Take Pictures From Above
Keep your camera strap on for safety. You dont want it to slip out of your hand and fall. Angle your shot so that youre shooting down the babys nose instead of up because that doesnt look flattering on anyone. If youre shooting your baby from an elevated surface, Morrison recommends getting eye level with them so you can establish eye contact. Speaking of which
Newborn Photo Ideas Part : Posing
AutumnPosted:Filed In:Beginning Photography TipsPosing Tips
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In todays post: This photography series teaches parents how to take newborn photos at home. Here youll learn everything you need to know for a DIY baby photoshoot in your own home, including how to pose newborns.
Before you start todays post, please read Part 1 of this newborn series: DIY Newborn Photography for Beginners. That post covers lighting, setup, and other newborn photography basics. Also, please be aware I am not a professional photographer, and following the steps I outline here wont make you a pro either. If you want amazing newborn photos, your best bet is to hire a newborn photographer.
However, if you dont have hundreds of dollars to spend on a newborn photo session, there are things YOU can do to get great photos of your newborn at home, and thats the point of this blog series. Heres what you can look forward to in the next few weeks to help you set up a DIY baby photoshoot:
Part 1: DIY Newborn Photography Tips for Beginners | Part 2: Newborn Photo Ideas Posing | Part 3: Posing Baby with Family Members
Ensure The Baby Is Comfy And Sleepy
Make sure the baby is sleepy and comfortable. When I photograph newborn families at home, I set a nice and calm mood. My main goal is to ensure the newborn is comfy by recreating what it felt like in their moms tummy. You can do this by keeping the room warm , using a white noise app , and, most importantly, keeping them in a tight swaddled. I usually start my photo sessions with a wrapped baby and once I have lots of beautiful photos, I test the waters and I start slllowwwwlllyyyy unwrapping them. Using a pacifier can be a game-changer as well even if you use it just for your photo session.
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Find And Use The Light
What am I looking for when I walk into a hospital room? Light, light, light.
Every hospital is set up differently, and where some will have large rooms with a wall of windows, others may be small with a tiny window tucked into a corner. My first mission is to locate a natural light source and place the bassinet in front of it.
Have Patience And Know When To Move On
There is no doubt about it, newborn photography takes patience. What seems like one simple, easy shot to parents can take you 45 minutes alone! From getting baby poses just right to finally taking the shot, it can be a slow process. So above all, make sure you bring your patience! For example, a baby might not like a pose. Further, others might need to feed, have their diaper changed or just have a little gas. Whatever happens during your new born photos, always remember to be patient. And if something isnt working, or baby is not happy, move on to the next look. No picture is worth an unhappy baby.
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Plan Your Props And Looks Ahead Of Time
So, now youve scheduled your newborn photoshoot and the day has arrived. Now its time to prepare for your best newborn photoshoot.
Create a questionnaire and ask parents what colors, poses, props, etc. they like. You can tell them to send you links or screenshots from your website or Instagram of photos that they like.
Then, make a plan for what poses you want to try for and which props you hope to use. Communicate with parents on this plan to be sure you are incorporating looks and colors that they like.
The morning of the photoshoot, pull together all your looks. Choose your fabrics, backgrounds, props, wraps, etc. and set them all up. Then, you just have to add baby. Have these ready before parents arrive so you can review the looks and get their top choices picked out quickly.
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How To Use Flowers And Greenery In Newborn Photography
Another way to add texture and interest to a newborn photography session is to use flowers and foliage. Here at Matt Cramer Photography we absolutely love to incorporate these organic and natural elements to our newborn photos. For baby girls we tend to use flowers like peonies, roses and babys breath. For baby boys and general greenery, we like to use ferns, eucalyptus, moss, and willow branches.
Prioritize The Babys Comfort
A warm baby, with a full belly, will be happy to relax and doze off during a photoshoot, which is exactly what you want if the baby is just a few days old after about 10 days, theyll start moving around more. If youd like to photograph the baby asleep, ask the parents about their nap schedule before the shoot, and organize accordingly. Before you start, see to it that your little model is snug, cozy, and fed.
Consider bringing a white noise machine for a soothing atmosphere. Alternatively, you can also download an app like Cradle for additional music and sounds. Some posing is fine, as long as the baby is content and fully supported throughout the process. For comfy poses and easy handling, consider staging the baby on a beanbag.
Recommended Reading: How Long Should Newborns Nap
Tips And Ideas For Preparing Your Newborn For The Photo Session
First of all find a professional photographer and plan ahead carefully!Before the original photoshoot, you should take any time to discuss your plans and ideas with the cameraman for the newborn photography concourse.
While planning for the newborn photoshoot, parents often examine online and come with their ideas, which are often attractive and fun. However, the photographer might advise about understanding and promoting those ideas and some facts and information. This might be about posing, props, shooting form, or anything correlated to the session itself. The parents should always verify the photographers quality and work to ensure that they give what they demand.
Some photographers do more representations, some prefer posed scenes, some lifestyle images, and all of those methods should be discussed in advance. Also, always remember that every newborn photographer will first consider the babys safety and then the essence and creativity.
Pick Neutral Textured Props So Your Baby Can Shine
Pick props and outfits that are a neutral color and similar tone so that they dont distract from your baby. Picking a light color may help with the lighting of the picture, since it will reflect light instead of absorbing it. Add visual interest by using a prop with texture, like a knit blanket. You can also use blankets as a backdrop since they wont wrinkle like sheets and curtains might.
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When They Are Interacting With You
Some of the most precious photos are ones that show the interaction between parent and child.
These shots can be candid or posed, but they should always capture the love and connection between you and your baby.
Try to get photos of you holding, cuddling, or playing with your baby. If you have other children, include them in the photo as well.
And dont forget to capture the little details, like your babys tiny hands and feet.
If you are a new mom you will cherish this baby photoshoot for the rest of your life. That is why it is important to capture new babies and family members.
Be sure to add in older siblings if you have extra time at your studio session.
Do Your Photoshoot In Stages
When you hire a professional photographer, the photoshoot will likely last a couple of hoursbut instead of taking your DIY newborn photos all in one go, Marleau suggests taking them over the course of a few days. Dont try to set aside hours to take photos. Youre tired, youre going to need to feed in between photos and youre both guaranteed to be completely over it by the time youre done if you work at it for that long! she says. Instead, I recommend setting aside a few minutes each day to take a couple of photos, and then over a few days youll have a great variety of shots.
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Dont Forget The Family Portrait
Even when the main subject is the newborn baby, a family portrait is always a nice shot to include in the baby photoshoot. You can make a casual, lifestyle photo where they look more relaxed or you can do a posed portrait.
Talk to the family to see what they like best families with more kids often prefer a lifestyle approach as children as harder to pose in a more serious or formal way.
Just remember to direct the parent in holding the baby in a way that their face is easily visible this may involve balancing the child a little closer to one shoulder than normal, as in the shot above.
Tips On Posing Newborns
Posing a newborn is not the same as posing men or women. What you look for in adults, you look for the opposites in the baby.
Fat rolls and wrinkles are the focus, alongside their expressions. Place them in poses that extenuate and show these off.
You can also decide not to shoot posed newborn photos. Instead, you can choose to do lifestyle shots newborn photography. It means that the baby is in a natural setting and moves into an unaided pose.
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Newborn Photography Tips: How To Take Photos Of A Baby
Published by Feature Shoot 1 year ago
In the last ten years, the market for newborn photography has reached new heights. Millennials are driving a whole new movement towards documenting these early memories and sharing them with loved ones through social media. In 2015, Vogue reported that newborn photography had officially gone mainstream, and this year, viral baby photoshoots reminded us that this genre is still evolving in terms of breadth and creativity.
Here are our top tips for photographing babies.
A Couple More Very Helpful Tools
Ive also found that warming the spot on the beanbag where they will be posed is incredibly helpful too, particularly on the first blanket Im working with. A heating pad works great for this!
To sooth the baby while posing, I have found that a very loud SHHHHHH goes a long way! I hold my warm hands firmly on their body, often one on their head and the other on their tush, and say SHHHHH in their ear.
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What To Pack For Diy Hospital Newborn Photos
So lets start before you get to the hospital and are packing your go-bag. Planning ahead of time will give you more options later I always say. If I was packing my hospital bag right now this is what Id put in there when it comes to photos.
- A cute robe! Lets be real, under that robe is a nursing bra/ tank top and leggings because comfort is key. But throw a cute robe over the top and you look cute and put together!
- A swaddle blanket for baby with either a hat or bow. You can find sets on places like Spearmint Baby or . You can also pick up muslin swaddle blankets from Target with cute patterns.
- Letterboard sign! I love these for putting babys birth info on or a fun quote. The one linked is double sided and even has storage for all the letters!
- Small makeup bag for mom. This can be just mascara, eyeliner, and concealer. Just something to feel a bit more refreshed.
- Your phone and charger. You can bring a camera if you like but dont stress yourself. Your phone is just fine for this!
Use The Master Bedroom And Nursery
My favorite places to take newborn photos are the master bedroom and the nursery. For both of these locations, its easiest to have the baby wrapped up in a cute swaddle or a favorite blanket, especially because this can soothe fussier babies. A plain white onesie looks great too.
Master bedroom
In the bedroom I like to place the baby towards the end of the bed and take several photos at different angles. Make sure to face the top of your newborns head towards the window light . Adding siblings and family members to this pose is simple, as they can safely slip in behind the baby.
Nursery
In the nursery my two favorite shots are: the baby sleeping in the crib, and a parent snuggling the baby in a rocking chair. Im going to let you in on a little pro secret we newborn photographers like to move your furniture around! If the crib or chair arent near a window, feel free to move them so you have nice, pretty light instead of a dark corner.
Take the crib shots from an above, birds-eye view, and then from the side. If youre up for a little challenge try different angles and points-of-view, like shooting through the crib slats or mobile . Each parent can trade off with the camera while the other reaches in to hold babys hand. Siblings can peek into the crib or reach an arm in to gently touch the baby.
Pro tip: Use your bed.
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Tips To Take Newborn Photos At Home
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Today we are sharing tips to take newborn photos at home.
Bringing home the baby from the hospital is truly a moment you will never forget. So are those first few weeks at home with a newborn as you learn the ropes of parenting and caring for this most precious baby. But how do you hold on to the most incredible days in your family’s life.Taking tons and tons of photos of course!
Not all parents can afford a newborn photo shoot or perhaps you would like some thing a little less structured or just maybe you want to keep taking photos of your baby to document the little changes every day. Whatever the case maybe, you can take newborn photos at home and capture sweet details of your baby.
So read these tips below to learn how to take newborn photos at home with any camera you have, even a smart phone and still take beautiful images of your baby.
How To Prep The Room
To be honest this is the most important part because any photographer will tell you the light is the most important factor in your DIY hospital newborn photos.
- Open the blinds as wide as possible to let in outside light. Some hospitals have amazing windows with tons of natural light and others have blinds in the windows and face walls. You have to work with what youve got here.
- Look for the time of day that you get the brightest indirect light, typically late morning. If the sun is streaming directly into your room blinding everyone that is not the light we want. Wait till it moves and you no longer see bright spots on the floor.
- Turn off the overhead lights in your room. The only caveat here is if you are delivering at a time when it is rainy and yucky and dark outside you might need to leave the overhead lights on for enough light.
- Clear the clutter! Try to clear off surfaces of things like plates, cups etc. Its way easier to move a hospital cup in the background when taking the photo then it is to edit it out later.
- Bring the babys bassinet close to the window. It doesnt have to be right next to the window but definitely not across the room either.
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Get The Right Backdrop
No, we arent asking to create a concrete backdrop for your newborns photoshoot. Instead, a blanket or sheet thats lighter or darker than your babys skin tone will do. Lay it on the props or use dressers or dining room chairs to let it cover the background.
You will also want to drape a white sheet opposite the window to reflect more light to your baby.
Practice!
Camera Quality
Use a DSLR or your phone camera to click as many photos of your baby in a short time frame. It will allow you to see what angles works and what doesnt, firsthand.
Experiment with different angles, light conditions, dresses, and times.