Tuesday

Tips & Tricks for Photographing Newborns

I thought it could be fun to talk about various types of sessions and the best tips and tricks that I have found, tried, and tested in the field. So to start it out, lets talk about newborns.

THE FIRST 10 DAYS: They say the best time to shoot is in the first 10 days of life! I say there is NO bad time to shoot newborns and I think it's important to let clients know that... Just in case they just happened to get around to calling you on day 11. Why the earlier the better? Because they are still so sleepy and moldable.
I have shot multiple newborn between 2 and 6 days. I have found it very funny that they ALL were wide awake for a big part of the sessions, but in those last 30 minutes when I finally wore them out - each one was definitely moldable! I've started to realize that my best shots always come at the end when baby is finally tuckered out!
DETAILS: When shooting newborn it's so important to be thinking details! Little hands, feet, rolls, eye lashes, hair, feet. The newborn stage disappears all to quickly. Make sure as their photographer of choice that you are helping mom and dad remember it all.


CRANK UP THE HEAT! I always ask mom and dad to turn the heat up, kick on the fireplace and maybe even put a few blankets in the dryer. All the warmth might make me sweat but baby goes right to sleep! I also bring a small heating pad that I can place under the black-drop to help baby get cozy even quicker as I move her around.


PROPS! Props can be SO much fun! But with newborns it's not a necessity. Your very best prop may just be dads hands! When shooting little ones, always try to encourage the parents to let their little one show off her birthday suit. Clothing can look bulky and distracting on infants. Just be aware that little legs are closed. My favorite beanies come Portland Beanie Co.

BACKGROUND! To start I just purchased the cheapest / softest black fabric I could find at Walmart. I think I paid less than $2 per yard. (In post editing using Lolly's blackdrop fix action I blacken out the fabric). I rewash it after each baby and replace it often as most of my babies seem to feel the need to leave behind their mark. It's easy to set up anywhere I go and insures a very classic and non-distracting portrait. Also take a look around their home. Do they have a piano, beautiful hutch or great kitchen table? Use what you see!

MOMS VOICE! Place mom or dad directly behind you if baby is awake and let her talk to her baby. Chances are, baby may just look right toward your camera! If you have an iPhone and need more comfort noise, I downloaded a free app called Waive Crashers (for sleeping) that I turn on and place under the fabric. It's babies own custom white noise!

All images shared are by the incredibly talented Laura Farris who has newborn photography down to a VERY FINE ART!

24 comments:

  1. These are great tips. Thank you! I'm curious -- where would one buy the cute knitted wrap thingys I see in so many newborn pics? Where they are all curled up inside -- like a hat or a nest or something like that. Do you have to be a talented knitter or are there people out there that make those? Let me know if you know! You can facebook me . . . Heidi Lawson

    ReplyDelete
  2. Thank you for this post! I am not a photographer, but I make a baby photo props. These tips help me understand the needs of the little model and the photographer!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Hi. I love the second photo down (the baby in the parent's hands). How did you get the rest of the background to be black? I love that! Sorry to be so dense - I'm a total amateur. Also, do you have to set your camera to black and white before you take shots? Thanks!

    ReplyDelete
  4. I get the background black with this awesome action from Lolly's Playground called Lolly's Black Drop Fix. (love when they keep the names self explanatory!!)

    ReplyDelete
  5. Thank you so much for these helpful tips. I am doing my first newborn session on the 19th and have been searching for some helpful tips. You hit the spot. Again thank you.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Thanks for the tips! Also thanks for posting the video, it's always great to see photogs in action!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Thanks for the tips! And I looooove that top image. What kind of lighting are you using - all window light? or do you have some kind of artificial help? I try to use all window light, but find that it's often just not enough and my images are just not quite right.

    ReplyDelete
  8. To Heidi: the cute knitted wrap thingies are called cocoons and can be found all over Etsy.com. Just search on "cocoon" or "baby photography prop"!

    ReplyDelete
  9. There's definately a lot to learn about this subject.
    I really like all the points you have made.



    My homepage ... Best Electronic Cigarette

    ReplyDelete
  10. Hello there! This is kind of off topic but
    I need some help from an established blog. Is it very hard to set up your
    own blog? I'm not very techincal but I can figure things out pretty fast.

    I'm thinking about creating my own but I'm not sure where to
    start. Do you have any ideas or suggestions? Thank you

    My web site: robot piscine

    ReplyDelete
  11. Cheers, I appreciate it!

    Feel free to surf to my page: solar pannels

    ReplyDelete
  12. I just could not leave your website before suggesting that I really loved
    the usual info a person supply in your guests?
    Is gonna be back ceaselessly to investigate cross-check new
    posts

    Feel free to surf to my homepage: green coffee

    ReplyDelete
  13. The new "Oregon Trail" app has officially gone live on Facebook in
    the Beta phase as of February 2nd, 2011. The contact details of companies
    can be added easily to the contacts list on the mobile phone.
    The convergence of many technologies enables users to multitask on their
    mobiles, giving them access to emails, messenger, face-time,
    entertainment, web-browsing & reliable communication
    systems.

    Feel free to surf to my blog post - Farm Heroes Saga Cheats

    ReplyDelete
  14. Call of Duty Black Ops Hacks will not demand that you pay even a single cent.
    The sport was randomly crashing and showing an error meaning during the runtime.
    The main reason consoles are so repetitively marketed is
    that preventing piracy is the only reason for their present existence,
    and explains how the convergence of the GPU and the CPU is the
    next big thing in the gaming industry.

    Also visit my webpage: call of duty ghosts hack no password

    ReplyDelete
  15. If you desire to grow your experience only keep visiting
    this website and be updated with the newest
    information posted here.

    My site; affordable plumbing Buckeye

    ReplyDelete
  16. Wonderful work! This is the type of info that should be shared across the internet.

    Disgrace on Google for no longer positioning this publish higher!
    Come on over and talk over with my site . Thank you =)

    My web-site castle clash hack

    ReplyDelete
  17. I coluld not refrain from commenting.Exceptionally well written!

    my web-site - iron force hack

    ReplyDelete
  18. Hello my family member! I wish to say that this article is awesome, nice written and include almost all significant infos.
    I would like to peer extra posts like this .

    Stop by my web-site - comment reconquerir son ex femme

    ReplyDelete
  19. Thanks for some othеr informative blog. Тhe placce else may I gget
    tɦat type of infοrmation written іn sսch ɑ perfect method?
    ӏ've ɑ mission that ӏ am just noԝ running on, and I have been aat the look
    оut for suϲh info.

    ReplyDelete
  20. Howdy! This is kind of off topic but I need some advice from an established blog.
    Is it tough to set up your own blog? I'm not very techincal but I can figure things out pretty fast.

    I'm thinking about setting up my own but I'm
    not sure where to start. Do you have any tips or suggestions?
    Many thanks

    My blog post - Rival knights hack

    ReplyDelete
  21. Have you ever thought about writing an ebook or guest authoring on other websites?

    I have a blog based upon on the same topics you discuss and would really like to have you share some stories/information. I know my readers would enjoy your work.
    If you are even remotely interested, feel free
    to shoot me an email.

    Stop by my blog ... earn money online fast Phoenix

    ReplyDelete
  22. Ahaa, its good discussion on the topic of
    this paragraph here at this webpage, I have read all that, so now me
    also commenting here.

    Here is my web page :: vivus

    ReplyDelete
  23. I am regular reader, how are you everybody? This post
    posted at this site is truly pleasant.

    Also visit my web site: membrany dachowe

    ReplyDelete
  24. I've Ьeen exploring fߋr a lіttle for any ɦigh-quality articles оr blog posts in this kind of aгea .

    Exploring іn Yahoo I eventually stumbled սpon this web site.

    Studying tɦiѕ info Sо i'm glad tto exhibit tɦat Ι've ɑ very just riǥht uncanny feeling Ӏ discovered exɑctly wgat I
    neеded. ӏ so much no doubt wll make certain to do not disregard tҺіs website ɑnd ǥive it a
    lօok regularly.

    Feel free tο visit my web-site: grepolis cheats android

    ReplyDelete