How to Start a Home Newborn Photography Studio in Dallas, Texas (From a Photographer with 10 Years Experience)

Kimberly Fryer
Aug 4, 2018
4 min read

Updated: Dec 30, 2025

How to Start a Home Newborn Photography Studio (From a Photographer with 10 Years of Experience)

So you’re thinking about becoming a newborn photographer and starting your own home newborn photography studio?

That’s exciting — and a little overwhelming, I know.

When I first started, I had no idea how much there was to learn. Now, after 10 years of experience as a Dallas newborn photographer, I can confidently say this: newborn photography is one of the most rewarding genres — but it is also one of the most responsibility-heavy.

If you’re serious about doing this the right way, here’s what you truly need to know.

First Things First: Newborn Safety Comes Before Everything

If you want to build a newborn photography business in the Dallas–Fort Worth area, here’s what you need to know before you begin.

Before buying a camera, props, or backdrops — newborn safety must be your top priority.

Do you have children of your own? That helps — but being a mom alone does not equal newborn photography safety training. In a photography environment, babies are positioned, handled, and moved far more than they are at home. The airway is very delicate, and can easily become obstructed from seemingly simple positions

As a professional Dallas newborn photographer with 10 years experience, I strongly recommend:

Taking Dallas Newborn safety workshops
Investing in Hands-on newborn posing education
Learning airway safety and newborn stress cues

There are many poses you see online that can restrict a newborn’s airway if done incorrectly. Every baby is different, and learning how to read subtle signs of discomfort or distress is critical.

👉 If you plan to photograph newborns professionally in Dallas or anywhere in Texas, formal newborn safety education is not optional — it is essential.

Camera Gear for Beginner Newborn Photographers in Dallas

You do not need top-of-the-line equipment to get started.

Camera Body

A basic DSLR is perfectly fine. I personally started with a Canon 70D. What matters most is that you:

Understand your camera
Shoot in Manual mode
Know how to control light, aperture, and shutter speed

Lenses

Skip the kit lens. Invest in:

A 35mm or 50mm lens.

Both are ideal for indoor home newborn studios and work beautifully for Dallas newborn photography.

Light Modifiers for a Home Newborn Studio

Lighting is one of the most important parts of newborn photography. Lighting can feel intimidating, but it doesn’t have to be.

Flash or Strobe

I use the Einstein by Paul C. Buff, but there are many solid, beginner-friendly options available. I started with Alien B400 by Paul C Buff

Light Modifiers

You’ll need something to soften your light:

I started with a Westcott softbox
I now use a Paul C. Buff 86” white PLM

Soft, even lighting helps create flattering skin tones — especially important in professional newborn photography. You can purchase white with silver inside, all white, or black with white inisde. I own all 3 and often change it up. (all white will give the softest look with less shadows)

You will need white diffusion fabric for the PLM, i personally double diffuse.

Trigger & Receiver

To use off-camera flash, you’ll need a trigger system compatible with your camera. I personally use Phottix triggers, but again — many brands work well.

Memory Cards: Don’t Overlook This

Use a fast, reliable memory card:

150MB/s U3 SDHC II minimum
I recommend 16GB or 32 GB cards, but sometimes the faster speeds are on highter memory cards.

Why? If a card fails (and it will happen eventually), you lose less data and less money.

Newborn Photography Props & Backdrops

Blanket Backdrops & Wraps

Visit your local fabric store
Buy stretch knit fabric
- 2 yards for backdrops
- ½–1 yard for wraps
Stick to neutral colors
Avoid shiny fabrics — they don’t photograph well

Newborn Props

There are many vendors in Facebook groups

Avoid cheap props. They:

Photograph poorly
Look unprofessional
Get replaced quickly (wasted money)

Instead:

Invest in one high-quality knit or angora bonnet and wrap
Choose timeless pieces over trendy ones

Wooden Crates

A good newborn crate should be:

At least elbow-to-fist length deep
Sturdy and weighted properly

I often find great ones at:

Marshalls
TJ Maxx
HomeGoods
Hobby Lobby

You can also check Luneberry, Hello Little Props and Newborn Nerds for high-end wooden props (with Afterpay options).

Newborn Posing Equipment

Posing Stand

If you’re using a beanbag:

You’ll need a posing stand
DIY options are totally fine — I built mine for about $20. There are tons of tutorials online when i first started

Newborn Posing Beanbag

I originally purchased mine from ShootBaby, but:

DIY options work
Some photographers use an XL dog bed — yes, really 😄
I now use a trifold portable mattress

Headbands & Accessories

For baby girls:

Make your own tieback headbands
Or invest in 5 neutral headbands from a great vendor. When taking my Dallas Newborn Workshops, I give a list of my vendors.

There are also excellent Facebook groups dedicated to vetted newborn prop vendors.

Practice Before Photographing Real Newborns

Before your first real session:

Practice with a doll or stuffed animal
Learn posing flow
Practice lighting and angles

Confidence comes from preparation.

Important Business Tip (Especially for Texas Photographers)

Once you start charging anything, you need to understand your local laws.

📍 In Texas: If you charge $1, you are required to:

Collect sales tax
File and pay it to the state

Always research your local regulations before launching.

Final Thoughts from a Dallas Newborn Photographer with 10 Years of Experience

Newborn photography is incredibly rewarding, but it requires education, patience, and responsibility. Prioritize newborn safety workshops, like my Dallas Texas Newborn Workshop kimberlyfryer.com/workshop, invest in quality education, and focus on building trust with your clients.

Your clients are trusting you with their most precious gift — honor that trust..