Hello everyone!
With the baby deliveries of two of the four moms that we have done maternity sessions for in the past two months, It has initiated my writing the blog on newborn photography sessions.
I remember the first time that I had the privilege of shooting a newborn session, it was twins. Wow, talking about diving right in! It was hard work and I really had no idea what I was doing. I didn't get any of the great poses or any photos without a baby crying. I truly was unaware of what to do. I thought that the new babies would be resting with a little smile on their faces. I also thought that it would be easy since they couldn't run away! Wow, was I ever in for a surprise!
Not every photographer is a newborn photographer just as not every photographer is wedding photographer, I can proudly say that I LOVE both! Most people think that shooting a newborn session would be the easiest photo session of them all..this is so far from true!
Here is a brief run down of a newborn session:
Arrive at the home of the baby
Bring in all of the props, photo equipment, baby sound machine (setup)
Wash up (very important before handling the baby)
Hold the baby (love the baby :))
undress the baby for those cute little bottom photos first (now the baby is a little upset since he/she has no clothes on)
Rock baby, sing to baby, shhhhhhh baby (15 to 20 minutes maybe?)
Pose baby on baby poser
Shhhh baby BACK to sleep after posing
Grab camera and shoot, shoot, shoot.
Repose baby for second photo
Baby wakes, shhhhhhh baby back to sleep
Grab camera and shoot, shoot, shoot.
Re-post baby for third photo
Baby OOPS, has to potty (oh no, we took off the diaper)
Clean up baby
Baby cries
Baby wants to eat
Baby goes to mom for feeding
Wait 30 minutes
Wow, baby is wide awake
wait
wait
wait
At this point, we have gotten two good poses in...
This is the typical session, fun? Yes, Long? Yes, patience is the key! You may end up with some great photos but it is work! A newborn session can take anywhere from one to three hours!
Most importantly, know who is taking your baby's photos! With so many new baby posing ideas out now, be careful that your baby is being handled with care. If a photographer wants to pose your baby and your not comfortable with the pose, say so! Babies are very pose-able after birth but photographers need to be sure that the baby is comfortable. It is important for instance that a baby that is laying on his arm is getting correct blood flow to the arm.
Also, let me say that is is very important that these photos are done (if at all possible) within the first 10 days following delivery! This allows for great posing usually without waking the baby. As the baby gets older, the times of being awake are longer and closer together. You can grab some great shots while the baby is awake, but usually not the "staged" photographs.
If your having a baby soon, or know someone else who might be, send this link to them, they might find it helpful to take some of the guess work out of their newborn session!
If you or a friend are interested in a newborn session with us, call us at (843) 458-2215 or email us. You can find our contact page on our website at http://www.llpphotos.com/.
Thank you for stopping in!!
Lori Leigh's Photography
