Babies grow incredibly fast in the first few months of life. The best way to preserve memories is to have a newborn photo shoot. Keep in mind that newborns require special care and handling. The ideal age for a newborn photo shoot is between 7 and 15 days. In these early days, babies tend to be sleepy, which makes a newborn photo session easier. However, you can still achieve curled-up poses with older newborns. They will not be able to curl up as easily due to developing muscle tone, so the poses will be a little different.
Equipment
For a newborn photoshoot it is better to use a full-frame camera with a 24-70 mm lens. But you can also shoot with simple primes, 35 or 50 mm. The main thing is to make sure that the lens you choose allows you to be close to the child, because safety is of paramount importance. Do not leave the child unattended, and if you need to step away, ask the parents to ensure the baby's safety and comfort. You may also need a background, a bowl or any container in which you can lay the baby, a knitted blanket or scarf, a large softbox, an editor for post-processing.
For gentle shots, you will need a source of diffused light. Softboxes will add softness. Make sure that enough light hits the baby's face. Choose a simple and laconic background and give preference to pastel shades. The less variegation, the more delicate the shot will be. Another argument in favor of light tones for the background and accessories is reflections. Bright colors will color the baby's skin in unnatural shades. Choose soft fabrics for swaddling, it is important for a newborn to feel safe and cozy. Wrap the baby securely. You can first use stretch fabric, and after making sure that the baby is comfortable and his arms and legs are positioned comfortably, use a second that matches the chosen color scheme.
During shooting
Make sure that the baby does not touch the rim of the improvised cradle and is safe and comfortable. Position his head higher than your feet so your feet are not closest to the lens. Determine the light level. Use a light meter to accurately set the light and minimize the time spent setting it up. Set your shutter speed and ISO with a meter and adjust your aperture based on the reading. Overexposing slightly can help soften the look of your newborn’s skin. Keep accessories to a minimum, just one decorative element and a light, soft background, such as a crib mattress or blanket. White balance is a tricky subject to work with. Use a gray card as a neutral color reference and starting point for white balance. Set your camera’s white balance to it or use tools in Camera Raw or Lightroom.
The position of the light depends on the style of image you want to create. Newborn portraits tend to have soft lighting and soft shadows. Try to avoid too much contrast. Good shots are obtained if you photograph the baby from the front. Don't forget to diversify the series by shooting details and changing the angle. So, you can shoot from above, but do not use a ladder so that you do not have a chance to fall from it onto the baby or drop the camera.
Some tips
Use these simple strategies to ensure that the session goes smoothly. Make sure, that the baby is warm and comfortable during the photo shoot. It rarely happens that a newborn sleeps from the moment he enters the studio until the end of the photo shoot. Therefore, set aside time for the baby's parents to feed and change the baby. To make the session as calm as possible, heat the room. Once the baby is wrapped, reduce the temperature. The baby should be warm and cozy, but not too hot. A good option is to use white noise to help calm the baby. For this, you can use a special app on your phone or find a playlist in your favorite music service.
