When Your Baby Cries During a Newborn Photo Session (And Why It's Perfectly Okay)
Baby sleeping with mum during an in-home newborn photo session in Sydney. ©Grain&Weave
It starts with a tiny scrunch of the nose.
Then a warning squawk.
Then, for no apparent reason at all - tears.
You’re halfway through your newborn photo session. The light is perfect. Everyone’s in position. And just like that, your baby decides… not today.
If this happens during your shoot (and it probably will), don’t panic. Don’t apologise. Don’t worry that it’s “ruined” the moment.
This is the moment.
And it’s one we’ve seen a thousand times before.
Welcome to newborn photography - where crying is completely normal, part of the process, and, believe it or not, no big deal at all.
Babies Cry - That’s What They Do.
I asked our photography team how many babies didn’t cry at all during their newborn photography sessions.
The answer? Not even one percent.
So if your baby cries on photo day… they’re in very good company.
Crying is communication. It’s how babies let us know they’re overwhelmed, hungry, a bit too warm, or just plain done with our nonsense. It’s not a reflection of you, your parenting, or the kind of day we’re having. It’s just baby being baby.
Baby cheeky moment in between photos during newborn photo session in home in Sydney. ©Grain&Weave
This Isn’t a Studio - It’s Real Life, at Home.
There’s a reason we work in your home. It’s where you’re comfortable. It’s where baby feels safe. You’re not rushing out the door, stuffing nappies into a bag, hoping you didn’t forget the wipes. Everything you need is close, and the atmosphere is familiar.
But even at home, the day is different.
You’re doing something new. Maybe you’re dressed up for the first time in weeks. You’ve tidied. You’re holding your breath, hoping for smooth sailing.
Your baby feels it, too. The energy. The anticipation.
And sometimes, they respond the only way they know how.
We Plan for Crying (So You Don’t Have To).
Every session is scheduled to allow plenty of time. We plan for pauses, nappy changes, unexpected feeds, and the occasional meltdown (from babies or grown-ups—no judgement).
The two-hour window isn’t there because we need that long to shoot—it’s there because you might need that long to settle, shift gears, and just… be.
This isn’t about rushing or pushing through. It’s about flowing with the rhythm of your family.
Post-cry cuteness! Don’t be afraid of a few tears, it usually means some cuteness is on the way! ©Grain&Weave
Crying Doesn’t Mean We’re Missing the Moment
One of the myths we like to gently bust is the idea that every moment needs to be perfectly calm and camera-ready.
But the real magic of storytelling photography is this: we don’t need perfection to tell the truth beautifully - the human, in-betweens are where where the magic happens.
Babies can go from blissed-out to boiling mad and back again in under 30 seconds. And we’re watching the whole time—reading the cues, adjusting, knowing that the sleepy calm is just around the corner again.
A professional photographer doesn’t need 500 perfect frames. We need one perfect moment. That’s our job. That’s the art.
What Actually Happens When Baby Cries?
The short version: we pause.
Here’s what we check, calmly and gently:
Cuddles – often the most effective (and let’s be honest, the most enjoyable).
Nappy – always worth a quick check.
Temperature – is the room too warm? Too cold? Babies can’t regulate this well yet.
Feed – photo day sometimes kicks off cluster feeding. Totally normal.
Sleep cycle – newborns tend to cycle through sleep/feed/wake every couple of hours. We know how to read the signs.
And then we move forward—maybe with a new plan, maybe just with more patience. Nothing is lost. We’re always working with baby, not against them.
Your Baby Doesn’t Have to “Perform”
This isn’t a staged shoot with rigid poses and backdrops. It’s an invitation to slow down, to be together, and to document how this stage feels.
And feelings are… unpredictable.
Sometimes baby sleeps the whole way through. Sometimes they wake and stare straight into the lens with those wise, brand-new eyes. Sometimes they cry for the first twenty minutes and then suddenly melt into your chest, and that becomes the photo you frame forever.
This is your story. It doesn’t need to look like anyone else’s.
Babies love calm and relaxed energy, and that comes from you. ©Grain&Weave
The Calm Comes From You, Too
Here’s something we see again and again: the baby picks up on the parent’s energy.
When you're anxious, trying to fix everything, or worried the session is going off track—baby feels that. But when you exhale, soften, and go with it… so do they.
One of the first things we do when we arrive is help you relax. That might mean taking a few minutes to talk through the session, setting expectations, or just letting you finish your coffee. Once you’re at ease, everything else follows.
This Is the First Thing You Do Together as a Family
It’s not just a photo session. It’s a moment to pause. Phones go down. Work is set aside. For a couple of hours, you get to simply be with each other.
It’s often the first shared experience you have as a family.
And it’s a beautiful one.
When you look back at these photos, you won’t remember how long the baby cried. You’ll remember how it felt to hold them, calm them, love them.
You’ll remember that you made space for this—and that it was worth it.
Jo
Writer & Storyteller
Grain & Weave
The truth is, in most cases, you needn’t worry.
As long as baby’s basic needs are being met and they are safe, it is just one of the facts of being a new parent that you will have a few ‘helpless feeling’ moments whilst your baby is going through a period of PURPLE crying; a term given to a sudden bout of inconsolable crying.
This article was written by our in-house writer, Jo. This is not a medical guide or should be used as a replacement for medical advice.
