Welcoming a new baby to the family is always a big, special and wonderful occasion. People want to cherish every minute and now, thanks to technology and all possibilities, it’s possible to preserve these short, passing moments. Children grow fast, especially at the very beginning – it may seem like your newborn changes more with every day (they really do). That’s why so many parents decide on photoshoots for their babies – it’s a remarkable souvenir for the whole family. There are those who decide to hire a professional, but you are more than capable of doing it all yourself. There are some tips offered by newborn baby photography Sydney may help you photograph your newborn baby like a pro:
1. Start with the light
Do it first, before you start engaging your baby – it will save you both some nerves and it will make it all quick for the child. You would like to reduce or even eliminate using flashes while photographing a newborn baby; not only they may not like it, but also the effect wouldn’t be as good as with natural light. So find a lightsome place in your apartment and choose the time of the day when it gets the most sunlight. A proper light (or a really bad one) can be a true game-changer. Of course, there are ways to deal with bad lighting after the photo shoot – you can get lightroom newborn presets to improve the light and the colours, but you still need to start well. And never up-light a baby, it looks unnatural and kind of scary.
2. Make sure your baby is happy
After some time spent with your newborn, you will know what is their best time of the day – probably just after they have eaten – so it’s the best moment to take some photos. If you don’t want to do anything too engaging, you may consider making use of your baby’s naptime to take pictures while they’re sleeping soundly. Make sure your subject is well-fed and freshly-changed, get a heater, play some soothing music or another white sound that makes them calm, and get to work. The sooner, the better.
3. Don’t get carried away with props
After all, the shoot should be all about your baby. You may feel tempted to have many different things around, but it’s much better to keep it simple to make sure nothing distracts a viewer’s attention from your child. Go for neutral colors (light ones are better than the dark, as they will reflect the light which will make it look better) and subtle patterns to make your newborn a real star of the photos.
4. Remember the details
There’s nothing better than a newborn’s tiny fingers and toes, right? So why shouldn’t you document them for the future times, when they’re no longer tiny and cute? Take shots of their little lips, up-turned teeny nose, rounded belly and rosy, chubby cheeks. You will not believe how fast your baby will change and, most importantly, grow. Preserve these moments while everything is so tiny and sweet. As long as your baby is not moody, take as many photos as you can – try different distances and angles, move around yourself as much as you move around your child, and, if you feel like they’re in a good mood, even change the outfit.
5. Don’t forget about yourself
The photoshoot of your newborn baby won’t be complete if there isn’t a photo of you with your child. Give the camera to someone else, even another child as long as they can hold it and push the button. Even if you don’t like to have photos taken, you still don’t feel like yourself after the birth or it simply isn’t your day – it doesn’t matter. It is a souvenir for your baby as much as it is for you. When they grow up, they will want these kinds of photographs.
6. Print the pictures as soon as you take them
Trust me, if you don’t do it right away, you will forget all about it. And it’s not like you’re taking these photos for them to get lost somewhere on your hard drive, right? Start with that, and then worry about how and where you should display them. Then you can buy frames, canvas, and albums whenever you see fit – the pictures will be waiting.
Photos taken by you will be much more personal and emotional than those taken by a professional photographer – after all, it’s your baby and no one loves them and sees them as you do. Now that you know something about what to do and what to avoid, you can get to work. Don’t wait too long, as newborn babies are really changing very fast. What’s more, they are the most peaceful during their first 10 days so there’s no time to waste. Capture these memories!
I’m a 20-something stay-at-home mother and wife. I have an amazing husband, a beautiful daughter, two loving dogs, and a lazy cat. I wouldn’t change my life for anything! I love to read, listen to music, cook and blog!
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