How to Take Beautiful Everyday Photos of Your Newborn with a Phone.
Newborn photography isn’t just for milestone sessions with a professional. It’s also about preserving the everyday magic of those first few weeks at home.
If you’re a mom in Northwest Arkansas, you may have hired (or plan to hire) a professional newborn photographer in Bentonville, Rogers, or Fayetteville to document your baby’s first days. But what about all the quiet, in-between moments?
The everyday cuddles. The sleepy stretches. The tiny fingers wrapping around yours.
You deserve to remember those too.
The good news? With just a few simple tips, you can take natural, high-quality baby photos using the phone you already have. No fancy equipment or photography background needed.
Whether you’re documenting your baby’s first year in between sessions or just want your everyday photos to reflect the love and connection you feel, these tips will help.
1. Find Soft, Natural Light
When it comes to natural newborn photography, light is everything.
Look for soft, even light near a large window. Early morning or late afternoon often offers the prettiest glow.
Turn off overhead lights, which can create strange shadows or color tones, and move your baby closer to the window until you find a bright, even spot. You’ll be amazed at how much better your photos look with natural light alone.
2. Use Flattering Angles
When you’re capturing candid baby photos, it’s tempting to snap quickly. But a few tiny adjustments can make a big difference.
Try to keep your phone at or slightly above your baby’s eye level.
Avoid shooting up the nose or from too far above, as those angles can distort your baby’s features. Move around your baby and find a level, natural angle that highlights their expressions and proportions.
This is the kind of detail the best newborn photographers in NWA think about during every session — and now you can apply it at home, too.
3. Keep the Background Simple
One of the easiest ways to make your photos feel more professional is to minimize distractions.
Before you take a photo, take a quick glance around. Are there toys, laundry, or brightly colored items in the background that might draw attention away from your baby?
A plain wall, soft blanket, a lightly patterned rug, or freshly made bed makes a perfect clean backdrop. A simple background helps your baby take center stage, just like I aim for during my lifestyle newborn photography sessions in Rogers, Bentonville, and Fayetteville.
4. Tap to Focus and Use Burst Mode
Your phone’s camera is powerful, but for the best results, you still need to guide it a little.
Before you take the photo, tap your baby’s face on the screen to lock the focus where it matters most. If your baby is stretching, yawning, or moving around, hold down the shutter button to use Burst Mode. This takes a series of quick photos, giving you multiple options to choose from later.
It’s a simple trick that many newborn photographers use with wiggly babies and toddlers alike.
5. Lightly Edit with a Simple App
Editing should feel easy and enhance your photo, not hide your baby’s natural beauty.
Apps like Lightroom Mobile are perfect for making small adjustments like brightness, warmth, and contrast. If you want your everyday photos to look more consistent, try using a mobile preset you love. My favorite are Refined Co. presets, but there are so many beautiful options available.
There are so many beautiful and affordable options available, and using the same one each time can help give your photos a polished, cohesive look — especially if you’re creating a memory book or gallery wall alongside your maternity or newborn session images.
6. Focus on Connection, Not Perfection
The best photos are often the least posed. Look for the moments that feel real. A sleepy yawn, a stretch, a quiet snuggle in your arms.
Don’t worry too much about technical perfection. Focus on capturing the emotion and little snippets that tell the story of your baby’s first days.
Want to Take It One Step Further?
While these tips will help you elevate your everyday phone photos, there’s something truly special about setting aside time for a full newborn photography session.
It’s a chance to slow down, step in front of the camera with your baby, and have every little detail documented with care.
If you’re in Bentonville, Rogers, Fayetteville, or anywhere in Northwest Arkansas, and looking for a newborn photographer who creates timeless, natural portraits with a relaxed approach, I’d be honored to help you document this chapter.
I also offer maternity photography and a custom baby plan for families who want to capture all the milestones of that first sweet year.
Let’s create something beautiful together. Inquire today.
