Inside a Newborn Photo Shoot in a Studio

No doubt at all, newborn photography is more complicated than photography with adults and older kids. This is because the newborn time is such a fleeting and sensitive time, and it can really matter exactly when you schedule the shoot. You may want to do the shoot in the first ten days, when the baby is mostly sleeping and easy to pose. Or you may want to do it a little later, when the baby is more interactive and might have open eyes in shots. No matter what you choose, you’re still working with a very tiny human, who may have very specific needs for timing, feeding, diaper changes, and temperature. Let’s talk about what goes on in a newborn photo shoot in a studio!

Inside a Newborn Photo Shoot in a Studio:

First of all, preparation is more important than ever:

Depending on the time of day or year, you can’t really plan around the weather. I used to long for sunny days for shoots, so I’d have the option of sunlight through the studio windows. Since this isn’t something you can count on where I live, I always use a lighting kit. My portable one that allows me to walk around has umbrella lights, a speed-lite, and a Fong diffuser. I always keep a simple, versatile setup with at least three strobes, light stands or c-stands, wireless synchronization, speedlights, and modifiers, such as umbrellas, which help to diffuse the light, control the mood, and add creativity as well. As you get more advanced, you can experiment with softboxes, octaboxes, gels, grids, reflectors, and more. Remember that you need a light stand for every light, and the stands need to be sturdier, the heavier your lights are. I always have a main camera, a backup camera, and four lenses to choose from as well.

Patience is key:

This works for ANY photo shoots with kids (and some adults), but babies may need to eat or sleep, or eat and sleep and poop at the same time. The newborn photo shoot will generally have outfit changes. Talk it over first with parents to see if you can bring any props or materials, or if they’d rather use their own. I don’t carry around a bunch of random baby items, because I personally like the ones that are special to a specific family – blankets they came home in, headbands that match their eyes, or other items purchased personally for them! That’s just me, though! Many photographers have props.

Follow the baby’s lead:

You can spend hours trying to get a baby in a basket or on a blanket, and the baby can scream the whole time. In many successful shoots, sometimes the baby is happiest in a family member’s arms. Make sure to take breaks for diaper changes and feedings, and know that the next nap is always around the corner.

Use backdrops:

For newborn photography, backdrops can be exceptionally helpful. We love using Katebackdrop AU, because the backdrops are BEAUTIFUL, high-quality, wrinkle resistant, durable, washable, seamless, and more. With newborn photography, especially, you want your photos to tell a story, and backdrops are wonderful at this. You can choose different color schemes, holidays, and more. It’s nice to have an assortment to offer your clients, or to maybe have mini sessions for each backdrop so that you can see several clients without needing to change the background. They are also portable so you can use them in a studio or even take them to a client’s home.