It's a lot of pressure to be a parent these days. Pinterest and Instagram have set new expectations of capturing perfect baby photos for your perfect, new bundle of joy.
But many people don't realize that attempting these photos on your own or with an unexperienced photographer is extremely dangerous. Below you will see the most dangerous (and most pinned) infant poses and what a professional photographer should be doing to make sure your baby is completely safe.
Head in hands
Your sweet infant doesn't have the strength to hold his or her head up. Do you really want to risk this balancing act? These photos can only be done safely by using parents to support the baby.
"When posing baby's head on their arms, I keep their head supported by a finger or hand and then clone it out, and for head in hand shots, I use two images, one holding baby's head and one holding baby's arms, and merge them in Photoshop," writes photographer Elli Cassidy.
Head on arms
Similar to the head on hands, a finger or hand should always support your little one. Babies' bodies are top heavy. Those wee little arms can't be expected to hold up their large head.
Sitting on props
Even if a prop is sitting safely on the ground, anytime your baby is perched in or on a prop, they must be supported.
Hanging baby
Babies should never be hung from anything, and should always have a hand on them. In order to get this cute shot, very dangerous practices have begun like the one below.
To do this safely, a photo of the hanging carrier is taken. Then a photo of the baby in the carrier on the ground being secured by the parent is taken. Never allow your baby to be suspended in the air.
The angel shot
Inclines and babies don't mix. Don't set your baby on an incline. These sweet shots should be taken with the baby laying on a flat surface. That photo is then angled in post production. There's no need to dangerously place your baby on a surface they could slide off of.
In the arms of mommy
These photos look like the babies are being suspended in air in the arms of their parents, but attempting this is extremely dangerous. Instead, only allow photos like this to be taken sitting down with the infant laying on the parent's lap.
Sitting upright
Your newborn obviously cannot sit upright on their own, so this pose also must be done with the parent holding the baby upright.
Just because it works for one baby, doesn't mean it will work for yours
Remember to never force your baby into a position. Their fragile bodies should never be posed in a way their muscles won't naturally allow.
"If I try a pose and baby fusses or seems visibly uncomfortable I will move on to my next position. Never put a baby in a pose that they struggle against," photographer Megan Squires wrote for The Clickin Moms Blog. "Some babies love being curled up with their chubby feet up by their chin. Others love stretching out their little legs. They are all unique individuals with unique likes and dislikes ... What works for one might not always work for another."
While you want beautitful photos of your sweet baby, their safety should be your first concern. Talk with your photographer about keeping your precious little babe safe during their photoshoot.
