WHY IS PHOTOGRAPHING YOUR NEWBORN A MUST?
Your new family member has arrived home, you have had a few days of adjustment, and now you can start thinking about all the practical stuff that needs to be done, but also about keeping the memories of those blessed days for the future.
Every new parent knows how difficult it is to do it themselves, because no matter how much photography experience they already might have, the fact is: babies are cute, but they are in no way easy models.
This is exactly the reason why you should leave that job to a professional: so you can just relax and enjoy your bundle of joy, while the photographer does all the work about preserving your most precious memories.
However, the successful photo shoot requires some preparation, and although there is no definitive newborn photography prep guide for parents, there are some tips and tricks that we recommend.
THE BEST TIME TO SCHEDULE A NEWBORN PHOTOGRAPHY SESSION
The first important question is when should the session take part. First, you should ask yourself whether you want the photos of the baby asleep, and, if that is the case, the session should be done early, within their first 14 days. Around 8 days old, babies start stretching out, so it is more difficult to get them into those cute, sleeping poses.
However, some parents do not really understand why you would even want to take baby photos when they are asleep, and they want playful and awake baby photos. That changes the timetable, and those photographs should usually be taken after the four-week mark.
MANAGING YOUR EXPECTATIONS FOR BABY’S FIRST PHOTOGRAPHY SESSION
Before the actual photo shoot, you should take some time to talk to your photographer about your vision or the ideas for the newborn photography session.
While preparing for the newborn photo shoot, parents often do some research online and/or come with their own ideas, which are often cute and fun. However, the photographer might have some tips about realization and facilitating those ideas, but also some realistic facts and advice. This might be about posing, props, shooting style or really anything connected to the session itself.
The parents should always first check out the photographer’s quality and style of work to ensure they will get what they expect. Some photographers do more portraits, some prefer posed scenes, some lifestyle images, and all of those styles should be discussed in advance. Also, always keep in mind that every newborn photographer will always first take into account the safety of the baby, and only then the quality and creativity.
Most photographers have a great selection of props, hats, headbands, bowties, blankets, baskets and backdrops to choose from. The parents should discuss their desires before the session and let the artist know of any special items of their own that you would like them to use.
SOME FINAL THOUGHTS ABOUT PREPARING PARENTS FOR THE NEWBORN PHOTO SHOOT
In the end – always remember that you know your newborn better than anybody, so never hesitate to bring up any concerns or suggestions. You should always be upfront with your photographer about anything.
However, do stay patient. Babies can sense when their parents are upset. Crying, inability to soundly sleep, bathroom breaks, and the need for more feeding are all normal things during a photo session. Prepare for accidents and pauses to clean up or calm down the baby.
The truth is – you can never know how a newborn photo session will go. Babies are pretty unpredictable models, but that is what makes them so adorable! Hopefully, these suggestions help you feel prepared and comfortable for your upcoming photo date. If you are still unsure about something, just ask the photographer! And for some inspiration, check out my newborn photo gallery.
0 Comments