A Beginners Guide To Simple Newborn Photography
Top Five Shots for an
Authentic Newborn Photoshoot
Authentic Newborn Essentials #1:
Tiny Toes
One shot that is always requested is of baby’s teeny tiny toes. An easy shot to get whether baby is awake or asleep, I always try and get a couple of angles for each gallery. This can be captured on the beanbag or whilst being held by Mum or Dad. Add an additional perspective by adding Parents hands - they’ll look even teenier!
Authentic Newborn Essentials #2:
With Parents
An obvious one, but some parents don’t always realise that they are able to have photos WITH their baby during their newborn photoshoot. I always try and encourage them to have at least a couple with baby, even if it’s just their hands if they’re really not feeling comfortable in front of the camera. I usually capture some of baby with both parents as well as individually. Again, it doesn’t really matter if baby is asleep or awake for these as long as they are happy. I do usually try to get the beanbag shots done first, then photos with Dad, saving Mum for last. This is due to breastfeeding babies often wanting to feed once they’re handed back to Mum, even if they’re asleep. Click here for more Mum inspiration.
A beautiful moment converted into black & white (it looked just as gorgeous in colour!)
Relaxed family images are easy to capture on the bed or beanbag
Close up of nose to nose creates a beautiful portrait
Authentic Newborn Essentials #3:
Pull Back (Full length)
Easiest done on the beanbag, you can still add variety to this classic shot. Whether it’s backlit from the side or a full length from above, this is a must for any newborn gallery. It can be done wrapped or not, but is easiest when baby is asleep. It can also be done with baby positioned in Mum or Dad’s arms, offering a gorgeous variation to your gallery.
Unwrapped works best when baby is in a deep sleep.
A backlit, wrapped pull-back.
At the end of my beanbag workflow, mostly unwrapped.
Authentic Newborn Essentials #4:
With Siblings
A must for families with older children, I don’t think I’ve ever had a final gallery that didn’t include at least one shot of baby with their sibling. Toddlers might seem daunting to photograph, and it can depend on how they are on the day, but I personally love working with them! They have so much personality which is awesome (and lots of fun!) but canteen that you have to be creative when trying to get the shot. There are lots of options, including these pictured below. I usually have success when baby is wrapped on the beanbag by asking their big Brother or Sister to come and kiss the top of their head. Another way to capture them together is to lay them down next to each other on a bed or duvet on the floor. I’ve written a more comprehensive guide to photographing siblings as part of a newborn session here.
Laying toddlers down next to their newborn siblings is a relaxed way to photograph them together.
Asking big Brother or Sister to kiss the top of baby’s head can create some really cute images.
The same prompt as above but from a different perspective.
Authentic Newborn Essentials #5:
Close up
What can I say? It’s all in the details. Close ups of baby’s facial features, ears, fingers, hair all help to create a full newborn gallery. They can be captured at any point during the newborn photoshoot but I usually try to get them whilst photographing baby on the beanbag. I like to mix it up by varying lighting directions, for example backlit images offer a different feel to standard lighting.
Backlit close up of baby’s features.
Try to photograph every little detail including little fingers.
Who could resist this little face?!
That’s it! A beginners guide to simple newborn photography.
A quick one this time, but hopefully one that will help you create a gorgeous gallery if you’re attempting simple newborn photography for the first time. No complicated or dangerous posing, no props, just some simple prompts to help you capture lots of beautifully natural photos of baby and their family.
Let me know how you get on!
Rachel
