Tips for photographing your Newborn at home - Lockdown 2020
With everything going on right now its important to remember the world is still spinning and the special life events are still happening. Even if this isn’t how you imagined enjoying your pregnancy & giving birth, at the end of this journey you will be meeting the love of your life…your baby! As a mum I feel so strongly at the moment about reaching out to not only my clients but to other mums to be and new mums at this time. I was 26 when I had my first baby, and even in my mid twenties the whole concept of becoming responsible for a whole person was very daunting. Aside from being totally in love with my newborn son Jude. I also remember feeling completely overwhelmed, scared and anxious - Which are all normal ways to feel. I was lucky to have my family & friends around me, so even when I was feeling unsure (aside from googling every little thing) I also had support. To be bringing a baby in to the world at the moment must be beyond hard at times, so first I want to send lots of virtual hugs. Please stay in touch with people, its okay to be having down days but don’t be alone or feel like you have to be, we are lucky to have so much technology at our hands, every face time, every call, every photo being sent between people is keeping people higher and in a better mentality. This blog is inspired by my clients - The newborn clients I have had to reschedule. Its great that so many of my clients trust my ability to create baby portraits regardless of their babies age, however I don’t want you all to feel you're missing some special tips on how to capture that newborn stage at home. So here I am sharing some simple ways to create beautiful newborn shots when you can’t go to a photographer during the lockdown.
Important note - Please don’t attempt any complicated poses that you might see professional photographers do, your newborn photographer is trained in performing these correctly and safely. All positions here are simple and safe. This is a guide to get some nice shots of your newborn not to replace the beautiful images your professional photographer will do when they are back open or can do if you’ve got one booked in a few months. Professional newborn photographers are so excited to be back to work soon, we have years of experience, studios full of beautiful props and we love our jobs. I just simply want to help people with a few ideas while they are home with their newborns at this very hard time.
What you will need for your session
Camera, this can be an actual camera or phone camera most these days have fancy portrait modes so you play about with depth of field.
A window light
A textured blanket for the backdrop - Or plain (textured blanket will hide creases and create interest)
A scarf or large muslin cloth - Colour of your choice
A white noise app or product (Ewen the sheep/my Hummy/Olly Owl) theres lots of free apps.
Some small soft toys if you wish to add some in
A small pillow or rolled up towel for under baby head (Medium Jelly cat rabbits are perfect)
Warm Room
Your baby (Preferably fed, winded and a clean nappy)
Lighting is key
No studio light - No problem! I shoot all my newborns exclusively with natural light in studio, all you need is a nice big window. Make sure there’s no sun rays coming in directly through the window, you don’t want bright rays of sun on your baby. You want nice constant light. If your house is south facing choose a room at the back in the morning. I shot my daughters first newborn photographs on our bed at home, window light on one side. A great tip is to be looking for soft shadows and highlights. Have your baby angled in a way so that the light flows from the top of baby’s head on down their body at approximately a 45 degree angle. Look for a soft shadow underneath baby’s nose to verify that you have this right.
Relaxing yourself & settling baby
Baby’s sense fear - No joke! Before every session I always try and clear my mind of anything worrying me. As long as baby is fed, winded has a clean nappy you're ready to roll. If they do become unsettled, swaddle (wrap) them in a blanket hold them on your chest and just relax. Rock them a little, stroke their faces, forehead down to nose is a good one. Baby’s are like children they are mirrors. The more relaxed you are the more chilled baby will be resulting in relaxed baby photos. The best time to shoot is mid morning to early afternoon preferably after a feed. White noise is your friend and newborn baby’s love continuous noises you may notice they love the hairdryer and hoover. You can use a white noise app or a product that has white noise.
Keep posing simple - Safety first.
All the poses here are simple and safe. There is one where baby is lay flat you can add a small rolled up muslin or small pillow under their head for support. Some babies settle better on their side. This is helpful if baby has any sort of reflux as laying flat isn’t best after a feed. Please make sure baby is monitored and someone is with them at all times if you are putting baby in a side laying position.
Enjoy it - Take your time.
Unlike an actual studio shoot you have plenty of time to relax and enjoy capturing these moments. These may not be the images you had hoped for from your professional photographer but the tips may help you create some safe and creative images of your baby during this lockdown. Most importantly some beautiful memories of your baby at their newborn stage.
Simplistic lay down
Use the textured blanket as a backdrop, place your wrap across baby as a cover. You can pop a small rolled up towel or very small pillow under baby’s head for a slight elevation to keep baby’s face in view, you don’t want baby’s chin low as you loose their mouth with an ariel shot. This shot looks gorgeous with baby awake/asleep. With a nice deep sleeping baby, you can gently reposition their arms, ether over their heads, one up one down, or as my example is doing here (very nicely) in a relaxed arm placement. You can add a hat or headband to jazz this up a bit and make a variant. Personally I love this natural in a black and white finish so the focus is just on all those beautiful baby features. Here I have done a colour ariel, a further out black and white and also side shot.
Tucked up Teddy’s
A nice easy transition from the position before simply add some soft toys. Make sure you ruffle that scarf a little to add texture and disguise any lumps and bumps from the bottom of toys. I’ve done an ariel shot and a nice little side shot of baby too, remember for the side shot to shoot with the light in front of you so the light falls on one side of your baby’s face.
Simple side lay with wrap cover
Again using your textured blanket down as your main backdrop and a wrap to cover babies nappy. For this you may want to have baby’s legs out and tuck the wrap around them so you can see their size. Keeping nappy on will eliminate any mess - as we all know babies love to make a mess when their nappies are removed! In this shot I have use a medium Jelly cat rabbit body under her head to support and just laid her on her side placing one hand under her face (this doll was a little bit of a rebel). Try and gently open baby’s fingers so they are flat under their face. This can take time so stay patient. I have done three shots here, a close up, a side and an ariel.
Special toy cuddle
Using your textured blanket fold up the bottom half so that you have a matching backdrop/blanket set up, choose a very special toy and lean them into baby. If baby is in a nice deep sleep you can position their hands and arms to maybe lay on the toy for an extra cute look. **This is my daughters very special bunny Millie who she chose for the shot.
Wrapped & creative
Use your textured blanket as a backdrop, wrap your baby in the scarf/muslim cloth, tuck the long length underneath baby and use as a decorative section. I have proper baby up slightly with a bigger pillow, make sure they are safe and have a spotter sit down next to them just in case they move. I have used a couple of flowers from my garden, which look great for girls, you could use decorate items or maybe small personal baby gifts to add that unique look.
Hands and Feet
This type of shot is perfect to add some family connection. Thanks to my seven year old Jude for his hands! Remember to keep baby nice and warm during any shots where they are not wrapped or covered, having a nice warm room always helps. This shot could be a parents hands, siblings hands or both. Have fun! Detail shots are lovely way to remember just how little your baby was. You can also get some close ups of hands, face, ears, nose, fluffy hair etc… babies change so quickly, each detail is precious.
Lay down sibling
Perfect for younger siblings, my daughter is three but this works with all age children and is a lovely way to capture a cuddle or a kiss with baby. Make sure you have a spotter just in case the older child moves suddenly. I have used the textured blanket again. A pillow under their heads keeps everyone comfy and heads elevated. I have wrapped baby here you could use a scarf or a large muslin cloth. Babies hands are out the wrap slightly as its sometimes nice if siblings hold their fingers or hands. This has just made me super broody I want my little girl to have a baby brother/sister - and then I’m like I love my sleep!
Sibling and Parent shots
Again for these images a wrapped baby is a lot easier to work with. I’ve used my children here as an example if this was a real shoot its important to have a spotter so if one of you is taking the photo make sure you have the other parent very close to ensure baby is safe. I have used the window light to back light these, but you could use a blank wall, as long as the room has enough light and there is light on the subject. This type of positioning is lovely for parents too, with the option of holding baby next to a window over sitting down. Knee’s up sitting down supports the weight of baby leaving hands to be seen gently holding baby’s body.
I really hope you have read and enjoyed this blog, and are staying safe during the lockdown. Have fun creating your own special memories. I honestly can’t wait to get back to work for some baby cuddles and a good old chin wag with my clients - Take care & Stay Safe x