Babies and Newborn Photography

Tips for Babies and Newborn Photography

• Zoom in - Newborns are small and getting them to fill up the majority of a photograph can be a challenge. Have an adult hold your baby in the crook of her arm or against her abdomen to capture your newborn at an angle good for photographing.
• Make sure there is plenty of light - Natural light is best, but if it is dark inside a room, switch on the light.
• Take some in black and white - While color prints are nice, black and white often capture more because the focus is on the subject as opposed to the clothing. Often the lines are crisper and the mood is more distinguished. In an age of color pictures, black and white does stand out.
• Clothing - Solid, bright clothing works well for color pictures. For a dramatic effect, try dressing your baby in white and placing him on a white blanket by a white background. If he can hold his head up, place him on his tummy and try to get a smile.

Ideas for Taking Pictures of Your Baby

• Others in the picture - Don't forget to get the other siblings in the picture with the newborn. They can all sit on the blanket in the living room surrounding the newest addition.
• Sleeping in crib - sleeping newborns always pull at the heartstrings and snapping some photos of your child in his or her crib is ideal. As he sleeps on his back, his face is in clear view and if you quietly hang over the crib railings, you can get some sweet pictures. As he grows older, continue to get the sleeping pictures. A photo of an older baby's face who has turned onto his tummy to sleep is cute.
• Car seats prop up a newborn - Place your newborn in his car seat without the restraints. Spread a blanket over the entire seat and then position your baby in the seat. Put the car seat on the floor and snap away.
• Toes and hands - Especially as babies get older, toes and hands are fun to photograph. Never again will your baby's digits be this tiny and soft. Get a close-up of not only your baby's fingers, but your hand holding his. When he grows up to be six feet tall, it will be amazing to look back on how small he once was. Place your baby on his back and see if he will grab his bare toes. Don't miss getting that on film. It helps to have another adult or older child in the room to get baby to smile.
• Get some props in the pictures - Place that stuffed animal sent by a distant relative in the picture and position your baby by it. If your child is able to sit up on his own, let him play with the stuffed animal while you take the shots. Be sure to send a picture or two with the toy to the relatives who sent the gift.

Show some baby skin!

• Strip your baby down to his diaper - After doing this, wrap him in a soft blanket, exposing an arm or some of his chest. Who can resist baby skin? An older child might kick off the blanket, so snap those shots quickly!
• Dress your baby - Put her in that new Christmas dress you just bought or received as a gift. You can dress up as well, and get a picture of the two of you in your finest.
• Dad in the picture - Have Dad take off his shirt and rest the sleeping baby against his chest. He can be relaxing in a recliner or standing. If standing, zoom in to get the pose from the waist up.
• Sleeping baby over shoulder - Remove all clothing but your baby's diaper and place him over your shoulder. Again, have the one taking the picture focus from your waist up. If Dad wants to be in this picture, have him take his shirt off and get the view of baby's face and the back of Dad's head.
• Bath tub photos - These are special. Even if you child doesn't like his bath and ends up crying, this will make a precious picture. When baby is older, pour in the bubble bath, and capture baby in the foamy bubbles. As you dry him off, place him on his back, bring the towel around him and tickle him to get that smile.
• High chair photos - Don't forget to get your camera out when baby is eating a nice helping of pureed green beans or spoon-feeding himself a heap of mashed potatoes. When he turns one, let him make a mess in his high chair with a slice of birthday cake.

The Gift of Photography

If you are expecting a baby and asked what gift you would like to receive, consider asking for a portrait club membership where a professional can take pictures of your baby.

If you are a relative or friend of an expecting mother-to-be, think about giving a membership to a portrait studio as a shower gift.

Nick Kelsh's How to Photograph Your Baby is another great baby gift idea for an expecting couple.

Practice and Have Fun

The more you take pictures, the better you will become. Don't stress over this, babies and newborn photography is fun. The key is to get plenty of pictures capturing your everyday life with baby.