It's an uncommon profession - specializing as a photographer who captures portraits of babies. Meet Noémie Chouquet in her studio during a newborn photo session, where she practices this unique art form that combines technical skill with gentle care.

In the heart of the Caux region, near Yerville in Ectot-l'Auber, Seine-Maritime, Noémie has been practicing her craft for 11 years. Today's subject is Arthur, just 12 days old - the ideal age for this type of photo session. The young photographer demonstrates remarkable gentleness with her tiny model.

"I'm going to take all this off, my little one. I'm going to dress you, shall we do this?" she whispers softly into the baby's ear. Noémie Chouquet works with extraordinary delicacy with her young subjects, understanding that newborns require a completely different approach than traditional portrait photography.

The 36-year-old photographer has dedicated herself to specializing in newborn photography over the years, driven by a deep passion for her work. "I found this profession so fascinating! Being able to meet with clients, bringing them moments frozen in time, and especially creating something that becomes part of the family's heritage. There's nothing more important," explains Noémie Chouquet.

Continuous learning has been essential to her development as a specialist. She has already completed three professional training courses, with the most recent one inspiring her to completely transform her approach. This latest training motivated her to redesign her entire studio and modify her working methods.

"I wanted to create an authentic universe with natural light, to stop using flash torches, to stop using paper backgrounds," explains Noémie. The modifications she made to her studio have fundamentally changed her way of working, creating an environment that feels more like a natural cocoon than a traditional photography studio.

"I can move around the mother, I can move around the baby, and that's magical," the photographer explains. Her studio now embraces natural light and features décor that resembles a warm, nurturing cocoon - a far cry from the stark, technical setups often associated with professional photography.

In this cocoon of gentleness, Noémie has mastered the art of finding the right words and gestures to soothe babies while guiding parents through the process. Everything revolves around softness and sensitivity to find the most authentic pose. "It's a completely different approach. A newborn needs much more attention. These aren't technical poses like during a maternity session - we're working in gentleness. We're working with kindness," explains Noémie.

For Anselme Prenveille, Arthur's father, the photo session feels like an enchanted parenthesis in their busy lives as new parents. "Noémie is pleasant and gentle with Arthur, so everything goes well. He seems to appreciate it too. We're taking these photos to have memories with our son, of his birth, and having professional photos is completely different, especially for birth announcements," he explains.

While a studio photo session lasts approximately two hours, Noémie's work extends far beyond the actual photography. The real artistry reveals itself during post-processing, a phase that demands significant time and attention to detail.

"This part requires the most work, allowing me to remove little skin imperfections, redness... It's also at this moment that I add my colors. They tend toward beige tones, natural tones, quite simply. Then I play with contrasts. There, you can see there's a difference between the two shots. These colors represent my universe," indicates Noémie, showing the dramatic transformation that occurs through her careful editing process.

The post-processing work is where Noémie's artistic vision truly comes to life. She carefully removes any small blemishes or red spots that are natural in newborns, then applies her signature color palette - warm, natural beige tones that create a timeless, ethereal quality in the final images. The contrast adjustments she makes help define the baby's features while maintaining the soft, dreamy atmosphere she's known for.

Over the course of a decade, Noémie Chouquet has created hundreds of photographs, all signed with her artistic name "Mzelle No." Each image represents not just a technical achievement, but a precious family memory that will be treasured for generations. Her work goes beyond simple photography - she creates heirloom pieces that capture the fleeting moments of a baby's earliest days.

The transformation in her approach over the years reflects a deeper understanding of what families truly want from newborn photography. Rather than stark, posed images, parents are seeking authentic moments that capture the natural beauty and innocence of their children. Noémie's evolution toward natural light and gentle posing techniques has allowed her to meet this demand while setting her work apart in the competitive field of newborn photography.

Her dedication to continuous learning and improvement demonstrates the professional commitment required to excel in this specialized field. The gentle approach she's developed isn't just about technical skill - it's about understanding child development, parent psychology, and the emotional significance of these early photographs in a family's story.