Yes, babywearing is a great parenting tool, when done safely, freeing up our arms so we can continue more simply with other demands of our fast-paced society, but it's also sooo much more than that...
WHEN BABYWEARING I love soaking up those slingy snuggles. babywearing IS perfect if I just want to take a moment with Edie, or if I need to cuddle her close for a longer period to help her regulate. (especially now she's bigger!) While SHE'S UP we can both communicate at a face-to-face level, we can chat, dance, sing, laugh & lark around, i also don't fatigue as easily which is always an added bonus when you're a sleep-deprived parent!
Doing what I do means I often get to see that joy in parents' eyes when they know they have their sling on safely and their baby is happily settled gazing up at them. Capture that moment with a photo and voila – tender moment preserved forever!
These lovely outdoors images above were taken by Daniel Snipes - Unsplash
a PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPH you love WILL be something you can treasure forever AND i bet that your little one will equally enjoy looking back at those pictures too - knowing they were held close and happy will only affirm their positive attachment with you, making them more confident as they grow and understand their place in the world.
Because babywearing is so intimate and oxytocin-boosting it's basically a given that your photographer will be able to snap some really lovely unposed shots!
These photos will not only highlight your bond but also tell a story. The closeness and protective nurturing energy between you both, the gentle content embrace, the love you share - all things that will translate into powerful images that feel authentic.
Why carrying can add more layers to a photo
Unfiltered Connection: just a parent and their baby, in the purest form of connection. These are real moments, with the baby often snuggled in against the parent’s chest, listening to their heartbeat, and feeling the warmth of their body.
Intimate and Natural: Whether you're wearing a cosy wrap or a structured carrier, it’s a very personal experience. Photos capture the softness of the fabric, the quiet moments when a parent gazes down lovingly at their baby, or the way a baby looks up at their caregiver with pure trust.
Bonding Through Touch: Touch is one of the primary ways that babies bond with their caregivers. Being worn in a carrier allows for a constant exchange of comfort, warmth, and reassurance. The physical closeness of babywearing is incredibly beneficial for both baby and parent—creating a sense of security for the child while enhancing the parent’s emotional connection. A photoshoot will not just pick up on the external appearance, but emotions too.
Comfort and Security: It can be difficult if you have an unsettled baby at a photoshoot. Fact - Babies often feel secure and calm when being carried, and that peace will feed between you both, as you will naturally feel comforted by the closeness of your child, and this relaxed energy will radiate in photos.
Tips to get the best out of your photos
Focus on Connection: Rather than posing for the camera, focus on the moments of connection. Whether it’s a gentle kiss on the baby’s forehead, a glance shared between you both, or a moment when the baby falls asleep in their carrier, those small, tender gestures will tell the most powerful stories.
Comfort is Key: Choose a baby carrier or wrap that you and your baby are comfortable with (why not have an appointment with a consultant to make sure things are safe, and you are confident, you could even borrow something beautiful for the shoot).
Capture the Details: Don’t forget the little things—like the way the fabric drapes across the baby’s body, or the way their tiny hands grip the carrier. These details add depth and emotion to the final photos, making them more memorable. (of course remember safety - monitor throughout - babies should be upright, held close and up high with a tight carrier, with face fully in sight - their airways should always be easily visible, and clear.)
Go for a Candid Approach: Allow yourself to interact naturally with your baby — whether that's walking around, swaying gently, or simply gazing at your little one.
Include Siblings or Partners: Babywearing isn’t just a solo experience; it’s often a family experience. If you have older children or a partner, consider including them in the photoshoot. It’s a beautiful way to show the love and connection within your family unit.
The Lasting Value of Babywearing Photos
These photos won’t just serve as memories; they’ll be reminders of the deep, irreplaceable bond you share with your child, immortalizing those fleeting moments of infancy and early childhood that pass so quickly. A babywearing photoshoot is more than just a set of pictures. It’s a keepsake of one of the most intimate and meaningful experiences you’ll ever have with your child, filled with love, warmth, and a sense of security that will last a lifetime.
As a sidenote: Babywearing doesn't just have to be limited Mum carrying either - babywearing can be a lovely opportunity for other close family members to bond with your little one too - especially if you are exclusively breastfeeding, and fancy a break - carriers do tend to contain sleepy dust!
special offer
If you book in for a 1:1 consult ahead of a babywearing photoshoot with local photographer Eden Slidel https://edenslidel.co.uk/family or Claire Symes and you can show me your booking form I'll give you a lovely 15% off session!
Above are some different style images of myself and Edie taken by local and talented photographer Claire Symes (folio link https://www.instagram.com/clairesymesphotography/) for a little taste of how a babywearing photoshoot can work. I am wearing a ring sling, woven wrap and meh dai - which have lovely patterns with tying features that all photograph well!