My sister wants me to do some of the photos of her baby which isn't due for several more months. Thing is, I've never done any baby pics, and very little portrait work. Any links to some good sites for picking up on a few nice baby poses/sets? Also, any input on using natural light for this type of shots? I'd love to get her some keepers, but really not sure where to start. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
A few tidbits I have picked up along the way (I've been shooting my newborn son for the last 12 weeks )-
- Get a heater- babies skin tends to get blotchy- 80+ degrees in the room you are shooting is good. I use a portable oil radiator. I turn it on about 30 minutes before shooting.
- If you want to get the neat newborn sleeping poses that are popular right now, try to shoot the baby as soon after they are born as possible. The day they come home from the hospital would be ideal. I missed that time with our guy (he was in the NICU, and didn't come home until he was 10 days old, and I didn't start trying to really photograph him until he was a month) and once they start being more alert, fussy, etc.. your windows of opportunity get smaller and smaller. When they are REALLY newborn (less than a week old) they sleep SOOO heavy, you have plenty of time to pose, shoot etc.
- Set up lighting and even practice poses with a doll. I've been using a stuffed mickey mouse.
- If the baby is older, get someone else to pose the baby for you. By the time you set the baby in a pose you like, and get behind the camera.. they have moved.
- Don't expect that big grin shot until they are at least 2 months old. "Smiles" in very young newborns are usually gas, and are fleeting.
- If the baby starts getting fussy, don't keep pushing it. Let mom nurse, calm, etc.. the baby.. it can take a while, but a full baby is usually a happy baby (at least for a little bit)
- LOTS.. OF.. WATERPROOF.. PADS!
A few tidbits I have picked up along the way (I've been shooting my newborn son for the last 12 weeks )-
- Get a heater- babies skin tends to get blotchy- 80+ degrees in the room you are shooting is good. I use a portable oil radiator. I turn it on about 30 minutes before shooting.
- If you want to get the neat newborn sleeping poses that are popular right now, try to shoot the baby as soon after they are born as possible. The day they come home from the hospital would be ideal. I missed that time with our guy (he was in the NICU, and didn't come home until he was 10 days old, and I didn't start trying to really photograph him until he was a month) and once they start being more alert, fussy, etc.. your windows of opportunity get smaller and smaller. When they are REALLY newborn (less than a week old) they sleep SOOO heavy, you have plenty of time to pose, shoot etc.
- Set up lighting and even practice poses with a doll. I've been using a stuffed mickey mouse.
- If the baby is older, get someone else to pose the baby for you. By the time you set the baby in a pose you like, and get behind the camera.. they have moved.
- Don't expect that big grin shot until they are at least 2 months old. "Smiles" in very young newborns are usually gas, and are fleeting.
- If the baby starts getting fussy, don't keep pushing it. Let mom nurse, calm, etc.. the baby.. it can take a while, but a full baby is usually a happy baby (at least for a little bit)
- LOTS.. OF.. WATERPROOF.. PADS!...Show more →
One more!! I've had numerous babies poop on the floor, blankets ect. Have spares.
Thanks a million! Some awesome pose and prop ideas on those sites! Now to figure out the lighting. May have to borrow or rent some lighting equipment. Not many of those looked like natural light shots.
Great tips and info, too! It had not occurred to me yet to practice on a doll. Hadn't thought of most of the other things either.
Thanks again. I truly appreciate the input and the links!
I think Beth Jansen advertises that she uses all natural light. You might take a close look at how it falls on her infant shots. North facing windows are great for soft light. A simple reflector (like a large piece of white foam board) is very handy at times as well. Have fun!
I didn't get many newborn shots of my youngest daughter and now she's almost 5 months. Get lots of shots when you get the chance!
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