I recently attended a photography conference where I took a class on how to do newborn mugshot photos. Now I have been doing my own little version of them from time to time but this class has given me the confidence to add them into my regular newborn sessions.
First, what is a mugshot?
Well typically a mugshot is associated with someone who has been arrested. It's just basically plain headshot. It's typically not posed at all. It's just a tight shot of the face. For newborns, it's a tight shot of their upper body and head. Some photographers use a beanbag or card table for this pose but I'm using a dog bed. I promise no dogs have been on my dog bed.
Mugshots are just so darn cute
I mean come on with that sweet face. Mugshots are so cute. The baby has no idea what is going on and can have a lot of different faces in a matter of minutes. From baby's big yawn, gas, hiccup, serious, and on and on, their little faces are just so adorable.
Mugshots are great for those wide awake babies
I don't know why, but I've had several wide-awake babies in a row. Mugshots are perfect for awake babies because we can get so many different expressions in a matter of minutes.
Mugshots are great for photo books and wall art.
Let's face it, mugshots help me expand a client's gallery a lot. These are great poses to include in photo books. Imagine looking back on them when your baby is older and trying to figure out what was going on like gas, giggle, etc. These are also great to print in a series to hang on a wall in the baby's room or down the hallway or even in your entry-way.
All in all, mugshots are just so easy and fun to do and I love being able to offer them in my newborn sessions. So, when I ask you if you want to try mugshots, the answer should most definitely be YES!
I am a family and newborn photographer based in Springfield, Missouri. If you are expecting a new family member soon, I would love to get you on my calendar for your newborn session. You can book your session here.