Newborn Photography Tips

[Angelhales]

Hey everyone,

I am due to give birth at the end of the month and am trying to compile some tips on taking good newborn photographs. I see so many images of sleeping babies but if this one is anything like my first son I am bemused as to how photographers manage that?!

What has worked with you? What would you recommend? Thanks!

[GeoffWessex]

Hi,

Have a dekko at this page. You'll probably find a few more if you Google something like "photography newborn babies technique".

[Carly Drew]

Hi Angel,

Firstly, congrats on the baby!

There seems to be a bit of a baby boom at the moment as it is all I've been photographing!

My top three tips would be:

1. Use natural light and a fast prime lens such as a 50mm f/1.4.
Studio lighting can often look harsh and fake which isn't what you want when you're trying to make a newborn look soft, gentle and innocent! Plus, the heat they pump out will make most babies uncomfortable after just 15 minutes. Natural light will be more diffused and indirect, giving a softer look to your photos, and a fast prime lens will help to get a perfect exposure without the need for extra lighting and blur out any distracting backgrounds.

2. Do sleeping shots at the right time.
Although you will want to take some sleeping shots during a quick afternoon nap, as that is when you're most awake and alert, it is unlikely that the baby will think the same! Sleeping shots should be taken in the evening, when they're getting ready for a longer sleep. As you will be knackered by this point and natural light will be fading fast, up your ISO, widen your aperture and try using the glow of a night light or 40W lamp to get the shots instead. This won't disturb baby too much and will give you just enough light to get a decent exposure.

3. Avoid all distractions!
The smallest of things can upset a newborn, so turn the beep off on your camera, don't turn on lights unnecessarily, don't dress them up in clothes they haven't worn before and avoid changes in temperature (for example, taking them outside for photos when you've just been feeding them inside). Not only is there the possibility that these things will bring on the tears, but they'll also alert the baby that you're moving around and doing something unusual so shots will look a little unnatural.

I'm sure you know all this already, but it is surprising how easy it is to forget little things when you've got a newborn to look after!

[Mr Bump]

The baby might beat you to it Angel

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3lZZZJml__o

Bump

[toddtodd]

Originally Posted by Carly Drew

Hi Angel,

Firstly, congrats on the baby!

There seems to be a bit of a baby boom at the moment as it is all I've been photographing!

My top three tips would be:

1. Use natural light and a fast prime lens such as a 50mm f/1.4.
Studio lighting can often look harsh and fake which isn't what you want when you're trying to make a newborn look soft, gentle and innocent! Plus, the heat they pump out will make most babies uncomfortable after just 15 minutes. Natural light will be more diffused and indirect, giving a softer look to your photos, and a fast prime lens will help to get a perfect exposure without the need for extra lighting and blur out any distracting backgrounds.

2. Do sleeping shots at the right time.
Although you will want to take some sleeping shots during a quick afternoon nap, as that is when you're most awake and alert, it is unlikely that the baby will think the same! Sleeping shots should be taken in the evening, when they're getting ready for a longer sleep. As you will be knackered by this point and natural light will be fading fast, up your ISO, widen your aperture and try using the glow of a night light or 40W lamp to get the shots instead. This won't disturb baby too much and will give you just enough light to get a decent exposure.

3. Avoid all distractions!
The smallest of things can upset a newborn, so turn the beep off on your camera, don't turn on lights unnecessarily, don't dress them up in clothes they haven't worn before and avoid changes in temperature (for example, taking them outside for photos when you've just been feeding them inside). Not only is there the possibility that these things will bring on the tears, but they'll also alert the baby that you're moving around and doing something unusual so shots will look a little unnatural.

I'm sure you know all this already, but it is surprising how easy it is to forget little things when you've got a newborn to look after!

I have been asked to take some pics of a newborn in the next couple of weeks, this info comes in handy, cheers!