I have a nice set of studio lights and a great speed light, but all my newborn work is done in natural light. But you do need a space that has sufficient light, especially if you work in someone elses' home. I travel to my customers' homes more than they come to me. It is just easier for them.

It is more about knowing the craft and doing it well.[/q

can you suggest some lights for me to purchase? i have no idea what to get. this was my very first ever photoshoot with anyone other than my family. i did not charge her a dime. i woundnt dare charge anyone until i know what i am doing and have some consistancy. but id like to really make some progress towards that! i really want to be good at this![/quote]

As I mentioned, I find it is easiest to send me a PM. ;-)

I am a newborn photographer and I would be happy to give you specific help if you would like to PM me. But over all a few general things to consider. #2 is way too busy and the amount of "foof"on the baby is distracting. Also, the newborn shots are typically done without a diaper... they just have the tendency to look better overall. And yes, you take gambles when you do it. I average two loads of laundry after a typical newborn shoot. ;-)

Generally, true newborn photography is done with a baby less than 2 weeks old for many good reasons. Babies older than two weeks startle more easily and thus your towel shot, despite the praise you are getting, is not considered safe. I am hoping this is a composite shot and that you merged photos in post rather than actually placed an infant in that unsafe position. Please tell me you had a spotter near by as the child is too large for that small plane given the height!

One of the challenges with people shooting newborns is safety. I see it all the time in unskilled hands and safety should be the number one concern. People often think, "hey, I have a camera, I like to shoot, I have kids, I've seen some neat pictures on line, I can do that!" Newborn photography really is a specialty and there is wonderful training out there to learn how to do it safely and well. But attempting to match what you see someone else do can be dangerous in unskilled hands. Please be careful! Do not practice newborn photography alone as a spotter is always used by professionals.

As for the pictures themselves you came closest in #3. However, I would say the background would be more "nursery dreamy" if it was white, get rid of the purple flower insert (that looks awkward) and use a larger space so the child appears smaller, get rid of the diaper and capture the child sleeping. (It is easy to get with a baby just a few days old) That would be a picture that sells.

Your baby girl is adorable and you have a beautiful "built in subject" to practice on for years to come! ;-) Congrats. Just promise me you'll not attempt any skilled pose that "looks" unsupported when in "reality" those who do it professionally "do it" in Photoshop. There...now you know one of the magic tricks on the trade. ;-)

Best of luck!

Lovely images bit your lighting is too flat and boring on the first two shots. I'm not being nasty just pointing out a fact, this way you can change it and make future shots even more striking. You need to get more shape to the face with use of more creative lighting.

What you have is on camera straight on lighting which is very flat and unflattering. Move the flash off camera and soften it through the use of a diffuser and you will see your images improve. Any mother can simply take a photo of their baby with on camera flash, so why would they need to hire you?

When you start taking flash off camera and get creative with lighting, that is when you set yourself apart and your photos will always look better than anything a mum with a camera can achieve with the flash just on camera. That is what will make you unique to every other mum out there with a camera who fancies themselves as a new Ann Geddies. I just want you to be even better. Nice use of the dark background too. Also try another added flash off and behind the subject, this will give a rim light and set the subject even more away from the background to make it really pop.