I HEART FACES BLOG ARTICLE ABOUT INFANT PHOTOGRAPHY!
http://www.iheartfaces.com/2012/02/newborn-photography/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Iheartfaces+%28I+Heart+Faces+-+Photo+Challenges+%26+Photography+Tips%29
4 Lifestyle Photography Tips for Newborns
When I first started out on my journey in children’s photography I had no idea that I could shoot lifestyle with newborns.
Like most of us do, I went out and bought some baskets, some black cloth for a “backdrop” and a few other props (yes, for those that know me I did in fact have props at one point in my shooting life!)
I failed. Miserably. I saw all these other photographers rocking baskets, bows, blankets … and I was a shaking, twitching mess at my newborn shoots trying to pull these looks together.
I was already honing my lifestyle craft with families and toddlers and thought “What am I DOING here? I am going against my grain to try and fit into a mold I created solely myself and I am not. having. fun.”
Having fun and “feeling” something when you shoot is critical in my book- unless you want to lead yourself down the path to burn-out in a flash.
So, I shook off the “have to’s” and started to approach newborns the same way I approached my other lifestyle sessions. I began shooting with the same end goal–natural, candid moments of baby and family that literally looked like a ‘peek’ into their lives.
Here are four tips to shoot lifestyle with newborns (even if you are, in fact, the master of newborn set-ups!):
1. Crib Shots.
Don’t neglect to photograph and capture the one place parents see their baby a lot–the crib. Full sweeping photos of nurseries with baby in the crib or a “through the slats” (my personal fave) perspective is a beautiful way to tell a newborn story. Crib life is fleeting. Capture it.
2. The candid moments (Don’t put that camera down just yet!)
While most photographers may put their camera down for a rest or review images while baby is being fed, soothed or changed, these are actually my favorite times to shoot! Talk about lifestyle photos in their purest form! The day-to-day of baby life. Nothing is more beautiful or tells the true story of a newborn more than these moments, in my book.
3. Head to the Master Bed.
A great way to get all of the family interacting with baby is by photographing them on the master bed. It’s big enough to accommodate, very personal, and usually has great light.
I also love doing solo shots on the bed with one of the blankets from their own collection.
Safety alert: If you are working with an ‘old-born’ be sure Mom is right out of frame monitoring the baby just in case they roll over. Middle of the bed is ideal and remember, no shot is worth the compromise of safety for newborns or any child, for that matter.
4. Detail shots at different angles.
Everyone loves to capture those little toes, feet, ears etc. And rightfully so! The newborn yumminess comes and goes in a blink. Try however, to shoot these photos from different angles as you have baby on the bed or in their boppy. The simple change of an angle and a shallow depth of field can allow for these detail shots to be done anywhere, so you don’t necessarily need a black back drop. I’ve done them even on changing tables. Don’t limit yourself.
There are many different ways to capture newborns. Please don’t put yourself in a box or feel you have to emulate what is going on in the industry. Find your own vision of how you want to photograph newborns and start snapping.
