Tips for taking photographs of newborn babies

If you are first time parents, you would be very excited to take photographs of your newborn baby. It can be very interesting but it could be challenging as well. Even for the experience photographer, it can be hard. Just a few weeks old, your newborn will sleep a lot, sometimes would give you a smile and definitely won't be able to sit up on their own. They can't hold their heads up on their own and won't understand your instructions. Here are a few tips which could help you to get that perfect shot of your newborn.

Lighting is important

Lighting is one of the most important elements in photography. Your newborn baby's eyes are very sensitive and you do not want to use your camera flash on them. Your camera flash can startle them by surprise. So, avoid using the flash as much as possible if you can. It is best to shoot in natural light. Look for natural light coming in from a large window or go outdoors.

If natural light is not an option, you can increase your camera ISO and exposure compensation. If you must use flash, ‘bounce’ it off the ceiling or wall to keep the light indirectly hitting your newborn. This way, you get less overblown shots of your newborn and keeps the baby’s eye safe. Another way to diffuse the light from the flash is putting a frosted container over it or aim the flash through white tracing paper.

Angles

Do try to get down to the same level as the newborn, and compose the frame with the baby filling it fully.

Photographing close up shots is another way to improve your angles. Move close to your newborn or using a longer focal lens such as the 100mm can help you get a close up. Be careful not to get the lens too close to your newborn as that might startle them too.

Include people with the newborn

You can make the photograph more interesting by including yourself, grandparents, relatives or siblings with the newborn. Alternatively, get together another newborn in the image and capture them together. It would be really sweet to see them bonding together.

Magnify it with macro

Focus on the smaller parts of their body such as face, hand, feet, fingers or eye. Going macro will capture the details you might miss. This will create beautiful photographs. Lay them out on the album in a series next to a wide shot would be really nice.

The Beauty of Black and White

Newborn babies are prone to have red spots on their face and their skin is usually blotchy. So, photographing in black and white can be effective in removing them. Usually black and white softens the image which suggests that babies are soft and cuddly.

Final Tip

Switch your camera to shoot in continuous mode. It will help you not to miss the subtle, small moments a baby makes which usually caught you by surprise. You can also put them in or on objects is another trick you can to use. Babies are small and they can easily fit into things like basket, buckets or box. Your creativity is the limit! However do practice safety. You do not want to hurt your newborn because you are so into photographing them.

Getting your newborn attention would be a challenge. You can grab their attention by using a rattle or even parent’s voice to get them to look at you. They are attracted easily to new forms of sound. All you need to do is setup your camera on a tripod. Then stand next to it and attract their attention. Be ready for the moment and snap away!

So here you have it, some tips for taking photographs of your newborn baby.