Newborn Photography of 3-week-old Finley

Bicester-based Mum Rebekah was interested in some newborn photography of her second child, 3-week-old Finley. Here are some of my favourites from our shoot.

She arrived at my studio on the day of the shoot with Finley asleep, but he had no intentions of staying that way… Rebekah told me that he has an incredible appetite, which is great news for his growth and progress (although a little tiring for his parents!).

With the studio heated up and soothing sounds playing in the background, I posed and photographed Finley between feeds. I allow plenty of time for newborn shoots, so there’s no rush, stress or pressure. The baby is the boss, and their safety (and lunch) always comes first!

Finley loved being wrapped up snuggly. This replicates the cosy environment of their mum’s womb during pregnancy, making them feel safe and right-at-home:

I love Finley’s chubby cheeks and his chin resting on his sweet little hands. His lips are particularly adorable here, too! Please note that this is a composite image – there’s a lot that goes on behind-the-scenes to create a newborn photograph like this so please don’t try this at home!

When Rebekah booked in for her newborn shoot, one of the specific ideas I had planned was Finley cuddling up to a miniature teddy. This teddy would need to be exactly the right size: not too big that it would swamp Finley and take over the image, not too small that Finley wouldn’t be able to cuddle on to it. After a little bit of research, I found and ordered this little stuffed bear. My heart melts a little every time I look at this one:

I love using lots of creams, whites and neutrals in my newborn photography. They keep all the focus on the baby while adding visual interest and texture in the background, like this one with a matching wrap, bowl liner and background:

The room was super-warm, allowing me to transfer Finley into an open wrap without him getting cold. I placed him carefully in a lined bowl made from the root of a teak tree and added fresh flowers as a final touch. Finley didn’t want to miss any of the excitement, waking up to peek around and show us his big, curious eyes:

I love the simplicity of this next baby portrait, with just Finley happily snoozing on a simple white fabric. I bet he’s dreaming about mummy’s milk!:

“Making a decision to have a child – it’s momentous. It is to decide forever to have your heart go walking around outside your body.”
Elizabeth Stone

This newborn shoot offered the best of both worlds, as I was able to capture Finley awake and asleep. Here’s one more portrait featuring his steady, curious gaze:

I must confess I was in love by the end of my time with Finley! I hope these portraits of him preserve some of the magic of his first few weeks on earth for his family, and – of course – for him to see when he’s older.

Afterwards, Rebekah said:

“Sarah photographed my 3-week-old and made the whole process very easy and stress free. She took extra care to make sure he was relaxed for the photos and was very patient with him when he didn’t want to cooperate! The photos are brilliant, I can’t wait to get them up on display!”

If you’re interested in newborn photography for your son or daughter and would like to see my pricing guide, please get in contact by emailing [email protected] or submitting the form below:

Sarah Plater is a newborn portrait photographer based in Bicester, Oxfordshire.

(c) Sarah Plater Photography