Newborn Baby Photography Tips: Making the Most of Those First Few Months Together

Having a baby changes your life forever; you don't need us to tell you that! If you have a little one on the way, you will already be preparing yourself for constantly feeling exhausted and run off your feet. You will also be planning to capture some great newborn baby photos of your bundle of joy before they get up and start running away!

So you have one less thing to plan for and worry about, we thought we would compile a list of everything you need to know to make newborn baby photography a success. Feel free to bookmark this page for something to read during one of your many upcoming nighttime feeds.

Any parent will be able to tell you, that the first week is a write-off in terms of making any real plans. This goes for appointments to meet the new baby, as well as carefully orchestrated newborn baby photography shoots. You want to memorialise every event on camera, but in the first week keep your shots low-key and don’t be too hard on yourself. It’s a good idea to spend your downtime keeping it low-key at this stage, for the benefit of your mental and physical well-being.

The best time to start taking your baby photography more seriously is the 7-14 day mark. At this stage, your baby still spends plenty of time in a completely sleepy state, so you will have time to plan and pose without disturbing them too much and spoiling your shoot and your rest time!

Newborn babies sleep most of the time, so planning an appropriate time should be easy, right? While this is partly true, once you factor in feeding and sleep times, you have less time than you think for your model to remain patient. Once you have figured out a routine that works for you, you will quickly be able to determine the perfect time to organise your shoot.

Generally, a newborn baby will wake up and need a nappy change and then a feeding before going back to sleep. Your best plan of attack could involve having your partner or assistant start organising your photo gear and props as soon as the baby wakes, so once you have completed all the necessary parenting duties, you can quickly put on your photographer’s hat and start shooting.

While all sleeping babies are undoubtedly beautiful, some simple newborn baby photography props help put the finishing touch on your home baby photography.

You don't need an abundance of toys, just warm and cosy blankets and wraps will do the trick, as well as a stuffed toy for extra comfort. Baby photography with flowers is particularly effective, as it drives home the joy that is a newborn baby, by symbolising new life and love. Too many props can look busy and take the attention away from your baby, so as always, take some test shots and review your results.

Not only does natural light look nicer than on-camera flash and photos taken under your home overhead lights but it will also help you enhance the hushed atmosphere required to keep the baby sleeping. If you have a large open window in your home, this will be the best option as it will deliver soft and diffused light, but the tricky part is pinpointing the perfect time of day to make the most of said window.

A great option is to do a few test runs at different points in your home, by different windows and at different times of the day, to find out which area produces the best-looking light and at what time. You can use a still-life object such as a doll for your test runs if you want to replicate the images that you ultimately plan to capture, or you can use a larger living model. For this tip, our blog on producing beautiful natural light portraits will come in very handy.

Once you've found your perfect light source you can uncover how to make the best use of it for the most beautiful baby photos. As with all portraiture, lighting that falls on a face from directly above and below will not be the best option, as it produces odd shadows and is ultimately less flattering.

Understanding how the direction of light impacts your photography is crucial for any photographer. For newborn baby photography, try to position your little one in such a way that the light is being directed either from one side of their face or at a 45-degree angle from the top. These are the options that will show off their beauty.

As a newborn baby is generally laying down during a photoshoot, many beginners stand at the foot of their bed and angle the camera up at the baby. This is not the best angle for the baby and will usually result in them looking oddly distorted, with a small head and large lower body. 

By making the simple adjustment of making sure you photograph the baby straight-on, that is making sure your camera lens is not angled in order to frame your shot.

Want to know the secret of what takes all photos from beginner level to something far better? It's the decisions you make when framing. Ultimately, your main role as a photographer is to decide what to include in the confines of your frame and where you place these objects - this is known as composition.

In simple terms, you want to avoid sitting your baby in the centre of your frame and firing, as this is much too boring. Some key techniques to investigate and master in order to improve your compositions include utilising the rule of thirds, leading lines and negative space. Try to think outside of the norm to create a unique image that viewers can engage with.

Capturing precious moments of a newborn baby is a simpler and more successful task with the right baby photography equipment. With the right tools, you can create stunning images that will be cherished for years to come. Here's a short list of essential baby photography equipment to consider:

• Mirrorless Cameras: Mirrorless cameras are top of the photography pile, thanks to their desirable mix of portability and image quality. Their lighter weight also makes them come in handy if you want to plan a baby photography shoot on location.

• Standard zoom Lens: For versatility, we suggest a standard zoom lens for baby photography. A standard zoom lens is generally in the 24-70mm focal range.
• Baby Photography backdrops:  Photography Backdrops are a shortcut to creating your own scenes and moods, without leaving the comfort of your own home or studio.

Are your kids already too grown up to make the most of our newborn photography tips? The good news is, that we have also compiled our top tips for photographing kids right here. If you would like to try out any of the tips mentioned on our photography blog but need some new gear to get started, shop online or at your local Ted's store today.