Whether you're a brand new photographer that needs a little direction or a brand new parent that wants to photograph your own baby, these newborn photography tips will get you going in the right direction.
And don't think it has to be overly complicated, either.
As you'll soon find out, these tips are simple and straightforward, yet offer you a way to create more impactful photos that highlight the beauty of your precious subject.
Let's get started!
Mix Posed Shots With Lifestyle Shots
Posed shots like the one above are a must-have.
They're a great opportunity to highlight the baby, and since they are often asleep, you can position them and mold their bodies to create adorable poses.
The key to a great posed newborn photo is to add props like hats or blankets, which not only keep the baby warm but also add color and texture to the photo for more visual interest.
But you have to act quick for these types of shots - the first 2-3 weeks of a baby's life is the ideal time because they sleep so much.
Lifestyle shots, on the other hand, put the baby in more contextual situations, like with mom or dad.
This is definitely a much more casual approach to newborn photography that works beautifully with the more formally posed shots mentioned above.
These kinds of shots are perfect for highlighting the relationship between the baby and his or her parents, siblings, and other family members.
Ideally, lifestyle photos are taken periodically throughout the first 5-6 weeks, though they are easy to capture throughout the child's life as well.
The great thing about lifestyle shots is that it allows you to capture genuine moments that you (or your clients) might not remember all that well a few months down the road.
Learn More:
Be Inspired by the Baby
There are oodles of sources for inspiration for your newborn baby photos - Instagram, Pinterest, online parenting communities, and articles like this one.
And while all of these sources are extremely valuable, don't just rely on them for inspiration for your photos. Instead, give the baby you're photographing a little credit!
From big, chubby cheeks to bright eyes to little fingers and toes and full heads of hair, your little subject will have physical features and personality traits that are sure to inspire your work.
The key is to not get bogged down in trying to replicate the newborn photos you saw on Pinterest and allow the baby to inspire your photos as you shoot.
After all, the best photos you take might be happy accidents that happen along the way!
Editor's Tip: Turn your newborn photography into incredible wall art. Find out how.
Try Macro
Not every portrait you take has to be of the baby's face or their entire body.
In fact, the first few weeks of their life when they sleep all the time is ideally suited for grabbing a macro lens and getting in close to show off the baby's cute little details.
A clasped hand with tiny fingers, little feet curled up, eyelashes, and chubby arms and legs make excellent subjects for macro shots.
Plus, these kinds of detail-oriented photos are the perfect complement to the posed and lifestyle shots I mentioned earlier.
When you combine the three together into a photo album, it offers a complete story of who this little person was at this point in their life.
Editor's Tip: If you don't have a macro lens, an ideal choice is a 100mm f/2.8 as it offers excellent sharpness and a wide aperture for minimizing depth of field.
Print Those Photos!
Of course, the previous steps don't really do a lot of good if you don't print the photos you take.
This isn't to say that you need to get huge canvas prints of every photo, but choosing a selection of your best work to have printed will give you or your clients the perfect way to enjoy the photos you've taken.
The best part about having photos of your newborn printed on something like canvas is that it's such a tactile experience.
That is, it's one thing to look at photos of my son on my computer, but it's another thing entirely to look at his photos as they hang on my wall.
A printed photo is something you can see and touch, and that makes the viewing experience so much more meaningful.
I can't begin to say how thrilled I am with my canvas! You made a simple photo that I took on my cell phone into a cherished memory brought to life. I will most definitely be using you again. - Mary L., Albuquerque, NM
I've especially enjoyed my canvas prints from CanvasHQ, because they're big, have vibrant colors, and are constructed to the highest standards.
That makes my photos of my son look and feel like an heirloom piece rather than a cheap print I got at Walgreens.
When you get photos of newborns printed, you want to be sure you choose a company like CanvasHQ that is committed to customer service.
If you have questions, you want to get a quick response - and when you call, you want to talk to an actual human being.
What's more, you want a printer that will rectify any problems that occur. If you don't like your print, having a money-back guarantee puts your mind at ease.
Extremely pleased with the quality of the canvas, the ease with which it was to order, and the punctuality and speed of delivery. - Kyle T., Baltimore, MD
In other words, don't save all your hard work for planning and taking photos of a newborn.
Instead, bring it home with a gorgeous print from a reputable printing company like CanvasHQ that will treat your photos as though they're their own.
Trust me - I've gotten tons of prints over the years, and none have come close to the quality of these canvases!
See what your newborn photos look like on canvas.
Learn More:
- You Can Learn From the Mistakes I've Made When Ordering Prints
- Why Photographers Should Print on Canvas