How to Photograph Your Own Newborn Session – Photography in Quarantine
Photography in the time of Quarantine
Yup. Although nothing similar to that story, that title sure feels like where we are right now. A crazy worldwide pandemic that has basically stopped the world in its tracks. Everyone staying home and staying safe to help contain the spread of anything further than it has already gone. One thing that can’t stop, though? Babies being born and children growing up. But what CAN’T and ISN’T happening right now for the foreseeable future are the photography sessions capturing those moments. In a series of posts here on the blog, I am going to share with you some tips and tricks to help you photograph your own babies during this time. This post talks a bit about how to Photograph your own newborn sessions! You can see the posts on Fresh 48 Hospital sessions HERE and the post on Baby’s First Year Milestone Sessions HERE
Please realize as with learning anything else, your photos will not look like mine in the end. I have been doing this for 13 years and have different equipment, knowledge, editing programs, etc. HOWEVER, no one is able to get professional photos done at this point so ANY are better than none!! I talk in my class that I teach how important it is to not miss the moments no matter your skill or knowledge level. And these moments? They’re definitely big ones.
Oh newborns. The sweet tiny babies that we have brought home from the hospital. They change so very much in those first few weeks and I don’t want you to miss a thing about them while we are all stuck at home. You’ll find if you read my Fresh 48 post that a lot of this is similar. The newborn session is a bit more involved but some of the basic tenets are the same.
If you want to attempt a newborn session at home, there are a few things that will make life easier for you:
- A camera – This seems obvious and most people do this anyway. If you don’t have one, your phone can work in a pinch.
- Batteries and Memory Card for Camera – again seems obvious but you’d be surprised
- A white onesie – If you don’t want to get them naked or don’t know how to swaddle, it makes a great simple outfit that allows their precious little details to shine through
- Outfit for newborn – do not choose something crazy for your newborn to wear. They’re a newborn baby and should look like some. They get lost in outfits and you don’t want anything on them that is stiff or od or uncomfortable. If you absolutely insist on an outfit, keep it simple, make sure it is washed ahead of time, and make sure it fits them and they aren’t swimming in it.
- Warm wipes, paper towels – if you DO plan on getting them naked, trust me, you’ll want these on hand. They WILL poop and pee.
- White noise – I use THIS app (paid version) for my sessions. You’ll want something to mimic the sound of the womb and cover the noises you make.
- Space heater – this is a great supplement to turning up the heat (which I’ll talk about below)
- Swaddle fabric – If you want to wrap them up, frabic is what you need. It can be a swaddle blanket, or a scarf, or any soft material. Just be wary of how much material you have – remember they are tiny and visually can get lost in the fabric easily.
- Outfit for you and anyone else in the photos – I have whole post written on this!
- Headbands or small accessories – I am going to be really blunt with you here. Accessories for babies should be no larger than their fist. Have you ever seen a newborn photo of a baby in a GIANT FLOWER HEADBAND? Yup. What do you remember? The headband, not the baby. The larger the accessory you use, the less the focus is on the baby. And I know some of you love really big headbands for girls. Don’t do it. Step away. Think tiny and dainty and let that gorgeous baby shine through.
Just like with the Fresh 48 session post, I must stress that when everything is good and you are healthy and baby is healthy, then proceed with your session. Do not attempt to do the newborn poses you see on my page or other newborn photographer pages. NONE of our poses should be attempted by someone who is not trained. You could absolutely hurt your baby. Do not try to balance their chins on their hands. Do not attempt to scrunch them all up and fold them inward. Do not balance them on stuffed animals, or balls or guitars. Don’t put them in a lab coat pocket or firefighter’s coat. If there is a risk of them falling over / sliding out of position don’t do it. Do not try anything advanced unless you have the knowledge of how to do it properly without putting the baby at ANY risk. None. Zero.
Okay now that that is out of the way…
Newborn sessions have the benefit of being able to be done anytime within the first few weeks. Newborns are sleepiest the first ten days, typically. Then around day 14 they start to wake up for longer periods of time. If you want sleeping photos, do it earlier. If you just want newborn images and sleeping doesn’t matter, anytime up to three weeks is good. You won’t feel like doing much before 10-14 days anyway!
It is best if they have had a nice full feeding. If you are breastfeeding, give yourself some grace and do the best you can. Try and get as much food, whether it be breast milk or formula, into them before attempting to photograph them. If you are nursing and they are hungry, whenever you come close they will smell you and associate you with food and get very unsettled. If you have circumcised your baby and are planning on getting him naked, it is best to wait until it is almost all the way or completely healed.
I like to start my newborn sessions between 9 and 10 in the morning. The light is usually better and we have more energy and the babies are sometimes calmer. If you are attempting to include a sibling in it, they are also almost always in better moods in the morning.
Before you get started you have to prep your space. Now please note this does not mean you have to clean your house! I always tell clients not to worry about it – I move things as needed to get the space I want to work in. The same goes for you. Notice where the light is best in your house and get all your stuff ready there. Camera, wipes, space heater, phone for white noise, etc. Think about where you want to do photos. If you plan on using your bed (easiest and best) throw a clean duvet over it. Make sure the pillows are nice. If you want to use the nursery, make sure the sheet is on the crib mattress. Basic things. Move clutter away from windows so you can use them. It doesn’t mean you have to put it away – just relocate it. Don’t be afraid to move furniture. It can be moved back.
As for what to lay the baby on you want it to be large and flat. A bed is great. A dog bed works great and allows you to shoot overhead really well. You don’t want something super squishy because the baby will sink into it. I use a beanbag BUT it is a specific hockey-puck style and pretty firm. Once you have your surface, choose a simple blanket to throw over top to be your backdrop. The less pattern and texture the better. If you want, on one side you can hold the blanket up to make a backdrop not only under but behind them. Have someone help you or drape it over a chair or basket or something like that.
Jack up the heat. Like 75-80 degrees. You want it warm and steamy. Trust me.
As I mentioned above, you are going to want to find the best light possible in your house. This does NOT mean bright super sunny sun coming in the windows. Bright sunlight is no good. So either wait for clouds, or wait for when the sun has moved. Once your space is prepped, TURN OFF ALL THE LIGHTS IN THE ROOM. Open the blinds and curtains in the room all the way on every window. This is going to be your source of light. That way you don’t have odd orange or yellow casts or weird shadows from overhead lighting or lamps going on.
Photograph the baby with your back to the light – but don’t block it! That is no good. You have to be aware of where you are and where shadows are. You can absolutely photograph *into* the light (so you, baby, window) but be aware it’s quite a different look. When you are photographing just the baby, try a 45 degree angle to the light – don’t have it lighting up from their feet but rather down over their face from the top.
There are SO SO MANY things to photograph with newborns. If they are warm enough, if their tummies are full enough, if you are blasting white noise (and I mean blasting, turn it all the way up), and if they are not colicky or not over tired, or a million other things, you can get so many images.
Work with baby because they run the session!! If he/she is awake and calm, try and lay them on a bed and photograph them awake. If you can’t lay them flat, time for family photos. Show interaction with parents and siblings while the baby is awake. At the beginning they have these great “quiet alert” phases where they are awake but calm. Aim for that.
As far as baby alone, you are going to start your sessions very different than I do mine. Mine always start with baby on their tummy to get any gas and poop out. But you will be best starting with them swaddled. Lay them somewhere flat and secure and slightly squishy – just enough that they won’t be uncomfortable. If possible smoosh their bottoms down so the head is just higher than the body. Then start photographing them. Move around and get details. Throw a sibling or two in there before they lose interest. As you go, start unwrapping and get toes and hands. Realize that unwrapping will normally wake them up so it’s important to have that heat up! Work your way down to just a diaper. Then, if you want, remove the diaper but keep the swaddle handy. You can gently wrap it around their lower halves if needed. When they are unwrapped let them move. If they start to get upset, soothe them. But let them move and when they stop, photograph them naturally in those moments.
When you are photographing the baby, watch your angles – it’s super easy to shoot up their nose because they have upturned noses. If you can see up their nostrils you are too far down. Move yourself to that you’re slightly above. That being said, don’t move TOO far over and have their forehead staring you in the face, either. Their feet should never be closer to the camera depth-wise than their head – unless you are photographing their feet. Usually a step to the left or right will fix that. Don’t be afraid to move all around! Take images from different angles (watching your light at all times) – you’ll be amazed at how different it can look. Be in front, overhead, close, etc. Also, make sure the light is not going up their nose – no Blair Witch Project flashlight look going on. Take feeding and cleaning breaks when needed – they’re totally normal. Only unicorn babies can last an entire session without needing to stop. It’s rare, I promise.
I always ALWAYS urge mom to get in the photos. We are SO HARD on ourselves because we have all seen the photos where mom is already back in her pre-pregnancy jeans looking rested. Yeah…guys, that’s like 2% of the time and a LOT of concealer. Don’t miss these photos. It’s literally a one time shot with your baby. It is completely fine to take five minutes to apply lip gloss or concealer or something, and you should feel beautiful, but GET IN THE IMAGE. I promise you a million times over, you will never ever regret it. Hand over your camera and get in there.
Specific Image Ideas:
- Full baby – overhead or from the side but all of their body
- Profile from above or from the side
- Shoulders and up
- Swaddled
- Wrinkly and flaky hands and toes. Take off the socks or gloves for just a few minutes, it’s worth it
- Lashes / lips / ears – get close!
- Their hair – newborn hair can be awesome especially if there is a cowlick
- Umbilical cord – depending on how you feel about it. To me it shows just how brand new they are because that is a part of them they will never ever have again.
- Overhead or through the slats of the crib / overhead in a bassinet
- Parents hands holding their hand or around them – anything that shows just how tiny they are
- Each parent holding baby – put them by a window for the most light
- Sibling photo (more on this below)
- Family photo on a bed or couch (use the timer!)
Bonus Images:
- Yawns
- Crying (can be cute!)
- Eyes open / awake
- Breastfeeding
Ah one of my favorites. Just know off the bat if you are dealing with a toddler sibling – from say 14 months to 3 years old, NOTHING is guaranteed. And you have to be able to move and shoot really quickly. I always tell parents that I do not ever promise a toddler sibling shot in a newborn session. I promise to TRY but not to get it. Toddlers are way too unpredictable. Make sure you have worked with your kids ahead of time on how delicate newborns are. To not squeeze or poke, or pat on the head, etc. How to be gentle.
First, for sibling photos it will absolutely be key for you to have another adult to help.You know your kids best! You know if they love the baby, or if they are jealous of the baby. You know if they are responsible enough to hold the baby, or if you need to watch them like a hawk. Go off of that. Most kids freak out with flailing or crying babies. And they will move quickly to get away from them, risking injuring them. Because of that a lot of my sibling images have a swaddled baby. Just wrap them up and a go for it. For younger siblings I like to lay the baby on the bed and have them lay on their tummies behind and give kisses, touch noses, etc. For older kids, they can hold a swaddled baby sitting criss-cross applesauce. I also will lay a sibling flat and have them put their arms out and place a (usually swaddled) baby next to them. Then I can grab overhead images.
For more than one sibling, placing baby in the middle is the best. But be prepared for complaining from whichever sibling isn’t holding the baby. Above all, be patient, and don’t be afraid to bribe. Let’s be honest – you’d love 50 but you are really looking for one or two good images with siblings. Your kids know you – they won’t behave for you like they would for me. I have so many parents that go “wow you have so much patience with kids!!” And my response every time? ‘That’s because they’re not mine!” And it’s so very true. Be patient and give yourself and them grace. And when all else fails, try again later.
- If you are getting them undressed, watch their skin. If they start to get a lacy veiny look they are too cold. Always try and keep the naked part short OR the room super warm (see set up).
- Never attempt to photograph them on their stomach or in any newborn poses. Babies should only be held or flat on their backs unless you are trained in working with them. If you notice any extremities turning purple you are cutting off oxygen supply and need to move them.
- Do not photograph your pets alone with your baby. Unless they are the most well-trained animals in the world, do it with someone holding the baby. Even then be careful. Pets are odd around babies – they can become overly protective or defensive in the blink of an eye.
- If they will not settle, if they are fussing, come back and try again. You have days and weeks to do this. My third daughter gave me 11 minutes. I got two photos. All my experience, all my prep, I got two images. Sometimes it happens.
Take the photos no matter what. It sounds silly and overly simplified, but I mean it. Moments like these don’t come again. You don’t have the option of having me or your own professional photographer come in. Don’t miss it. If you can’t do any of this, if you don’t have a single shot that I listed up there, but you have images you took that make your heart sing and will bring you right back to that moment? In the end, that is what counts.
