Fuss Free, Prop Free Newborn and Baby Photography

No props, no fuss. There are so many reasons I shoot with minimal props and I want to tell you all of them.

When you look back at your baby's pictures I want you to see one thing — your baby. Your tiny newborn, your 6 month old with their gummy grin or pouty frown, your 12 month old who is turning one and who has completely turned your world upside down in the most wonderful way. I want you to notice their miniature toes, their tiny hands and fingers and those sweet baby rolls. What I don't want you to see is a collection of photographer's props pulling focus away from the most important person in the room. The only props you will ever find in my studio are very carefully chosen traditional toys, there purely to engage your little one and keep their attention long enough for me to capture something beautiful.

Newborns need nothing more than a soft blanket. You will never see props in my newborn photos, with one exception — a rather lovely seagrass Moses basket, and even that appears in just one image.

For older babies and first birthday babies I have a small selection of natural wooden toys and a fluffy bunny, because what baby doesn't love something soft to hold. And for first birthday sessions I also have a beautiful miniature wooden birthday cake, because every birthday deserves a mess free, fuss free cake. I know just when to introduce a toy and when your baby is perfectly content to sit and engage with you or your partner. It is always about your baby first. The toys are simply there to keep them comfortable and happy. Think of it less as a photoshoot and more as a play session that I happen to be photographing.

I can remember being taken to the photographers in Glasgow as a very small child and being made to sit on a high Victorian stool and smile for the man. If only that photographer had just let me play on the floor.

Minimalist photographs also complement your home beautifully, whatever your decor. These images will be displayed for years, maybe even generations, and interior trends will come and go. A classic, timeless photograph displayed in a classic frame will never look out of place on your wall, or your future grandchildren's walls for that matter. I always advise my clients to choose a classic frame so that their finished photographs will never date.

Fuss free photography is about more than the props. It starts the moment you arrive.

You park on my driveway at my studio in Monifieth, near Dundee, lift your baby in in their car seat and you are there. No car parks, no buggy battles, no keeping everyone dry in the rain. Anything you might need during the session can be brought in or left in the car within easy reach. And if your older baby arrives and needs to finish their nap, there is plenty of time. Sit in the car, let baby sleep and come in when they are ready.

Once you are inside, everything is calm and unhurried. There are no complicated outfit changes to navigate. I photograph many full sessions with baby still in the white vest they arrived in, because there is simply no point in changing a baby if it is going to upset them. If your baby is happy to wear a little outfit, I have a lovely selection to choose from. All traditional, all timeless and all designed to be easy to slip on. No struggling with buttons and no frilly collars that will overshadow that beautiful little face.

Your baby is my tiny boss. If they need feeding, changing or a cuddle from you, that is exactly what happens. This matters enormously for newborns who might be cluster feeding and need to be on and off the breast or bottle throughout the session.

If a little sibling comes along, there is no pressure on them to perform or do anything other than just be themselves. I have outfits for them too, but if they arrive and don't feel like getting changed I simply go with whatever they are happy to do. There's many a time I have photographed almost an entire newborn session with a two year old who wanted nothing to do with the baby, and then somehow come away with 2 beautiful images of them together, the two year old completely unaware I had my camera pointed their way.

I want everyone to leave feeling happy and relaxed. When you look back at these photographs in years to come I want you to remember a lovely morning with your family, not a stressful trip to the studio.

I tell every client that if their baby simply isn't having it on the day, we reschedule. No stress, no pressure. In 6 years of running Mabel & Møøse in Monifieth I have never once had to do that. I have never failed to produce a gallery of images for a family to choose from.

And I want to enjoy it too. I do this because I genuinely love working with families and babies. Nothing about this is supposed to be difficult for anyone. New parents have enough to cope with and a visit to the photographers should not be one of the hard things.

If my style feels right for you, I would love to welcome you to my studio. Let's see what we can create together.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do you use props in newborn photography? My style of newborn photography is very minimalist and natural and so you won't find any props in my photography when babies are in their first few months.

What should my baby wear to a photoshoot? Your baby only needs a white baby vest and everything else is provided at my studio.

What happens if my baby is unsettled on the day? I have lots of tips and tricks up my sleeve to help settle a newborn or engage an older baby long enough to get some adorable photos, and even a few tricks to calm little siblings. I never leave a baby to cry for more than about 10 seconds. If your baby is unsettled I stop, and mum and dad have as much time as they need to comfort their little one, even if that means a 30 minute breast feed or a long cuddle. If your baby really won't settle then I simply reschedule, although in 6 years that has never happened.

Are siblings welcome at a newborn photoshoot? Absolutely. It's especially wonderful to welcome back little siblings that I have photographed at their own newborn or first birthday sessions. It feels like welcoming family back.

Will I feel rushed during my session? Definitely not. The last thing I want is for you to feel rushed. There is no pressure on you or your baby and I always leave plenty of time. I have had 4 children of my own and now have beautiful, but often fussy, bouncy, tearful, messy and noisy grandchildren, so I am very used to little ones and how they really don't appreciate being rushed.

Ready to find out more?

If you would like some more information then I have separate pages for each baby stage:

Newborn Photography Baby Photography First Birthday Photography