About nine months ago, the idea of doing someone else’s newborn photo shoot was paralyzingly intimidating. Although not as stressful as capturing someone’s wedding (the first kiss only happens once, y’all), the window of opportunity for newborn photography is small and your clients LOVE THIS NUGGET. To them, this lil bean is the most beautiful thing (ok, some parents totally think their kid looks like an alien but they’re in the minority) ever made and if that’s not captured in the photos, you’ve got a downtrodden pair of lovebirds to handle.
Then a good friend of mine asked if I’d be willing to give it a shot.
Oy vey.
How hard is it, really? Can we DIY this thing?
If you know how to operate a DSLR camera, my short answer is yes. However, you might be pining for a certain photographic style you just haven’t figured out yet, or want to stage some photos using props that look a bit pricey for a single photoshoot endeavor. Also, you might want mama, papa, and baby in some photos and a tripod with an auto-timer won’t always capture the family portrait shots you want, especially if this is your first rodeo.
So we should pay.
Honestly, I plan to pay despite having photographed a couple newborns at this point. This doesn’t mean I won’t be using the tips below to try my hand at even more newborn photos, but I much rather focus on enjoying my little family while someone else snaps the pics.
If you’re trying to get into the game, these tips may help you get your foot in the door. There are a ton of great tips and photographer blogs out there to give you a deep-dive, but if you’re already here, this is a great way to either take supplemental photos once your photographer’s left the building or offer up newborn shoots for friends and family as your newest side hustle.
1. Know your “milk-drunk, poop window.”
Most people say the newborn shoot should take place within the first two weeks of a baby’s external life. Day 10 is my hotspot. By this point, a rough pattern’s emerged as far as when Baby’s hungry, how often Baby snoozes, and how long post-feed it takes Baby to poop.
To pose the tater tot (and maintain the poses), it’s important for kiddo to be “milk drunk” – aka the kid just fed and is on cloud nine/half asleep.
If you plan to take any nakey baby shots, knowing your poop window is imperative. That’s one thing you don’t want to have to get out of a faux fur rug, for example.
You might schedule the shoot before the Baby arrives, but leave wiggle room so that plans can slide around to accommodate Baby’s most agreeable state. The parents will know when you should come based on how long it takes Baby to feed. Best case is you show up right after feeding so you have the maximum amount of time before Baby’s next bowel movement.
2. Fancy baby pillows are nice, buuuttt—
Towels work just fine. On-site, ask for a standard bath towel. Fold it in half, hamburger style, then roll it up into a giant towel churro. From there, make it into a towel ring as the foundation to a great “baby nest” you can drape blankets, clothes or (pre-washed, baby-safe) faux furs over.
3. Help families prepare.
Encourage parents to pick out a few newborn photos they really love so you get a feel for their style. Make sure they send these to you pre-delivery because once Baby’s here, sifting Pinterest will be one of the last things on parents’ minds (at least in the beginning). Come up with a prop list, deciding what the parents can provide (favorite onesies, stuffed animals, gifts from family and friends, areas of the house, etc.) and what you should bring (wood/cardboard/foam letters, fabrics, lighting, et cetera).
4. Don’t be a copycat/Go right the flow.
Especially in the beginning, the pressure to replicate a photo your clients supplied from Pinterest is enough to discourage you minutes into a shoot. Find out what they like about the photo samples they supply so you know what elements are most important to capture. Also, the more you try to reproduce a shot, the more priceless opportunities you may miss that are happening naturally.
During one shoot, baby fell in love with the fuzzy fur blanket and snuggled right up into it. Of course, my goal had been to get a cute “hands under chin” shot, but the authenticity of this lil guy nuzzled into the fuzzies was so much more true to the moment (and made for the best shots of the day).
5. Get parents distracted by their new loves.
When it comes time to take family photos, your parental unit might or might not be comfortable in front of a camera. Find a cool vantage point, handoff baby, and encourage them to just enjoy the moment.
For parents less used to being photographed by anything bigger than an iPhone, wait a few moments before you take your first shots so they can get into a rhythm and relax.
Your memory card should have a ton of space, so snapping a ton of shots will give you plenty to work with despite the inevitable shots of someone blinking or adjusting their hair.
Finally, remember to mix in a few black and white shots to offer up a whole new dimension.
There you have it.
One newbie’s tips to another. Hopefully, these tips help you provide a memorable set of baby photos to some happy parentals.
What tips do you have? Share the love in the comments!
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Note: From March-Early May, I will not be photographing any babies other than my own. Woo!
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