During this pandemic, having a professional photographer around your newborn might not be the best option. This is primarily because of the health concerns, work schedules, finances, family visits, and complicated deliveries, among many other reasons. Besides, many professional photographers have shut down their businesses due to the pandemic's impact. Some might have re-opened and adhered to the COVID-19 precautions. But keeping in mind the immunity of your newborn baby, the best way to protect them is by taking the photos by yourself.
The following are some of the tips to help you capture some awesome pictures.
Prepare while you are pregnant
Even before your baby arrives, you might want to gather some props, clothing, or any other accessories that you might want to use to photograph your child. Also, prepare yourself mentally with the look you want to achieve. You have to prepare before you get your baby because you will have little or even zero energy to run from one shop to the other as a new mom.
Safety first
As a new parent, the safety of your kids must be your priority. You might have seen many pose styles that look like something out of this world. But the reality is that most of these poses are achieved with the help of Photoshop. So before you try that Froggy-style pose you saw in a magazine, try finding safer alternatives for your kid. For instance, you can get a Wicker Moses Basket made of solid wicker and has the best prop for a baby's photography.
Simplify things
You don't have to make things more complicated to get a good picture of your kids. In fact, the best and sweetest photos are always the simplest. You can incorporate neutral blankets, some simple knit hats, and some solid coloured wraps.
Also, for your newborn, try getting them some classic and tight-fitting wraps and tees. This is mainly because the cute baby clothes might get distracting in the picture, and they slightly overshadow the baby.
Train your assistant
If you are doing a photo session by yourself, you will definitely need someone's help. You cannot hold the reflector yourself or even pull the binky out of your child's mouth. So, if you are at home and have an older kid, try filling them in on the session's details. Your assistant should be able to fix your kids' position while you take the photos.
Pro tip: If you want to capture those sleepy moments of your baby, try and have the photo session when they are 1-2 weeks old.
Turn of your camera's flash and overhead lights
To be honest, overhead cameras tend to generate weird colours and shadows and usually are not advisable for pictures. Also, the camera's flash will only worsen things as it will create the nasty deer-in-the-headlight look. So, the best thing to do is take advantage of natural light, which means that your photo session must take place during the day.
Timing is crucial for natural light; you have to ensure that it is not so intense that it creates a harsh shadow. Instead, the room should not be too shadowy. Also, try placing your baby near the window and if the illumination is not suitable for the picture, find another room.
Summing Up
Babies are adorable, and capturing the moments that matter is something that you will be doing for a very long time. Have a great time trying out with your camera and illumination, capturing those tiny features and documenting the precious memories.
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