A common question I get asked as a newborn photographer is how I make all the images look so perfect. The goal is to create a serene, almost other-worldly scene for these squirmy, fussy (absolutely adorable) infants.

We do a lot of magic during and after the shoot, mostly with a trick called composite imagery. To create the finished product, we combine multiple photos in post-processing. Sometimes you have to capture a better expression in one image and then combine it with another where the positioning is better. Other times, we combine a backdrop scene with your baby’s image. This is both for aesthetics and to keep your baby safe. A newborn can sometimes look like it’s on a motorcycle or nestled in a swing, for example. It’s too dangerous to try these poses in real life, so we use composites.

Our number one priority in any newborn photo session is safety, and we won’t do anything a parent doesn’t feel comfortable with. If you’re hiring a newborn photographer, it’s important that your choice is trained not just in how to shoot, but also in how to keep baby happy, comfortable, and safe. Professional photographers do this by; photographing a baby with natural light or soft flashes, posing babies so they’re safe and comfortable while looking beautiful, and using post-processing techniques—like composite imagery, erasing jaundice, and even smoothing out scratches and blotches that newborns get all the time. The bottom line is that a seasoned newborn photographer knows things that novices don’t. A newborn photographer’s price will often be higher than other types of photography, but it’s a reflection of their knowledge and attention to detail. I always recommend hiring a seasoned pro for newborn photography.