Photographing newborns... Help! I'm gonna be taking some photos for a friend within the next month. I have never taken pix of newborns and was wondering if anyone had any advise for...

Somegirl77 Loc: Manteca, Ca

I'm gonna be taking some photos for a friend within the next month. I have never taken pix of newborns and was wondering if anyone had any advise for photographing these little peanuts. I am new to photography and have no additional lighting other than natural sunshine, and have a Nikon D3000 with a basic 18 - 55mm lens.

Bmac Loc: Long Island, NY

Somegirl77 wrote:

I'm gonna be taking some photos for a friend within the next month. I have never taken pix of newborns and was wondering if anyone had any advise for photographing these little peanuts. I am new to photography and have no additional lighting other than natural sunshine, and have a Nikon D3000 with a basic 18 - 55mm lens.

The only advice I can give you is to wait a few months before you take the pictures. Newborns are mostly expressionless and very ugly. 8-)

Danilo Loc: Las Vegas

Bmac wrote:

The only advice I can give you is to wait a few months before you take the pictures. Newborns are mostly expressionless and very ugly. 8-)

Sad, but true...we're not very helpful, are we? Sorry.

Elle Loc: Long Island, NY

Not necessarily so...a friend just sent me a cell-phone shot of her and her new four-hour old granddaughter. Not only is this a new born but one born a month prematurely. The shot was great from a pose and portrait viewpoint..and even with just a cell-phone...not bad at all.

Tea8 Loc: Where the wind comes sweeping down the plain.

Well not that I have any experience photographing newborns either, but I have been around a few photographers who do. Most of them prefer natural light because other lighting can hurt baby's eyes if not careful. They prefer to shoot indoors next to a nice naturally lit window without direct sunlight. Usually they have props, like a posing beanbag, to help support the baby and make them easier to pose. As well as little caps or other things to put on the baby or to wrap them in.

For the ones who don't have a posing beanbag they work with pillows for the same purpose. Sometimes the parents have a special request for things to pose the baby with. Like one set of parents wanted the baby posed with his father's Fireman uniform jacket and another wanted the baby posed with the father's Army jacket. That kind of thing.

Try a search on the internet for baby pictures. See what comes up. That might give you some further ideas for poses or anything else that might help you out.

Somegirl77 Loc: Manteca, Ca

Ha Ha Ha!!! You guys are right there not very exciting creatures but I think I will give it a shot and will make sure to share! Natural lighting makes sense and will look for interesting poses that will hopefully still capture some cuteness! LoL

mooseeyes Loc: Sonora, California

Use natural window light. Put yourself on the same level as the baby. A baby will respond to tactile stimulus. The trick the I have used with good results is to place the baby on its stomach, facing the diffused window light. Get ready, and then have the mother/assistant gently place a baby blanket over the top of the baby's head. . .they tend to lift/push into the blanket. . .take your shot and be a hero.

Bmac Loc: Long Island, NY

Somegirl77 wrote:

Ha Ha Ha!!! You guys are right there not very exciting creatures but I think I will give it a shot and will make sure to share! Natural lighting makes sense and will look for interesting poses that will hopefully still capture some cuteness! LoL

Thank goodness you have a sense of humor. :thumbup:

Somegirl77 Loc: Manteca, Ca

That's a great idea... One question is what about the background? I'm so new to this photography and have no props as of right now. Is there something in my photo editing program I can use? Home made back drop? Or should I just try depth of field and blur out the background?

Somegirl77 Loc: Manteca, Ca

Life's too short Bmac... I take it where ever I go! I heard its contagious as is a smile :0)

BHC Loc: Strawberry Valley, JF, USA

Somegirl77 wrote:

Life's too short Bmac... I take it where ever I go! I heard its contagious as is a smile :0)

Go for the "Serene" look...asleep in Mama's arms. And don't forget Papa's arms. Funny thing, the best newborn picture I ever saw was one of my lumberjack son-in-law (hairy as Sasquatch) with his first child (girl) all wrapped up and almost lost in those huge arms, a shoulder to belt shot.
...From a grandpa of 20+ (never to sure when the next one's coming)

Somegirl77 Loc: Manteca, Ca

Thanks Mogul I will definitely give that a try!

Tea8 Loc: Where the wind comes sweeping down the plain.

As far as backdrops most of the photographers I have seen talking about newborns make their own. They use a sheet or fabric. The color just depends on what other kinds of props they are going to be using. Start practicing now with how to drape fabric or a sheet onto something. I know it sounds a little weird, but I have known a few photogs who practice with baby dolls. You might give it a try and maybe you will be a little more comfortable when it actually comes time for the shoot.

mooseeyes Loc: Sonora, California

Well, once again here is what I have been doing for many years. Use a large piece of foam-cor, with fabric attached. You do not want the background too close to your baby, and since it is the baby that is the purpose of the shoot. . .you should be shooting close to wide open on your lens, throwing the background out of focus/soft. Go online to Jo-Ann's fabrics and look for solids that have a textured look. . .sort of blochy etc. I have several made up in all sorts of looks and colors. Wait for their sales, and you can score some really fun fabrics for next to nothing. Since you don't have a lighting system, hit the fabric with an off camera lamp, if needed. Experiment, be creative, make it work.

Somegirl77 Loc: Manteca, Ca

Thank you for all the creative advise! She's due early october so that gives me a good amount of time to create my props and practice!