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I had a couple great shoots over the weekend.  It was a lot of fun spending time with proud parents of baby Pippa. What a cutie!

Newborn shoots are a challenge.  Here are a few tips when photographing infants (thanks Tracy Callahan):

1. Keep the baby warm:

Newborns have a difficult time regulating their own body temperature. To keep them comfortable with no clothing on it is important that you keep your studio warm. If you choose to use a heater fan be sure to keep it far away from the baby so you don’t hurt their sensitive skin.  If you are sweating during your session then you have it nice and warm for the baby and he/she will likely sleep more soundly.

2. Make it noisy:

The sounds in the womb are very loud. Newborns will sleep more soundly if there is white noise in the room. I not only find it helpful for the baby but it also relaxes me as well as the parents. Being relaxed is key since babies will pick up on your energy. It also helps me relax. There are several iPhone apps out there that create white noise.

3. Full belly equals a happy baby:

I always ask the newborn’s parents to try to hold off feeding their baby until they arrive at the studio. I have the parents feed their baby first prior to beginning the session. If the baby is happy when they arrive then I start with the family images and then have them feed their baby while I am setting up. I also stop if needed during the session if the baby needs to eat some more. Babies with a full belly will sleep much better.

4. Keep them awake prior to coming to the studio:

I always ask that parents try to keep their baby awake for 1-2 hours prior to coming in to the studio. A good way to have them do this is by giving their baby a bath. This is a great way for the babies to tire themselves out a bit.

5. Time of day matters:

If at all possible I always schedule my newborn sessions for first thing in the morning. This is a time when most babies sleep more soundly. Afternoons are typically not good and can be quite a nightmare.  Anyone who has kids (I have four) can attest to the fact that kids of all ages tend to not be at their best as late afternoon approaches. It is the same for newborns.

6. Stay calm and relaxed:

Babies are very perceptive and can pick up on our energy. If you are nervous or anxious the baby will sense that and will not settle easily. If the baby’s Mom is anxious this can also affect how the baby does.

7. Get them while they are young:

The best time to photograph a newborn is in the first fourteen days of life. During this time they sleep more soundly and curl up more easily into adorable poses.

Newborn sessions can be quite time consuming so you should plan accordingly and educate the parents. If you are stressed about time the babies will sense that. My typical newborn session lasts at least 2 hours.  It takes time to get newborns comfortably posed and sleeping soundly. It also takes time to perfect the little details like keeping their hands flat and fingers straightened.

9. Be safe:

Remember that although you are an artist and your goal is to capture an amazing image, at the end of the day this is someone’s precious new life that they have entrusted you with.  No portrait is worth putting a baby at risk of getting hurt. Use common sense and always make sure to have someone VERY close by spotting the baby, even if the baby is on a beanbag. Be gentle and NEVER force a newborn into a pose.   Make it a habit to always wash your hands well before starting the session, and make sure that all of your blankets are laundered after each use.

10. Enjoy!

What an amazing experience it is to hold a precious new life in your hands and be able to document all the precious details of these little ones.