Photographing a newborn baby is challenging because it is not the same as any other subject. Newborns have unpredictable moods, which often get in the way of your work. Moreover, infants and toddlers can’t be told what to do, making it difficult to photograph them. However, if you know some professional photography tricks and deal with babies, you’ll be able to ace newborn photography. Here, we have listed seven tips for taking the perfect portrait of your cute little bunch of happiness.
1. Keep clicking
You can’t expect a ‘right’ moment to click because babies are unpredictable. Be ready for their tantrums and tears that can happen at any time. So, keep your DSLR camera ready to capture every baby’s angle, emotion, and gesture. An ISO of 100-400 and a wide aperture (f/2.8-f/8) for a shallow DOF works well in natural light. Since you have to keep clicking, use a continuous shooting mode to capture at least 3 to 5 photos in just a few seconds.
2. Shoot in the natural light
Natural light is best for baby shoots. The perfect time to photograph newborns is the daytime, with plenty of natural daylight. The natural light seeping through the windows over the baby’s face at a 45-degree angle gives an amazing shot. Use a standard lens of 50mm and turn the mode dial to AV (Aperture Priority) mode with a high ISO and a wide aperture. Avoid the harsh afternoon sun to prevent shadow casts and babies from harmful rays. Never use flashes on babies because the blinding light may scare them, and calming them down is difficult.
3. Click candid shots
Click as many candid pictures as you can, especially by involving siblings. A baby photoshoot is about capturing unplanned moments by making the shoot playful and full of life. Since you will capture moments where a baby is rolling around, gurgling, or laughing, a fast shutter speed of 1/500s or more with a wide aperture (f/1.8-f/4) is recommended. To elicit a reaction, make funny faces and play with the baby.
4. Use macro mode
Macro shots are best for shooting small babies or newborns, while wide-angle shots work well for toddlers and babies who can sit up and move around. Also, when siblings and parents join the frame, go for wide-angle shots.
5. Feed and change the baby before the shoot
O,ften babimoodsmchangenges when they are hungry or need to change their dispersed. The best shots are taken when the baby is in a good mood; therefore, change your baby right before the shoot and feed them well.
6. Play with the background
A photo you will want to frame and hang in your living room is a classic black-and-white shot of a baby isolated against a black background. To get this black-and-white effect, use a large piece of black fabric or blanket and drape it over your beanbag or fix the wall. Moreover, you can always experiment with the settings because unexpected settings often give the best shots. Think about nestling a baby inside a box or atop a decorative rug.
7. Shoot at their level
Avoid photographs taken from above because newborn photography is all about perspective and giving a feel as if you have entered the baby’s world. Take the camera down at the baby’s level and take macro shots. You and your baby will cherish these pictures for your whole life, so make sure to get passionate and soulful portraits of your newborn. Photographing babies is an incredible, as well as memorable experience. However, clicking these treasured photographs is a challenging job. You need to know all the technical aspects of photography and be creative and playful.
