Photographs of my children have always been something to treasure, and I spent a lot of my pregnancy mentally posing my unborn baby for all the great photos I was going to take.

Fast-forward three months. Now I have a baby who isn’t quite a newborn and a very skimpy photo album. I forgot how much of a fog those early days are.

Here are my best photo tips so you don’t miss anything in your baby’s early days:

Hire a Professional

I’m a big fan of taking my own photos of my kids, but when it comes to newborn photos I bow to the professionals. Having a baby doesn’t put you at your best. You’re tired and recovering and your brain stays a bit foggy for those first few months as the hormones wash out of your system. Trying to pose and style a newborn photo shoot is just too much.

Hire a professional to take newborn photos when your baby is about 2 weeks old. You’ll beat the newborn acne phase and still capture every adorable little wrinkle.

Don’t Wait for Perfection

With a newborn baby around, your house isn’t going to be photo-worthy. Take the pictures anyway. If you wait until there are no toys or laundry in the background you’ll never take any pictures. When you’re baby’s older, you’ll be glad you have those photos, mess and all. I’ve gotten some fantastic shots of my newborn, complete with piles of dirty laundry and toys on the floor in the background but I wouldn’t trade them for anything.

Use Simple Props

I’m not a big fan of elaborate baby photos. Have you seen the one of the newborn in a Kitchen Aid Mixer? That’s a bit much for me. I much prefer photos that focus on the baby’s features and don’t pose the baby into awkward, unnatural positions.

A small bean bag or a Boppy pillow are perfect for this. Throw a nice, textured blanket over the top and place the whole set up next to a window that gets some nice light and you have the makings of a beautiful photo. If you want something a bit more elaborate, throw in a few props that have sentimental value like a family heirloom or something that belongs to mom or dad.

Take Photos Outside

During the warmer months, move your photos outside. The light will be easier to work with and your baby can soak up some vitamin d. You’ll get the best light just before sunset and you won’t have any bright light to hurt your baby’s eyes. If it’s too cold to go out, take your photos near a window.

Hand Over the Camera

A common trap to fall in is not getting in the picture yourself. I nearly cried when I realized that I had only a handful of pictures of me with my daughter. Pass off the camera to someone else to be sure that you make an appearance in some of the photos. If you have older kids, consider getting them a cheap camera. My 9 year old son has been taking some great photos with his little camera.

Keep your Camera with You

Babies don’t hold their smiles until your camera is out and ready to go. Keep a camera with you so you catch those sweet moments. I love my iPhone for this so I can take quick shots when I don’t have my dslr available. There are some great little lenses that you can use on your iPhone to get some fantastic pictures if you don’t want to resort to carrying a full camera with you too.

What tips do you have for taking great newborn photos?