How To Create An Awesome Photoshoot For Your Newborn Baby
Here is how to create an awesome photoshoot for your newborn baby. (Before the baby is three weeks old), so plan ahead!
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One of the easiest ways to capture the essence of your baby’s first days is through your camera’s lens. There’s no need to be intimidated by photographing your new cherub. Relax and enjoy bonding with your baby as you snap some intimate shots with these proven expert tips from professional baby photographers:
- Know the best time to plan a newborn photoshoot
- Get organized
- Find the best location
- Gather creative props
- Make a plan for older siblings
- Strike a pose
- Be prepared to go with the flow
Newborn Photo Keepsakes
Those first days of your baby’s life are moments to treasure, but it’s easy to forget how special they are as you navigate the raw emotions of new parenthood. Between soothing your post-partum body, managing sleep deprivation, and getting comfortable with your new baby, the first precious days of your baby’s life can be a total blur.
How can you make sure you remember these delightful days? A newborn photoshoot!
Tip 1: Know the best time to plan your newborn’s photoshoot
After months of patiently waiting to meet your newborn baby, you’re finally bonding. While your plans may include lots of getting-to-know-you and snuggle time, your baby has other plans—sleeping. Newborns tend to sleep eight hours or more during the day and eight or more (hopefully!) hours during the night.
Some of the most adorable newborn images are of sleeping babies with dreamy faces; all cuddled up and cozy, snoozing away without a care in the world.
Wondering when the best time to capture a quintessential sleepy baby pose is? You may want to plan even before your baby makes his arrival so you won’t miss it! According to most professional baby photogs, the ideal time for a newborn baby photoshoot is before three weeks of age.
Newborn shoots take place in the first two weeks because, during this time, the sleepy curled-up poses can be achieved; after this time, babies tend to sleep less and are less flexible, so it will be less likely to photograph these poses.
–Sally Slack, Professional Baby Photographer
QUICK TIP: plan on photographing your baby shortly after feeding. Photographers love to take advantage of the “drunken milk” stage. Who doesn’t love that look of utter contentment when a baby has a full belly?
Tip 2: Get organized
When trying to mimic a professional session, your best tool is organization. Spontaneous shots are whimsical and loving, but staged photos take some thought, so think like a trained professional:
• Where will your at-home session take place?
• Who else will be posing?
• Is someone available to watch older siblings while you fuss with your baby?
• What fun props will you need?
• What will baby wear (or not wear)?
• Will you need any special gear?
If it’s just the baby, you, and your spouse, invest in a remote-control device to activate the camera on your phone, a fantastic tool for a DIY session. Instead of having to run up and down to the phone to set the timer for each shot, you activate Bluetooth, and the remote connects to your phone. The remote control should be easy to hide in the palm of your hand so it won’t be noticeable in the photos.
Have fun with this part of the process. Jot the experience in your baby’s journal. The photos will be a fantastic memento, and you’ll also appreciate the written memories years from now.
QUICK TIP: If you’re not sure what types of pictures you want, peruse hundreds of adorable ideas on Pinterest.
Tip 3: Find the best location
Choosing the right setting for your baby’s photo debut is something to consider well before you grab your camera.
According to photography pros, the first thing to scout is a well-lit area with even light. A room with a lot of natural light from big windows is ideal.
Master bedrooms are popular for baby photoshoots because using the bed as a backdrop is comfy and versatile. A cream or white comforter allows for a clean, crisp setting where a pop of color can add contrast with a favorite scarf or throw to swaddle baby.
Take advantage of your porch or a sunny garden in the backyard. If your baby cooperates, you can shoot for (pun intended) indoor and outdoor shots.
If you do choose an indoor setting, especially during colder months, be sure to have a warm room. One of the more essential tips for parents for a successful newborn photo session is keeping the baby warm and cozy. Crank up the temperature in the house about half an hour before your session start time, especially if the baby won’t be fully clothed for the shoot.
Wherever you decide to work your magic, remember to have everything you need on hand and ready to go in that location.
Tip 4: Gather Creative Props
Choosing meaningful props is one of the most exciting parts of an in-home photoshoot. Props are an excellent method to bring your family’s personality into the newborn photography session. Photography studios offer tips such as searching out family heirlooms, using fun hats and placing the baby inside a favorite throw you picked up on your honeymoon, to name a few.
The goal is to interject attractive materials and staging items (baskets, bowls, wagons, pretty blankets) that will add interest and a sense of flair to your photos. Check out this YouTube video, “Amazing baby photoshoot ideas at home,” to gather some fresh ideas. Be prepared—your creative juices are going to flow!
Tip 5: Make a Plan For Older Siblings
Before your baby’s solo portion of the shoot begins, the pros recommend taking sibling shots first. This allows older children to feel like they’re an important part of the process. But once their part is done, they can go play, so you won’t have to worry about them getting fussy or burned out before your newborn shoot gets rolling.
– CanCan Mom, Cheryl L. Butler
Tip 6: Strike a pose
If you’re planning your baby’s photoshoot, chances are you’ve gathered ideas from friends and family or searched out dozens of adorable poses online. There’s the scrumptious newborn frog pose and the melt-your-heart tushy-up pose, among many others. These poses are the norm for professional studios.
But as you plan poses, remember that when it comes to newborn photography, safety always comes first!
You can still achieve a fantastic result without contriving a pose that may look sweet as can be but isn’t in your comfort zone to arrange. Some simple poses include the back, side-lying, and tummy poses. Each of these allows you to capture your baby’s pure innocence with minimal effort. Combine them with your hand-picked props, and you’ve now created a true masterpiece.
Read more about simple newborn photography poses on slrlounge.com.
Check out this super-sweet YouTube video for a great way to wrap your baby during a photo session.
Don’t forget those up-close-and-personal shots of the baby’s tiny hands, feet, mouth, and eyes. These are a must for your newborn scrapbook.
Tip 7: Be Prepared to Go with the Flow
The key to any family photo session, particularly with a new baby, is to keep calm and go with the flow.
Babies can pick up on your energy, so getting yourself into a peaceful state of mind before the photoshoot is vital. Regardless of how many awesome shots you end up with (and you will!), the best part about taking photos at home is that you can take a break if your baby gets fussy and comes back fresh later.
What made your baby photoshoot special? For all kinds of mom-centered creative ideas, visit me on Instagram at CanCanMomCB or on Pinterest at theCanCanMom. If you have questions or suggestions, email me at cheryl@cancanmom.com or leave a comment in the box below.
