Photography Tips For Newborn Babies In Houston

Photography Tips For Houston Newborn Babies

Photography for newborn babies may seem like something that is easy, yet for photographers that have tried it, in most cases it is a difficult and scary task. To begin with, unlike an adult, a newborn baby cannot follow instructions, while handling a fragile and small baby requires the utmost experience and care.

However, it is also a very fulfilling and exciting project to undertake for most photographers. Here are few useful tips for newborn photography which will help you along with the infant have a much easier time while you are on set.

Keep The Baby Comfortable & Safe

Keeping the infant safe all the time needs to be your most important priority. Keep in mind that these little infants have only just left the womb a few days before. They have no to very little control over their bodies, while their bones and skulls are also very fragile. Many of the shots taken of newborn babies include propping the baby up on a small bassinet a few feet away from the ground. Yet these props need to be tested and weighed so that it won’t fall or tip over once you place the baby on it.

It is also helpful if you take an experienced assistant or baby-photoshoot photographer with you who will know how to move the infant carefully into several different poses that are comfortable without the baby falling over or waking the infant up. It is also very important to ensure the baby feels warm and snug all the time.

Use Lighting That Is Safe

Infants have highly sensitive eyes and they should not be under harsh lighting until they are at least 3 to 5 months old. When you shoot baby portraits, you should avoid using pop-up flashes. The external flashes work far better, provided you are allowing the light to bounce off the ceiling while making sure the power is low enough in order to stop the flash from waking the baby up or blinding them.

Choose An Appropriate Timeframe For The Baby Shoot

If you have decided that you would like to use infants as your preferred subject, you need to adhere to the “10 Days Rule”. This will mean the infant should not be older than 10 days, while the ideal timeframe is between 5 to 10 days of age. Over these 10 days, the infant will spend the majority of their time curled up and sleeping like they did when they were still in the womb. After a period of 2 weeks, babies tend to start stretching and becoming more active, which makes it more difficult to get the infant to pose on a bed or in a small basket.

Plan What Poses You Would Like To Use

A newborn photoshoot is usually unpredictable, which is why it is always a good idea to plan the poses before you arrive for the shoot. Collect pegs or samples of infant poses on either your tablet or your phone. If possible to make the shoot even easier, hire an experienced and professional assistant that specializes in baby photography. This person will know how to handle the baby and get them into a number of different poses.

The standard newborn poses will include having the baby on their tummy, propping the head in their elbows and arms, or allowing the baby to lie in the most comfortable position which is usually on their back. Some of the infants will be easier to move than others, while others prefer to curl up.

Create A Setup That Is Adorable

The basic photographs that just include the infant, make for stunning portraits, yet today many of these shoots include dressing the baby up in adorable outfits, or with 1 or 2 accessories where you will have them sleep or pose in creative setups. Props are also often included which adds a really cute touch when it comes to the image. You can look for inspiration online, or even ask the mom and dad about what they would like to achieve.

Move-In Closer

Once you have achieved that established shot of the newborn along with the setup, either get closer or use your zoom lens in order to capture the finer details. Take a few shots of the infant’s tiny toes and fingers or a few with their long eyelashes. If you are fortunate you may even capture a few shots of the baby smiling while they are sleeping. Most parents love photos that display how small their infant’s hands and feet once were. For this reason, you should think about incorporating a few props to achieve size comparisons. For an extra artistic touch, make sure you keep your aperture open.

Include The Family

You can achieve a number of wonderful shots when you include the siblings or/and the parents. You might want to encourage and suggest that they participate if they haven’t yet thought about it. Having a young sister or brother with their infant brother or sister can make for some of the sweetest and interesting portraits. Photographs with the mom or the dad are usually traditional. You can also ask them to hold the infant in various positions if you would like to add more drama.

Be Patient & Flexible

The only thing you can be sure about when it comes to baby photography is that it won’t always go smoothly. In most cases, a baby will take a bit of time to fall asleep or settle down, in fact, they might even make a poo during your shoot. And the fact that wearing a diaper often ruins those perfect shots, the infant will usually be naked. This can result in a few messy and unpleasant situations.

Most of the newborn photography shoots take between 2 to 3 hours in order to complete, and in most cases, you will only be able to achieve that winning shot in the last 30 minutes. For these reasons, most parents choose the photographers that charge for the session instead of by the hour.

Be Reassuring & Confident

This tip mainly has to do with how you should be dealing with the parents. If the mom and dad are not included in some of the photographs, it is often difficult to keep them off the set. They may want to be present constantly, especially if the infant starts to cry. You need to reassure them and make them feel more comfortable that you know what you are doing. If this is your first baby photoshoot, make sure you come prepared by watching videos and tutorials and attending workshops or learning about the different poses. You also need to know how to handle an infant, especially a newborn. Your shoot will go a lot smoother once you convince the parents that their tiny bundle of joy is safe with you.

Don’t Worry So Much About Your Gear

There is no denying that professional cameras are able to take photos of the highest quality while helping you to achieve precisely desired images. However, you can still achieve the perfect shots using a high-quality smartphone camera or a point-and-shoot camera. Most of the professional photographers agree that even the lower-end cameras are very capable when it comes to capturing adorable and sweet newborn photos, provided you have enough safe lighting for the setup and the subject.

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