Ginger Snaps :: Tips for Taking Newborn Portraits (Helpful for Parents!)


I recently was hired to do a newborn portrait session (click here to view), and when I did my "sneak peek" reveal, I received some inquiries as to how to shoot these kinds of sessions in your home.

While I am not yet a parent, I can certainly understand the need for wanting to consistently have good quality pictures of your bundle of joy. It might not be in your budget to hire a photographer for every cute outfit change, giggle, new experience, etc., so it would be great to have a few tips and tricks for how to photograph life's expected and unexpected moments on your own. With that being said, here are a few tips & tricks to help you snap some great memories:

#1 Have a camera that's not your phone. Now, I wouldn't suggest going out and buying the best camera on the market, but it would be good to have a camera that takes decent photos, and that you can easily zoom in and out with.

#2 Use basic editing software. I am not a big supporter of overly filtered and edited photos. I shoot more for lifestyle, and I want the images to look similar to how they do in real life. (Now, that's not to say that B&W photos aren't good, because let's face it, they are classic!)

I am a devoted Apple user, and I do know that iPhoto comes standard on your computer, which is great because over the years it has gotten better and better (I think on PC you would want to use Microsoft Picture). For editing, I would be most concerned about adjusting lighting and making sure your color balance is good (not too yellow, not too blue, etc.).



#3 Watch for distracting backgrounds. In my opinion, nothing ruins an image more than having a busy background. When shooting in your home, pay attention to little things that could be distracting from your subject. Examples of this could include: clothes, ironing board, excessive amounts of toys, etc.

#4 Shoot at an opportune time for your subject. When I am shooting kiddos, I try to work with the parents and plan around nap times. If the baby is the happiest at 7 am, then that's when we are going to shoot. Obviously, if you are capturing specific impromptu moments (like babies first steps) then you just go with it (which actually ends up being an opportune time for your subject, right?). With this rule in mind, it would be helpful to keep your camera charged and ready for action. 

#5 Know your camera settings & flash functionality. Nothing is more helpful than knowing your camera settings. For those of you who have no intention of getting technical, then shoot on auto and your images should turn out even. Beware of flash though. If you are shooting with a flash when it's not really necessary, it could over-expose your image, and then you would need to do some adjusting with your editing software. 

#6 Have fun with it! Make sure you remember to have fun. Don't get so distracted by your camera that you miss the moment. The whole reason to snap the photo is to A. to witness it, and B. to quickly take the photo so you can enjoy the memory and share the moment for many years to come. 


Check back for more tips & tricks. And be sure to leave a comment below sharing your experience. I would love to hear from you! :) 






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