Newborn Shoot - Tips & Tricks Please!

[HotHolly]

I have my 1st newborn session next week.

I usually shoot toddlers and weddings (each demanding in their own way), so this is a change of pace for me.

Any tips or tricks suggested would be helpful!

It is in the clients home. They want it to be boyish and include footballs and team pendants and stuff. I usually go for clean lines and don't use many props - but I'm open to proppin' it up for a few shots!

I am planning on using one of the baby's blue blankets in the frame to spot touch pale blue on a black backdrop. I thought that would compliment my style and the parents liked the idea.

I'm totally nervous on the posing end.

We bring our lights with us too.

Any suggestions would be SO VERY appreciated!

THANKS!

[HeatherLou]

Infants are totally different to shoot, be very patient and you will have to re-pose baby LOTS cuz they always move. Be sure to check to see if baby likes to be on his tummy, if not, that will make definalty make him cry, so keep a pacifier handy, even if he doesnt use one. It can still help. Also useing a tripod and trip cord (shutter release) is always good, cuz when shooting infants, it seems like you need 5 hands to do it! Also, when doing nekkid shots, watch out for pee!

[HotHolly]

Originally Posted by Heatherlou

Also, when doing nekkid shots, watch out for pee!

Ha ha!

Thanks for the tips. This baby is only 1 week old...He's still a squishy, wrinkly baby chub. I don't think I'll get his eyes. Im expecting him to be asleep for the shoot. Am I nuts?

[HeatherLou]

Babies that young like to be wrapped up tight and snuggled a lot, so when you start posing and all that jazz, it will prolly irritate him. So he will fuss, hence the pacifier, and you might actully get some eyes open. Depends on when your shooting him and what his schedule is. Are you shooting at nap time for him? Is it meal time? I would think he prolly will NOT sleep the entire time.

[Rson]

Whisky on the finger....swab the gums. Calms the kid. The rest of the bottle is for you. heheheehe kidding.

Heather had a great point...get the schedule of the kid (if there is one).

[HotHolly]

The baby doesnt have a schedule yet. It sleeps...

Whiskey on the gums! My great grandma used to say stuff like that!

[Clayton Wallace]

Babies pee and poop on everything. Use the parent's props when possible! Keep your lights out of firing range (boys).
Babies take longer to shoot. Budget extra time.

I'd wait until they are a bit older (4-6 weeks). The eyes open on a small baby is what really says 'new life'. The delay helps parents to get to know the personality as well, which helps to know about making decicisions like on-belly or not.

[HotHolly]

Maybe this is ignorance, but don't most babies sleep on their tummies - unless their parents want to give SIDS the bird, and do whatever they want?

I was more concerned about getting shots of his little form unswaddled. That kind of thing typically freaks babies out - espically if no one is holding them.

I thought about waiting a little bit, but they grow so much in the first month, that I wanted to get the newborn wrinkles and rolls (minus the cone head). And they'll come back again in a few months too...

Wow...I think that makes no sense. I am doing too many things at the same time!

[epoh]

Holly - It's all about "Back to Sleep" now, to prevent SIDs. Many babies sleep better on their tummies but moms are urged to put babies to sleep on their backs. The thinking is that they are so little they can't move their head if they get smooshed against the mattress and start to suffocate.

I think for 1 week old you will probably have the best luck getting shots while mom or dad are holding them. You are probably only going to get sleeping shots - sadly this lends itself to the 'dead baby' type shot. Kind of disturbing.

This is one of the few nice shots I got of my daughter during the first month. - 4 days old By 7 weeks old I was able to get some shots where she looks like a real live happy baby - 7 weeks old.

[HotHolly]

Originally Posted by epoh

This is one of the few nice shots I got of my daughter during the first month. - 4 days old By 7 weeks old I was able to get some shots where she looks like a real live happy baby - 7 weeks old.

Thanks for the photos...I am totally going after the feel of the younger age. Thanks for the images. It helped with time frame. My kids are way past that age, and it easy to forget how little they are. I so wanted photos when my kids were born. The photographer I wanted was over $10K! She has shot our formals for our wedding about 5 years earlier. Wow, 5 years does a lot!

[Laura Minks]

Oh boy. I've only photographed 4 newborns (and all fairly recently) but you'll definitely want to plan to be there as long as 4 hours. Personally, with newborns, I think the younger the better. After about 2 weeks, they start to lose their fold, so with those 1 weekers, you can get those cute little folded up shots. I would actually love it if I could get a newborn to stay asleep during a session, but I have yet to see it happen. Make sure the parents turn of the ac (and possibly turn on the heat) for all naked baby shots. Oh, and I hope any backdrop you use is washable, because I'd be very surprised if the baby didn't pee or poo all over it. :)

[HotHolly]

Originally Posted by Laura Minks

Oh boy. I've only photographed 4 newborns (and all fairly recently) but you'll definitely want to plan to be there as long as 4 hours. Personally, with newborns, I think the younger the better. After about 2 weeks, they start to lose their fold, so with those 1 weekers, you can get those cute little folded up shots. I would actually love it if I could get a newborn to stay asleep during a session, but I have yet to see it happen. Make sure the parents turn of the ac (and possibly turn on the heat) for all naked baby shots. Oh, and I hope any backdrop you use is washable, because I'd be very surprised if the baby didn't pee or poo all over it. :)

Thanks for the hints. Well, apparently I should bring some wee wee pads. Silly me hadnt thought of that. I have a few that are tiny changing mats. Maybe we'll put those under the baby.

I was going to have the parents turn on the heat and then we are using our lights (which make the subject freakin' hot). I thought for an unclothes baby that should help him stay warm.

Got any fav shots of 1-2 week olds you can share?!?!!? This shoot got pushed back a day, so I have a little more time.

[Punkydoodles]

Here are some of my little man when he was 6 days old
now he's already 2 months

[epoh]

OH!! One last thing, do you have any cloth diapers?? You may want to pick up a Gerber prefold to put over the disposible - much better looking in photos than a big pamper logo.

[HotHolly]

Originally Posted by epoh

OH!! One last thing, do you have any cloth diapers?? You may want to pick up a Gerber prefold to put over the disposible - much better looking in photos than a big pamper logo.

YES! I have cloth diapers. I planned on using them when my daughter was born (Im so silly!) I thought they would look nice too.

Thanks for all your help and suggestions - shoot is tomorrow morning. Wish me luck!