Rethinking Newborn Photos

Me snuggling with Charlie. Can't you just feel that sweet, warm newborn breath?

With our little guy here, newborn photos have been on my mind. Over the past few weeks I have come across dozens and dozens of photos of newborns stuffed into, or propped on top of, every item you can think of. I've seen babies balancing precariously on guitars and motorcycles, stuffed into cowboy boots and crammed into gumball jars. Others have been tied up with bows, balancing on balls, and hung from nets.

I get it. Teeny tiny newborns are adorable when crammed into teeny tiny things.

But to all you mothers everywhere: can we please stop and think for a minute? In 50 years, when our newborn days are long gone, which photos are going to bring us back to this precious time and remind us what having a newborn feels like? Which photos will stop us in our tracks and get us right in the gut? The cute pictures of our baby in a pumpkin? Maybe.

But maybe not.

Part of me worries that all of these newborn props (especially pictures like one I saw last week of a baby's head coming out of a GLASS vase full of gumballs??) will be the matching denim of yesterday. Trendy as can be right now, but MIGHT make us cringe in 10 years.

Why don't we stop trying to manufacture beauty and capture the beauty that is already there?

But you know what this means right? You mothers are going to have to GET IN THE PHOTOS. I don't care if you feel chubby. I don't care if you have mascara strewn across your face or your hair is a mess. And TRUST ME your 80 yr. old self, or your children's children won't care either.

By all means, squeeze your newborn in whatever container you have lying around. But I beg you to please think about hiring someone to take some photos of you and your baby in your home snuggling, feeding and sleeping. As unpolished as it may be. Because THAT is what having a newborn is all about. Bed head and all.
I have a sneaky suspicion that your 80 yr. old self will want to thank me. Feel free to send me a thank you note in 40 years.

With a cookie.

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