Hiring a professional photographer for your newborn’s first photos can burn a hole in your pocket.
Plus, with Covid-19 still around every corner, you might not want to leave your safe home just to snap some cute snaps of your little one. So what’s the next best thing? DIY (DIY) newborn photo shoot at home.
Well, we know what you’re thinking — is it safe? You’re no pro, after all.
The good news is that many other parents have already tried it. It looks like it was made by a professional.
Another good news is that you know the right tips to make your DIY photography as easy as cake. So what do you need? Read on to find out.
what is necessary
Lighting is the key to getting the best angle for your child’s photo. No, you don’t need a giant umbrella-like light on a tripod to give your newborn the best lighting.
Choose a spot in your home with plenty of natural light. If your living room has a space with transparent sliding doors or long windows, that might be the perfect spot.
Do not use flash. It will do more harm than good. Trust natural light. It really brings out your child’s beautiful angle.
By the way, when choosing your spot, make sure you have plenty of room to move around so you don’t knock over your backdrop or tripod.
A smartphone is enough to do this DIY photo shoot. But if you need extra help, download the camera app that adjusts the quality of your photos. We recommend Lightroom (both Android and iPhone) or Camera+ (for iPhone). Use in portrait orientation and remember to turn off the flash.
If you have a DSLR, keep the aperture at 2.8. (To do this, put your DSLR into manual mode first, then find the aperture setting and adjust accordingly) If you can’t find it and end up throwing your DSLR in the trash , don’t worry about the aperture setting.
Inhale and exhale first, then look for the flash setting and turn it off. Doing so will automatically set the aperture to the widest setting. Don’t forget to use portrait mode.
Remember: you are doing a newborn photo shoot. Therefore, the baby may start crying and make a fuss during the shoot. Get a tripod and make your life easier.
Not only does it help make photography more hands-free, but it also stabilizes your photos.
Plus, you don’t want to accidentally drop a heavy phone on your newborn. A tripod for safe and stress-free shooting. No blurry pictures or injured newborns here.
This is the part that doesn’t need to be overly flashy. A simple blanket will suffice. Just lean it against two chairs and it looks like a legitimate backdrop. The floor also makes a good backdrop (if photographing newborns from above). The simpler the better.
This is where you hold your little mini-me during filming. It is recommended to cover it with plastic. That way, if baby makes her number one or two, pillows and bean her bags are well protected.
A word of warning when using these props on set: Never leave your baby unattended. They may be sleeping while you’re filming, but a lot can happen while they’re sleeping.
Here are some safety tips when photographing newborns: The blanket also adds to the interior. However, if you do this, use a blanket that won’t irritate your newborn’s skin. A cotton or fleece blanket will suffice.
A simple change of clothes is necessary so as not to affect the baby’s mood. Therefore, it is recommended to change only the accessories for variety.
You can wear a headband in one photo and a cute hat in the next. Or, one picture has mittens on baby’s little hands and another picture doesn’t.
Also, when choosing colors for newborn accessories, choose neutral colors. You don’t want bright colors that distract your newborn. Therefore, use beige, brown and white.
Last but definitely not least on our list is the spotter. This can be your husband, your in-laws, your sister, or a friend, as long as you trust them.
Let’s say you need to choose a different outfit for your baby.
Spotters are useful in other situations as well. Let’s say you’ve already found the perfect angle to take the picture, but you have hair flying across your baby’s face. Your spotter can remove the hair for you while you focus on taking pictures. Spotters can move their hands behind them.
What should I do
This is another situation where a spotter is needed. While they’re looking at your newborn, you’ll need to get your set ready.
If you use the blanket as a makeshift backdrop against two chairs, make sure the edges that are attached to the chairs are securely fastened. Prevent the background from falling on the newborn during the shoot.
The same goes for tripods. Cell phones and DSLR cameras should be securely fastened to prevent them from falling onto the newborn. Invest in a sturdy tripod. As you know, this photo shoot may not be the last.
An extra tip: Have everything you need in one basket in case your newborn gets noisy during the shoot. Please keep this basket closed. Burp cloths, diapers, wipes, bottles, pacifiers and almost anything you need for a newborn.
Another helpful tip is to play white noise or music to calm your baby.
-
Make sure your baby is ready
Getting your baby well rested and nourished is very important in a shoot. A picky baby can turn a one hour photo shoot into four. Feed your baby before putting on cute clothes and placing them in a small DIY set.
And here is the moment of truth. Baby is well rested and fed. Now it’s time to put them in your DIY set. Now, can you pose the coolest baby poses a professional photographer has for a photo shoot to talk to the big elephant in the room? is to stick to safe poses.
First, there is a reason why only professional photographers do this. I usually have an assistant who helps me get my baby into these cool poses, and I just edit them later, which leads me to the next point.
If you’re new to DIY photography, you might also be new to photo editing. So maybe you can have a spotter hold your baby in a cool pose, but can you later edit your partner’s fingers? Stick to safe poses.
So what are safe poses? Lie on your back, swaddle, side, or on your stomach. The point is kindness. If you want to move your baby into a different pose, move your arms and legs very lightly. Never pull.
-
Shoot different angles and close-ups
It’s the little things that matter. So be sure to get close to the newborn when taking the shot. And do your best to capture their small movements, such as when they yawn or burst into laughter. However, when doing so, be careful not to drop your phone or camera in Bub’s face. Take close-up shots, but don’t get too close.
It also covers a wide variety of angles, so once you start looking at the fruits of your labor, you have a lot of options. You can even set a timer on your smartphone to take a photo with your baby. You can invite dads and family too!
You have now completed the ultimate guide to DIY newborn photography.
These tips work great whether your child is a boy or a girl, so feel free to steal these hacks if you mean giving quality, budget-friendly newborn photography a little joy. .
Also read: Flight plan: How to fly long distances with a toddler (without going crazy)
This article was first published in Parents of Asia.