I normally discourage parents wanting to take newborn photos at home. I have spent years as a professional newborn photographer and know how to safely pose your baby.
Currently as a community we are experiencing the devastation of Covid-19. I am getting daily emails from clients asking how they can achieve some professional looking newborn photos safely within their home. So I thought I would write a quick blog post with some quick tips of the trade and some behind the scenes.
This blog is to help keep your baby safe and under normal circumstances I would urge you to seek out a professional for your newborn portraits.
Keep your baby SAFE
The safety of your baby is SO important when taking newborn photos at home. It goes without saying that this needs to be your Number 1 priority.
Never ever EVER attempt to pose your baby in positions like ‘The Froggie’. These photos are ALWAYS composited together in post production. A baby cannot support it’s body weight and these photos are always done as composites after a studio session. Therefore it is very dangerous to attempt this pose unless you are a professional. Please check out my blog on how I safely pose your baby.
Focus on taking simple photos of your baby lying on their side. Never leave your baby unattended and I would always encourage you to have a spotter with you who can be on hand should you need extra help. I recommend laying your baby on a white or coloured blanket and taking natural photos of your baby while they are awake or asleep. Check out my blog of awake babies here!
Take your Time
You have just had a new baby! Please take it easy! You are going to be uncomfortable so please don’t overdo it!
Newborn photos are best taken within the first 21 days of life. Your baby will still be super sleepy and will pose easily while you take their photo.
Often babies can get acne in the first few days of life. This is nothing to worry about (although if you ever have any health concerns regarding your baby please always contact your doctor). If you were visiting the studio baby acne would not be a problem. As you may not have access to editing facilities I suggest waiting until the baby acne has cleared. This often clears within a couple of days. Check out more about baby acne in this blog here!
Lighting is everything
Lighting really is everything! I suggest posing your baby near a source of natural light. A big window perhaps? I would avoid using flash if you can. Flash may startle your baby and can often leave harsh lighting on your babies face.
Always make sure that your babies head is closest to the light. We want to see that gorgeous face on display!
Feed your baby!
Always try to take photos just after a big feed. Your baby is more likely to sleep for longer on a full tummy. This gives you plenty of time to take photos.
If you want to take nude photos of your baby I suggest removing clothes before the feed. Loosen the nappy so that there are no marks left on the skin of your baby.
Make noise!
Your baby has spent 9 months sloshing about in your tummy while you get on with everyday life. They are SO used to noise! I always use a white noise machine during my studio sessions. If you Youtube ‘White Noise’ you will find plenty of white noise clips to help you. I have written more about white noise here!
Use a posing aid
I love the Poddle Pod. I use this as a posing aid in EVERY newborn session. It is also the perfect sleeping aid for your baby. Check out my blog post on other cool buys for parents found here! Lay baby on their back in the Poddle Pod and it gives you plenty of time to capture the cute close up details!
Keep the room warm
Babies LOVE to be nice and toasty and warm. They have spent 9 months at the perfect temperature in the womb. To help them drift off to sleep make sure that the room is lovely and warm. Not sure how to find the perfect temperature? Imagine that we were making you fall asleep naked! You would want it warm!!
Experiment with angles
Angles are key when photographing your baby.
If you are posing your baby naked make sure that no private bits are on display! I use wraps and clever angles to make sure we can’t see anything we wouldn’t want to see!
Get in Close!
Close up photos are some of my favourites. The tiny little wrinkly hands. All the gorgeous tufts of hair. The tiny button nose. They can all be focus on when you take your baby photos. So get in really close!
Get in the photo
If you are anything like me you will hate having your photo taken! I like to stay safely behind the camera.
I always say to my Mum’s and Dad’s that your baby will grow up SO fast! Even if you hate how you look in the photos I promise you that your baby will treasure those first photos with you more than anything.
So please, even if you take no other newborn photos at home, make sure you get in some photos! Have a read of my blog on why family photos are so important.
Print your photos!
It is SO easy to take beautiful photos and then leave them on your phone. If you love them then show them off! Print them BIG!
I am hoping that this blog post on how to take professional newborn photos at home has been useful. Of course am always happy to answer emails so should you have any questions please get in touch. More on my newborn photos sessions in Plymouth can be found in my blog post here.
Looking to the future!
I will be taking advance bookings for August, September and October in 2020 in the hope that by then I will be able to work with clients. I will continue to be following the government guidelines closely and will be updating my clients regularly via my Facebook page and Emails.
