As with all Newborn photography, planning is essential. It will be easier to correctly capture such memorable moments if you are at peace with your game plan and your clientele.
1. Shot List
A basic shot list of the pictures you plan to take should be made. Will you approach the newborn photo like a lifestyle session, or will you supervise the clients and suggest particular poses or setups? Are you planning on taking a family photo series that includes the parents, the child, and any siblings? During the newborn session, would there be any other family members? For instance, grandparents are usually seen waiting in the background. Get as much information as you can to develop the most effective shot list.
2. Put your mind at ease.
Wear clothing that will allow you to move freely and stretch because you’ll likely find yourself in various strange positions while attempting to find the perfect angle for a little child. You can use your imagination more readily if you have a camera with a tilting LCD screen.
3. Remain hydrated.
Because new parents are frequently so enamoured with their infant, you might go for hours without being offered a drink! If you feel dehydrated and your concentration starts to waver, bring a glass of water with you.
4. Include Just the Essentials
Do the parents want a certain moment to be captured in their newborn’s photos? Have they found any particular pictures that they particularly liked?
There is a wide range in the number of photos that clients want to be taken of their child or of their entire new family; some parents don’t even want to be photographed.
Families are welcome to take part in any form, even if it’s just by being in the photo while holding the youngster in their arms. Having photographs of the people and circumstances that welcomed them into the world can mean a lot to that young children when they are an adult. To ensure that everyone involved is informed of what will happen and what they need to do, send an email summarising your talks and choices.
5. Age of the Newborn Is Vital
The newborn’s age at the time of the portrait photography session should be taken into consideration. Newborn photographers that work in studios generally prefer to finish the shoot in the first week, even though home sessions typically don’t need to happen until the first two weeks. Remember that new mothers will have a hormone crash on day 4 or 5 after giving birth, that babies typically start cluster feeding starting on day 11 as they prepare for a growth spurt, and that babies frequently experience baby acne and digestive difficulties starting on week 2. I prefer to photograph a baby’s photo 7 to 10 days after birth when they have had time to recuperate from delivery and adjust to life at home but are obviously still in the newborn stage.
6. Prepare the clothes for the parents as well.
Make some suggestions for everyone’s potential newborn photo attire. Even though new mothers are the most sensitive people, they might go with a loose T-shirt because it conceals baby weight better than tight nursing apparel.
I always ask the parents to take their watches off before the photo since it’s so distracting to have a big watch in the shot of a newborn lying in the parents’ arms. You shouldn’t do this right now since until the skin has had time to recover, a watch will usually leave a mark.
7. Determine the Ideal Time of Day
Ask the parents what time of day suits their new routine the best. Babies are typically happier in the morning, making it a great time to capture newborn images.
Avoid them at all costs in the late afternoon; even a baby who is ordinarily quiet may take hours to calm down at night. Deciding to pose a baby or take family photos during that time requires a special brand of craziness.