Ahh- the most requested pose- The Bucket Pose! Every parent receives a styling questionnaire when booking, where they can select their preferred colors, props, poses etc, and almost every single time, I get the bucket request! I mean…It’s just so cute-what’s not to love about a snuggly little baby in a bucket?!
While this pose used to scare the living poop out of me, it’s because I never really knew how to SAFELY execute this pose until I took the time to learn. Now, it’s one of my favorites- I absolutely love styling these bucket sets, giving them each a unique look.
I often get asked how I achieve this pose, and I’m a really big fan of community over competition in the photography world, so I’m happy to share some tips below!
Please note- if you are NOT a professional photographer, please do not attempt this at home,
Tips for the bucket pose and how I style it
Baby must be SUPER sleepy. For most of the “posed” images you see online, baby is in a very deep sleep in order for me to pose them without any resistance. I keep my studio at 78 degrees and constantly play white noise in order to help keep the baby feel warm and comfortable. Providing clients with gorgeous images, starts within the studio and keeping your baby nice and calm and happy.
Place a weight or something heavy at the bottom of the bucket. The LAST thing you need is that bucket getting top heavy and falling over. You want to make sure baby stays in place the entire time, even after you take your arms away.
Keep Baby WRAPPED. This pose gives off the illusion that baby is fully naked, however, I always keep their feet nice and wrapped to avoid any kicking or pushing out and launching themselves forward. Newborns are so much stronger than we think, and this of course could be a danger to them, so to keep your baby safe, I always keep their feet wrapped up nice and take their arms out.
Pay attention to baby’s size. While I pretty much use the same bucket base for every session, the size of baby plays a big part. If I am photographing a smaller baby, I will need more posers and/or blankets inside my bucket so that they fit better, and visa versa for a bigger baby. I do also have a few bigger buckets that I occasionally like to use as well.
Baby needs to always be fully supported. Sometimes, baby is able to keep their head up by themselves if your beans and posers are placed correctly. Always make sure they are nice and snug in the bucket before stepping away. If baby still seems to be tilting their head or leaning, have an assistant keep one finger on their head for some extra support.
Pose the arms before placing them in the bucket. This makes for an easier transition. You want to move and maneuver the baby as little as possible once they are in the prop. Pose their arms, while the baby is in your lap, and then move them into the bucket. This keeps their head supported through the whole transition and you're not grabbing their fragile limbs too much.
Hook the elbows. This means that you have to hook their elbows over the rim of the bucket so baby does not slip downward or start to sink. This is why it's ever so important to place weights inside of the bucket so it will not be top heavy once the elbows are placed.
Well, that’s all I have for today! Remember mamas, these tips are for my photographers who have newborn posing experience and background safety training. Please, again, do not attempt any of these poses at home!
Take a look at some of my favorite bucket sets!
