Hey there new moms and dads!

I truly wish I could be there with you to capture the first and most precious moments of life with your new baby, but the current social distancing restrictions have limited what I am allowed to do. All photography studios are mandated to be closed as we are considered a non-essential business. But babies won’t stay little forever, so instead of waiting for the studio to open, I’m going to help you capture some photos yourself so these important moments are not lost.

CAMERA

Using a smartphone? Disable that flash and resist using any filters. Filters can date your photos and you want these to be timeless!

Using a DSLR? Avoid “AUTO mode” since it often forces your pop-up flash to trigger. I encourage you to explore some other modes your camera has to offer, especially Av mode. YouTube has some great resources!

LIGHTING

If there is one thing that can make a photo look great (or terrible for that matter) it would be lighting. During in-home sessions, I always rely on natural light. 

Here are a few important things to consider when shooting with natural light:

• Turn off all overhead lights and lamps
• Use rooms that are bright with large windows
• Avoid direct sunlight; use sheers or shutters to help diffuse and soften the direct sunlight if necessary

The direction of your light source is also very important. Consider the way we are lit by the sun. Sunlight starts at our head and points down to our feet. Natural light never comes ‘up’ from the ground. Uplighting leads to unflattering and unnatural shadows, like when someone would hold a flashlight in the dark while telling a scary story.

TIMING

Time of day when shooting newborns is critical for two reasons: one is to maximize the best natural light, and two, to determine the best time for your baby. From years of experience, I often find that mid-morning to early afternoon is the most optimal for light and baby. Most newborns experience the “witching hour” during late afternoon and evening when they may be fussy, so I tend to avoid shooting during that time. You want your baby to be comfy, calm and sleeping, unlike my bright-eyed baby during this session!

When I am photographing a newborn in the studio, I typically recommend that we capture the session when babies are under 2-3 weeks old. This isn’t just because I want to snuggle fresh little ones (which is also true), but because they are often sleepy and easier to swaddle. Baby should have a full tummy, a clean diaper, and should be nice and sleepy before you try to capture these images. Keeping the room a comfortable temperature and playing some white noise can help to keep baby settled (check out the Rain Rain app). A happy baby also means a happy mama!

KEEP IT SIMPLE

Props may be cute and tempting, however, posing newborns with props is best left to the professionals that have trained on how to do it safely. Instead, grab a simple neutral blanket to swaddle your baby and shoot in bright spaces like a living room or bedroom. This will lead to the best possible lifestyle images. Simple shots of the baby sleeping on a couch, in a crib, or snuggled by mama in a rocking chair will be ideal and also the easiest for you to capture. Laying a nice blanket down or using your carpet as a backdrop is effective too. Don’t overthink it too much. Aim for simplicity. 

When it comes to swaddling for photos, it is best to find a blanket with a bit of stretch in it to help wrap up baby nice and snug. Fold baby’s legs up, just as if they were still in the womb and tuck their arms across their chest. You will notice that I tuck the extra fabric under baby so their own body weight helps to keep the swaddle snug and in place. Please note, your baby should not be left in this swaddle for sleeping – this is just for photo purposes. Please refer to the Canadian guidelines for safe sleep practices.

Continuing with the theme of simplicity, the wardrobe for family members should be simple as well! Neutral t-shirts (without any logos or bold designs) photograph the best. Simple and solid clothing helps to keep your baby as the focal point. And when it comes to siblings, I suggest they go barefoot! 

ANGLES

Play with angles. You don’t need to always shoot straight on. Move around your baby and get up close. Shoot from far to show their tiny scale on a big bed. Capture their tiny details- their profile, eyelashes, fingers, lips, all of it! Do your best to avoid shooting up the baby’s nose.

BE PRESENT

As important as your newborn is to your family, don’t forget about yourself. You need to be in these photos too! Hand your camera to your partner or an older child, or use a timer if necessary. Include siblings and any other special family members that live in your home.

TRY AGAIN TOMORROW

If it’s not working out for you, luckily time is on your side! You can always try again tomorrow, or the next day, or the day after that. Stop before anyone gets too hungry or too cranky because you can always try again.

PRINT YOUR PHOTOS

Once you’ve captured these precious images, don’t just let them linger in an album on your phone or on social media. Print them! I would be happy to edit and print one complimentary 5×7 image from what you have captured. If you’d like me to help you select the best image, we can do that virtually as well! 

I hope that with the help of these tips, you will capture some beautiful photos of your sweet new baby. Once social distancing restrictions are lifted, I will gradually begin shooting in the studio and outdoors again, and I would be so honoured to photograph your family! Watch your inbox for details.

Stay safe and stay home.