New Born Photography Tips – Preparation Guide for Parents

It is relatively new concept. Ritual don’t allow it but it is great to have one.

Lot of Photographers are being asked by the parents to prepare for New Born/Infant photography. Here are some F.A.Q

• WHAT IS THE IDEAL AGE FOR A NEWBORN PHOTOGRAPHY SESSION?
  It is 5-10 days. Babies are that tiny they spend a lot of time sleeping and still curl up into very sweet poses similar to the positions they were in the womb. After this period it wont be that easy to keep them still, as they stretch out very frequently.
• HOW LONG DOES A SESSION TAKE?
  Session typically last 3-4 hours which includes portraits of the baby on their own and then with each parent and then the whole family together. That may seem like a long time, but usually about half of that time is spent feeding and comforting the baby to get them as sleepy and happy as possible for the portraits.
• WHAT SHOULD YOUR BABY WEAR TO A NEWBORN SESSION?
  Most newborn photography is done naked to capture the tininess of being an infant, so something that is easy to be wear on and off. If you’d rather have your baby clothed in the pictures something that fits them very well is important. Big clothes on babies looks terrible. Seems like they are swallowed by the clothe.
• WHAT ELSE SHOULD YOU BRING?
  Pacifiers
  A change of clothes for yourself as may get pooped by your baby more often.
  Some extra diapers and wipes, extra formula or bottles if you are not breastfeeding.
  Any special blankets or toys.
  Any thing other than this that is in your mind is always welcome but inform us first.

• WHAT TO DO TO MAKE SURE THE BABY IS COMFORTABLE?
  One of the most important things is to make sure the room is very warm. If still cold, keep the heat turned way up and have a small room heater next to the baby. Play soft music depending on what the baby responds to better. This keeps babies calm and asleep. Never force a baby into a pose he or she is uncomfortable in and let the baby indicate which poses they are most happy curled up in.
• WHAT ARE THE SAFETY PRECAUTIONS USED DURING A SESSION?
  Weighting the buckets and props is a big one so a baby doesn’t tip over and get hurt. Another is the pose itself- newborn necks are very delicate so you want to be very careful with positioning. If the pose comes undone, you don’t want the baby to fall or hurt his neck. Use very large bean bags for newborn photography so if the baby does tip to one side they are very protected and are on a soft surface. Also, make sure everything used from the blankets to the hair bows are washed to keep everything very clean and germ free.
• HOW TO HANDLE PEE AND POOP WHILE TAKING OFF THAT DIAPER?
  Infants pees and poops a lot. Blankets and props get peed on frequently. That’s why it is advisable to have more than one blankets and other necessaries. Parents need to be prepared as well. If you are going to be in the pictures, I don’t recommend wearing your favorite shirt or expensive clothing.
• WHAT’S THE WORST THING A PARENT CAN DO DURING A SESSION?
  The worst thing a parent can do is be nervous. If your baby is crying, just try to comfort her without being nervous. Continuously swooping in and handing the baby back and forth can make an infant even more distressed. My advice is to take a deep breath and relax. I know its easy to be nervous, especially when it’s your first, but the best thing a parent can do is sit back and take a couple hours to check their email, listen to music or just enjoy watching their newborn in all these adorable poses.

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