If you are at all skeptical about switching to a table for your newborn sessions, you are not alone. I’ve heard wonderful things, but it feels risky to change what you’re doing! For me personally, the decision to switch was a necessity. I have a herniated disk in my back which has flared up several times over the last year. The bean bag requires a lot of bending over. It was really hard on my back which was more noticeable during months that I was especially busy. After a lot of physical therapy work, I realized that if I didn’t change how I posed my newborns, I wasn’t going to heal properly. The height of a card table is exactly what I needed! Right before we moved to Prosper, I decided it was time to make the switch. I have been using my table for about a month now and I love it! I am able to safely get beautiful portraits for clients AND save my back. Total win. Here’s a step by step look at how to build a posing table for your newborn sessions.
The “Problem” With the Table
For the longest time, I just couldn’t understand how to clip my posing fabrics to the table. I felt like there was only way to achieve what I wanted. I would have to attach a rod to the wall and clip the fabrics there. Here at AHP, I am ALL about safety with my babies. To be honest, nothing about that sounded safe, so I couldn’t justify switching to the table. I finally heard another photographer say that she recycled her pipes and attached them to table so that she had a place to clip her blankets. What a GREAT solution! With that in mind, I wanted to show you how I recycled my pipe posing stand and used the pipes to create a newborn posing table.
Building Materials
- Heavy Duty Adjustable Table
- 1/2 inch pipe cut in 5 pieces ( 2 24 inch pieces, 1 48 inch piece, and 2 18 inch pieces)*
- 4 1/2 inch elbow pieces of pipe
- Drill (and drill bits, screws not needed)
- 4 1/4 in-20 3 inch screws
- Nuts and washers to match the screws
*I was able to use my old pipe posing stand and simply recycle the pipes. I did cut them a bit shorter, but otherwise, I didn’t need to buy anything new for that! Major win!
Step By Step
How to Build a Newborn Posing Table For Your Newborn Sessions
Okay, y’all. I just have to say that you CAN do this yourself. This is very easy and most definitely something that a beginner DIYer can accomplish alone! I packed up all my stuff and headed to the studio. I was SO proud of my doing this myself! My challenge to you is to do the very same! Give it a shot, I’m confident that you can do it!
- Flip the table upside down. Lay the 2 24 inch pieces of pipes at each of the short ends.
2. Using your drill and drill bit, drill two matching holes through the table and pipe simultaneously. You may need to clamp the two things together while you drill. Be sure to use a drill bit that is the same size or a smidge larger than your screws. Repeat this process on both ends of the table.
3. Secure the pipe to the table with your screws, nuts, and washers.
4. If you haven’t already, attach two elbows to one end of each pipe. Be sure to have the elbows facing up on the same side of the table.
5. The last step is just adding your final pipes! The two small pieces will connect to the elbows. Next, add two more elbows and the longer pipe piece. Now you’re done! Just five steps and that’s it!
Aimee Hamilton specializes in maternity, newborn, baby, and family photography in the Frisco, TX area. Aimee serves all areas of DFW including Dallas, Fort Worth, Grapevine, Prosper, Celina, Little Elm, McKinney, Allen, Frisco, Plano, Highland Park, Southlake, and Keller. We also have an upcoming announcement with details about a new studio in North Dallas coming soon! I’d love to chat with you about photographing your family!
7 Comments
Hi! I too am having major back issues from years of photographing, and I am sure the newborn portion as well is part of it. I am in PT too to alleviate some of these issues. I see you still have your newborn posing bean bag under the table, is that for safety as well? I travel to my newborn sessions, so I was wondering if I should place this under my table too.
Hi there! Yes, I do like it there for safety purposes. I highly recommend the table!
Thank you so much! I appreciate it! Looks like I wills till tote this along with me then. 😉 Happy shooting! =)
Hello. What do you cover the table with? Blankets. Foam?
Hi Belinda! It’s has blankets under the baby. Lots of fluffy fuzzy ones!
Hii there! Thanks for this wonderful idea..so I’ve done this and i love it but i bought a 34″ x 34″ table and it seems i need a bit more room on the sides ,i would love to get great pictures sooc to reduce editing background as im a beginner and barely learning my way around editing.. would you mind sharing the size of the table your using here? Looks a bit wider but not extremely big either Thanks a bunch!
My table is actually a rectangle. I think it is more like 48 inches.
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