I used a beanbag for my newborn photography for 10 years. When I first started out, it was what everyone was using. And if you know me at all, you know that my resistance to change is strong.
As posed newborn photography gained popularity, beanbags and other posers became more and more expensive. Tables come onto the scene as a cheap posing alternative. My first impression was not a good one… my heart sank when I saw newer photographers posing babies on flimsy $30 card tables. This naturally fueled my resistance.
But after watching some trusted professional photographers using a (non-flimsy) table in their teachings I decided to give it a try. I took my table choice very seriously and after my first session, I knew I had struck gold!
I’ve been using this system for a few years now and I can happily say that I will never go back to posing newborns on a beanbag.
Why a table is better than a beanbag for newborn photographers
- A table won’t lose firmness over time like a beanbag.
- The height of the table is better for your back. No more hunching!
- Your blankets will lay flat without the need for PVC pipe contraptions or extra time in Photoshop.
- You can use the space underneath for storage.
- The price is drastically lower than a bean bag system.
- Tables are easy to fold up and put away if necessary.
- No messy bean bag filler!
Let’s break those down a little bit further
Firmness.
After a while, my beanbag started getting squishy and my weighted posers made it sag in the middle. With a table, all of that goes right out the window. I have a strong, firm surface that won’t sag or warp over time.
Height.
No more back pain… seriously! Spending so much time hunched over a short beanbag trying to settle a newborn made the next day’s body aches feel like I had just finished an 8-hour wedding. But with the table, all of that hunching is gone. Some photographers like to use a standard stool and normal table height. Personally, I prefer a short wooden stool (perfect for swaddling baby on my legs) and I chose a table with adjustable height.
Smooth backdrops.
Don’t waste another second in Photoshop fixing wrinkled backdrops or extending edges! And don’t bother with crazy posing systems or PVC pipe contraptions either. You can use the same backdrop stand that you would use with the beanbag, or you can skip the stand altogether and use just the table.
Storage.
If you’re keeping your posing station out all the time then having extra space underneath for storage will be super helpful! Personally, I put my dog bed, stool, and posers under my table but there is definitely enough space if you need to store a bucket of fabrics or props underneath.
Price.
I’m not exactly a price-shopper, in fact, I’m quite the opposite. If I really love something, I need to have it regardless of how much it costs. But I’d be lying if I said I didn’t let out an audible gasp at some of the prices I saw when researching posing systems. Sure, some of these other systems work just fine and they were designed specifically for newborn posing but there is absolutely no way was I dropping $800 on a beanbag in a metal frame or a notoriously faulty table system.
My preferred tables are roughly $45-50 each at the time of this writing.
Compact for storage.
If your posing station isn’t something that you plan to have out all the time or if you have a smaller studio and need to free up space for other sessions, then the tables will be perfect for you. The legs tuck in and the table folds in half, making it easy to store in a closet or even under a bed.
No bean bag filler…
This one is pretty self-explanatory. 😂
Find my table here:
- https://amzn.to/3gtwDE0
- https://www.homedepot.com/p/Lifetime-4-ft-One-Hand-Adjustable-Height-Fold-in-Half-Table-Almond-80726/305551875
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