precious newborn baby along with your other child(ren).

1 ) Flokati Rug

newborn pictures with sibling ideas

Of all the sibling photo ideas with a newborn, this one is my absolute favorite! There is something extremely timeless, classic, and stunning about the texture of the flokati rug. I also adore this pose because everyone is properly supported. For instance, with the elder sibling laying on their back, I always have posing pillows behind their head so their neck is properly supported. Once I have wrapped the younger sibling, who is a newborn, they are gently placed in the crook of Big Brother (or sister’s!) neck with posing beans placed underneath them. Mom and Dad can easily sit on either side of the flokati rug and they’re not in the frame. That way, if the sibling did decide to get up, no big deal, hands can be on Baby at all time. I do recommend this pose for kiddos who are about 3 years or older simply because they often can take direction easier.

sibling photo ideas with newborn

Also, during this pose we are always sure to give lots of praise to the sibling! I include them in the process by letting the Big Sister select things like the color of the wrap, headband or bonnet, and also we will sing songs during this portion. I also recommend doing the sibling photo first so that your toddler or preschool aged child is refreshed and excited to help! Often they’re very proud and ready to show how sweetly they can hug and hold their sibling. This pose is very safe. I have a variety of flokati rug colors, too, and a huge stash of wraps, headbands, bonnets, etc., so we can style everyone to match the colors in your home.

flokati rug during sibling photos

2) Baby inside of prop

how to get amazing toddler and newborn pictures

Placing your newborn baby inside of a floor prop, such as a bucket or bowl, is a great way to have adorable sibling photos! This is because your newborn is safely tucked away into a floor prop and the sibling hugs the prop or even sits next to it. This is my “go to” for younger siblings, such as toddlers, because even if the toddler is not interested in holding sibling, we can often have them in the same frame. This is why it’s important to consider the age of the sibling and what is appropriate for their development.

toddler brother and newborn sister
toddler sibling and newborn sister photo ideas

For example, Benjamin, who is not even two years old, was such a rock-star during his little sister’s wrapped session with me! He was a little unsure of actually holding sister in his lap. The baby is safely posed inside of this basket. With Benjamin, we simply asked him to give sister a kiss and we praised him!

The good thing is that I have tons of amazing floor props and interesting items so the options are endless! However, if you do book a posed newborn session with a sibling portion, feel free to let me know if there is a certain prop you truly adore and would love to have in your session.



3) Baby in child’s lap

Baby in child’s lap is the top requested idea for sibling photos. Moms cannot help but tear up and swoon when they see their eldest taking on a protective, sweet role for the new arrival. This pose is often great with children who are three or older. However, if you have more than one child, often we can do a few variations of this pose, too.

older sibling photo ideas
big brothers holding little brother
big sister photo ideas with newborn brother

As always, thank you for stopping by my blog to see information on newborn and sibling photography! Other related topics you may enjoy are:

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.