Newborn photography is a unique and heartwarming style of photography that requires proper preparation, a delicate touch, and a keen eye for capturing the beauty and innocence of a newborn baby. At the same time, photographing newborns is challenging because they are unpredictable and require special care and attention.
In this article, we’ll share seven tips and techniques to help you achieve better results in newborn photography. From creating a comfortable and friendly environment to sharing those precious moments with others, these tips will empower you to shoot stunning images that parents will cherish forever.
Whether you’re a professional photographer specializing in newborns or a parent looking to capture beautiful memories of your little one, we’re here to help you take your newborn photo skills to the next level. Now, it’s time to dive into newborn photography and unlock the secrets to achieving better results with the help of our tried-and-true tricks!
Check out the video above by Kelly Brown to see how a professional newborn photographer typically conducts a session and to learn her insider tips.
Table of Contents
- Newborn Photography Tricks: Invest in the Right Gear and Props
- Newborn Photography Tricks: Have a Good Relationship With the Parents
- Newborn Photography Tricks: Take Posed & Lifestyle Shots
- Newborn Photography Tricks: Family Love
- Newborn Photography Tricks: Lighting & Angles are Key
- Newborn Photography Tricks: Think Creatively & Be Flexible
- Newborn Photography Tricks: Bring All Your Hard Work Together in a Beautiful Print
Newborn Photography Tricks: Invest in the Right Gear and Props
Photo by Tatyana Vycvia Shutterstock
Just like every other genre of photography, having the right equipment is essential for newborn photography. Besides a camera and lens (we recommend having a good prime and macro lens), you will also want to invest in a stable tripod, a lighting kit, and backdrops.
Props and accessories are equally important. Our favorite props are toys, baby blankets, pillows, clothes, and hats/headbands. On the other hand, useful accessories include baby wipes, hand sanitizer, heating pads, and other baby-related items.
Newborn Photography Tricks: Have a Good Relationship With the Parents
Before you shoot a newborn photography session, you always want to establish a good relationship with the parents. If everyone is on the same page before the start of the photo shoot, your life will be infinitely easier, and the parents will ultimately be happier with your work.
Additionally, they will trust you more with their child and hopefully won’t be continuously looking over your shoulder or trying to micromanage you while shooting. This gives you a lot of confidence, makes you more relaxed, and will improve the quality of your photos.
Newborn Photography Tricks: Take Posed & Lifestyle Shots
Photo by Katrina Elena via Shutterstock
There are two common types of newborn photography, posed and lifestyle. Mixing in both during a newborn shoot is good practice because it will give your images more variety. Moreover, while playing around with posed shots is incredibly fun, natural lifestyle shots often create some of the best memories.
Posed shots are easier to do in the first two weeks after the baby is born because this is their “sleepy” and easygoing phase. After that, they usually become slightly more difficult to capture. Alternatively, you can do lifestyle shots anytime during the first two months. Then they graduate and lose the “newborn” title.
Newborn Photography Tricks: Family Love
Photo by pyrozhenka via Shutterstock
Even though the clear star of any newborn photography shoot is the baby, we love taking a few group portraits, too. This includes mother/baby photos, father/baby photos, parent/baby photos, sibling/baby photos, and family portraits.
As the newborn ages, these images are often some of the most treasured pictures by the parents and the ones that stay hung up around the house the longest. At the same time, they make ideal gifts for grandparents, other family members, and friends.
Newborn Photography Tricks: Lighting & Angles are Key
Photo by Vad-Len via Shutterstock
As cute as babies naturally are, they can be incredibly challenging to photograph because of their small and uneven sizes. Due to this, it’s critical to shoot in a well-lit space and to choose your angles wisely. If you don’t, you will be shocked (and sometimes downright frightened, ha!) when you review your images.
We prefer working with natural lighting, but you always want to carry a lighting kit just in case. Some of the most popular angles to shoot from are birds-eye-view (overhead), getting level with them, and over the shoulder.
Newborn Photography Tricks: Think Creatively & Be Flexible
Photo by Svetlana Satsiukvia Shutterstock
Creativity and flexibility are two of the most important skills to be aware of when capturing newborn photography. For starters, the more creative you are, the happier the parents will be, and the more your work will stand out from the crowd and catch the attention of potential clients.
And flexibility is crucial because newborns are extremely unpredictable. You never know what will happen, and everything is out of your control. So, remember, as long as you stay flexible and go with the flow, you will walk away with a handful of good shots, even if nothing goes as planned.
Newborn Photography Tricks: Bring All Your Hard Work Together in a Beautiful Print
Last but not least, you want to display your newborn photos like a pro. And what better way to do that than by having your newborn photos printed as a large-format canvas?
Our yearly canvas print shootouts have revealed over the years that some companies are simply better than others. Namely, Artbeat Studios is frequently at the top of the quality list, and as such, your photos of newborns would be in good hands if you chose to order a print from the Artbeat team.
Not only does Artbeat Studios have a reputation for quality, but you can also rely on tons of choices. You can choose from Giclee or Metallic canvas, a .75-inch or 1.5-inch wrap, and either a white or black frame. No matter your choice of finishes, you will get a print with archival-quality inks and canvas, kiln-dried frames, and the option of ordering sizes as small as 8×8 up to as large as 48×96.
Heck, you can even order a custom-sized print if you want!
In other words, your newborn photos can be as beautiful and touching as you can make them, but if you have a bargain-basement company create your prints, all your hard work might be lost. Instead, rely on a top-quality outfit like Artbeat Studios. We trust them with our images – and you should, too!
A quick heads-up: If you snag something through our affiliate links or check out our sponsored content, we might earn a commission at no extra cost to you. But fear not, we’re all about recommending stuff we’re truly stoked about!
Learn More:
- What is Lifestyle Newborn Photography? 4 Tips for Getting Started
- Newborn Photography: Essential Tips for Capturing Precious Moments
Hero photo by Tatyana Vycvia Shutterstock.
