Newborn Photography Handler

Role Overview

Are you a healthcare professional with a passion for newborns and a creative heart? Archie Mercado Photography is looking for a Newborn Safety Specialist & Lead Handler to join our elite photography team.

In this role, your "patient" is the newborn baby, and your "clinical setting" is our professional studio. You will be the primary person responsible for the safety, comfort, and posing of infants during our sessions. You will work in a high-sync partnership with our photographer to create stunning, safe, and artistic portraits.

• Safe Physiological Posing: Utilizing your knowledge of infant anatomy to safely transition babies into artistic poses while ensuring airways are clear and circulation is unrestricted.
• Soothing & Regulation: Applying professional soothing techniques to keep babies calm, sleepy, and comfortable throughout the 2–4 hour session.
• Team Leadership: Directing the photographer on when a baby is "pose-ready" and acting as the primary "spotter"—never leaving the baby’s side while on the posing table.
• Hygiene & Sanitization: Overseeing the medical-grade sanitization of the studio, props, and fabrics to ensure a sterile environment for vulnerable newborns.
• Parental Support: Using your medical background to provide a reassuring presence for parents, answering basic questions about infant comfort and behavior during the shoot.

What You Will Learn (The Intensive Training Phase)

Even with a medical background, newborn photography handling is a specialized art. You will undergo intensive training in:

• The Art of the Wrap: Mastering intricate wrapping techniques that are both beautiful and safe.
• Photography Workflow: Learning how to "read" the photographer’s light and angles to position the baby for the best shot.
• Prop Styling: How to safely nestle infants into buckets, bowls, and themed sets while maintaining structural support.

• Education: Graduate of Nursing (BSN), Midwifery, or a related medical field.
• Expertise: Deep understanding of newborn physiology, reflexes, and temperature regulation.
• Patience: Exceptional calm under pressure; babies can be unpredictable, and your energy dictates the room.
• Fine Motor Skills: Delicate, steady hands for adjusting tiny fingers and toes without waking the baby.
• Communication: Ability to work seamlessly in a team and communicate safety boundaries clearly to the photographer.

• Experience in NICU, Mother-Baby units, or pediatric clinics.
• Interest in art, styling, or photography.
• Certification in Infant CPR/First Aid (Mandatory - can be updated during training).

• A Creative Pivot: Use your medical expertise in a joyful, low-stress (compared to clinical) environment.
• Professional Mentorship: Receive training from a certified instructor at the Newborn Academy.
• Collaborative Culture: Be a vital part of a team where your safety expertise is valued as much as the final image.