Must have newborn items
Newborn Studio Gear
My Newborn Studio Must-Haves: The Gear I Use in Every Session
I've been photographing newborns for 27 years, and the question I get most, in class, in my DMs and in YouTube comments, is: "What do you actually use?"
So I shared my favorite things over on Instagram, and I put it all into a free guide you can keep next to your beanbag. Grab the guide below, and read on for why each item earns its place in my studio.
A smooth session isn't really about the camera. It's about a calm baby, a setup that doesn't fight you, and having the right tool in reach so you never leave the baby's side to go looking for something.
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The Setup
1. A beanbag system
Everything starts here. A sturdy beanbag with a frame gives you a stable, adjustable surface for posing and a place to clip your fabrics, so you aren't adjusting blankets mid-pose.
Shop at shopanabrandt.com →2. The beanbag cover
If you have the Paloma beanbag system or any other rounded beanbag, this cover fits it and stops your posers and blankets from slipping. Less sliding means fewer resets and a baby who stays asleep.
Shop at shopanabrandt.com →3. The Ana Brandt Newborn Posing System
You need the right posers for the job. No more rolling up towels and stuffing things under blankets. Having the right size poser for every pose keeps your setup clean and your workflow fast.
The full set includes:
- Triplet poser
- Twin poser
- 5 newborn posers
- 2 head support posers
- Newborn weighted blanket
4. Towel clips
Search "alligator towel clips" or "nemo towel clips" on Amazon. They grip your blankets to the beanbag frame and hold far better than regular clamps. You'll see the bright little clips in almost every behind-the-scenes shot I post.
Find them in my Amazon storefront →5. Diaper covers
This one saves you hours in editing. My diaper covers come in skin-tone shades so they blend in instead of showing up as a bright white diaper you have to retouch out.
No more retouching the diaper.
Shop diaper covers →6. Wraps
Wraps are the base of so many of my sets: a soft, snug wrap for potato poses, layered textures in a bowl, or a simple swaddle for the parent shots. Build a small collection in neutral tones that go with your backdrops, then add color when a client asks for it.
Keeping Baby Calm
A settled baby is the most important part of the whole session. These three tools are always within reach, and you'll find all of them in my Amazon storefront.
7. A yoga ball
Most women labor on a yoga ball, and babies remember that motion. That's why I use one in every session. I always hold the baby's head while bouncing very, very gently. The goal is only to soothe. Pick a ball that matches your height so you're sitting comfortably with good posture.
8. White noise
When things are calm, I keep a white noise machine running (mine is the Marpac Rohm). It covers studio sounds, the camera shutter and chatty siblings, and keeps baby in that deep sleep.
9. A shusher
When baby is fussy, I switch to the Baby Shusher. It makes a steady, rhythmic "shh" that settles a baby faster than my own voice can, and it doesn't get tired after 20 minutes.
Studio Basics Nobody Talks About
10. Sandbags
For holding down backdrops, hanging things, and weighing down light stands. A light stand tipping over in a newborn studio isn't an option. Sandbags are cheap insurance.
11. Gaffer tape
It holds backdrops, cables and fabric, and it comes off without leaving sticky residue on your gear or props. Keep a roll in every kit.
12. Soft, large light
My main light is a Profoto with a PLM umbrella. A big, soft source wraps beautifully around a newborn's skin and is forgiving as you move through poses.
Shop My Favorites
My Amazon Storefront
The yoga ball, towel clips, white noise machine, shusher, sandbags, gaffer tape and more, all in one place.
Shop My Amazon StorefrontA Note on Safety
Tools make a session smoother, but they never replace safe handling. Keep a hand on or near baby at all times, use a spotter for any assisted pose, and create supported poses as composites. If you're not sure how to do a pose safely, get trained before you try it on a client.
Want to Go Deeper?
Books: Mastering Maternity Photography and Newborn Photography: Love and Light, the Practical and Creative Process go through posing, lighting and workflow step by step. Get the books →
Training: If you want hands-on help with posing, lighting and client flow, that's what I teach every day.
- In person and live programs: anabrandteducation.com
- Online at your own pace: bellybabyschool.com
Download the guide, then come tell me on Instagram which item you can't live without in your studio.
— Ana
Get the Guide ↓