DIY Newborn Photos
2020 has been a year of change, we’ve had to change the way we do certain things. Heck, those masks are just the tip of the iceberg! Because of all the craziness that this year has been, DIY newborn photos have become incredibly popular. Parents are wanting to be extra careful because of COVID, maybe finances aren’t there for a professional shoot, or you’re just plain busy. If that sounds like you, you’ve come to the right place. I’ve gathered all my tips for a safe and fun DIY newborn shoot.
Take within the first two weeks. Timing is everything, especially when babies are changing and growing so quickly! If you want to capture baby sleeping with all the classic wrinkly skin, you’ll want to take them within the first two weeks. If you are feeling good and have extra time while still in the hospital, bring your camera and see what you get. Roll the bassinet to the window and turn off all of the lights. Open the blinds and shoot away while baby is napping. After two weeks babies become more alert and potentially fussy which can get a bit overwhelming. If you want more eye contact and more of baby’s personality, wait a few months.
Time your shoot well. Any photographer will tell you that lighting makes or breaks an image so consider when your home gets the best natural light. More importantly the direction of the light is important. You want to find a large window or french door that doesn’t have direct light streaming into it. Ideally this would be a north or south facing window. If you do your newborn shoot in poor light or at night you are more likely to get grainy, and blurry photos.
Direction of light matters Light from a window or door would ideally be hitting baby’s face from the side or forehead first. Never have light hitting feet first or shining up their face. This “uplighting” is harsh and unappealing in photos.
Where should I stand when taking photos? I always say to position yourself so that you can’t see the baby’s nostrils in your camera viewfinder. This normally means standing above them and shooting down on them. That way their face and head is the main focus in your photos and baby doesn’t look distorted, with an overly large bottom half and smaller head.
A sleepy baby makes for the best photos! You want your baby to be calm and in the best mood to make posing and taking pictures a breeze. Sound machines work wonders to get your baby into a content state. Happy warm babies make your photo shoot go much smoother than one that is stressed or cold. Also be prepared to give baby a quick snack if they are acting hungry or tired. I always keep my heater on a little bit higher to ensure the baby stays warm and relaxed during a session. Especially during our Idaho winters, the heater is our best friend!
Tips for keeping them asleep during a shoot :
Feed and burp right before
Make sure diaper is clean
Turn on a noise machine
Make sure the room is warm
Swaddle tightly in a simple wrap
Keep the room warm. Aside from keeping baby’s tummy full, you’ll also want to make sure the room is warm and cozy. A cold baby won’t sleep through the shoot, so try to keep the room as cozy as you can without everyone else melting.
Safety first!! It’s so easy to obsess and gather newborn posing that the pros do but safety should always come first. If you are wanting the more professional poses, reach out to a professional. We know what to do and have been trained! Never leave baby unattended in a prop, on the floor, bed or with a pet. Also, if you are shooting from above, make sure your camera strap is around your neck so there is no chance of you dropping the camera accidentally on the baby.
Keep poses simple. Maybe you’ve seen the “froggy pose” with baby’s head propped up on their hands? (Like in the picture above!) That’s actually a photoshop trick, because otherwise that baby’s head wouldn’t be well enough supported. Please don’t try it at home. Other poses like, tushy up, and taco poses? It takes a photographer years and lots of education and practice to master these poses. Unless done correctly and safety measures are in place these could cause harm to your baby.
Keep your poses simple. Let go of the expectation that your photos are going to look like a professional photographers (they’re not!) but that’s ok. You can still get great shots to look back on years from now! Keep them simple. Stick to poses that work with natural positions for baby. For example, take one with their hands above their head, wrap baby with toes sticking out and focus on toes, lay baby on back and swaddle, pose in just a white onsie on the bed and shoot away to get lifestyle shots. All of these are adorable and any parent can do. Add a cute hat or headband and you are good to go.
Closeups—Don’t forget the details. Take photos of baby’s tiny hands, feet, face, the fuzz on their shoulders and ears, wrinkly fresh skin flakes, rolls on their arms legs and side, double chins, umbilical cords. Those are the things you’re going to want to see years from now. We love all the tiny toes, and wrinkles on their skin.
Use the bed—The master bedroom generally gets great natural light. The bed is a great place to take these photos, safe for baby and comfortable for you to move around and get the perfect shot. Totally perfect for family shots, sibling shots or simple baby poses. They will turn out great on the bed. Try to keep your bedding simple with minimal color.
Declutter - Here’s what you don’t want in the background of your photo, toys all over the floor, the overflowing bookshelf, the messy desk. I know that for me I can’t’ stand having clutter in the back of my pictures. It quickly becomes distracting and just takes away from the image I was trying to get. An otherwise great shot could be ruined by dirty dishes all over the counter. Before you start on your shoot, do a quick clean up. Easiest way to do that? Grab a laundry basket, throw the clutter in it and cart it off to another area of your house. My kids hate laundry basket cleanup because they have to eventually empty and put stuff away but it works great and totally low stress!
HAVE FUN - Remember these photos are just for you and your family, they don’t need to be perfect. Babies are adorable no matter what, and photographing your children is something you’ll be doing for their whole lives. Give it a shot and if all else fails, send me a quick message and we’ll get you booked quick! I hope you have a great time experimenting with your camera and lighting, capturing those precious little features, and documenting these precious early days.
