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Newborn Baby Prep

- The ideal time to do a newborn session is between 9-12 days old. There
are exceptions to this, of course, like if your baby was born
premature..you’ll have a bit more wiggle room.

-Try to keep your baby awake for a few hours before the time you want to
start your session to ensure they’re extra sleepy. Tips to keeping baby
awake: try giving them a bath, let them hang out in just a diaper, tickle their
toes, and even let them fuss a little bit (no pacifiers during this time) to help
tucker them out.

-Feed your baby right before you want to start your photos and make sure
they have a clean diaper.

-Turn the heat up in your house, or have space heaters running to keep
baby warm and cozy. I keep my studio temp at around 80 degrees to give
you an idea of how toasty it should be.

-If you have a sound machine, or just YouTube “white noise”, have that
going to help soothe your baby.
-I like to start my sessions with the baby tightly swaddled because
it helps them achieve a deep sleep quicker. This is also a fabulous
time to get sibling shots or family photos since the baby will be
easier for siblings to hold while they’re swaddled versus having
flailing limbs. I find the best swaddles are actually a long piece of
stretch knit fabric- around 16” x 60” unstretched (you can get this
from craft stores, Walmart, online, Etsy,etc.) muslin wraps are cute
for a decorative layer, but are pretty crappy at getting an actual
tight swaddle. If you plan on using a muslin wrap, wrap the baby
first in a stretch wrap and then another layer with the muslin wrap.
For tips on how to get a tight photo worthy swaddle I recommend
YouTubing “newborn photography swaddle”.

Here’s a tutorial from The Milky Way: https://youtu.be/4iWYilYEEwQ

- Don’t be afraid to use a pacifier (even if you don’t plan on using

one in daily life) to help settle baby, transition between poses, and
keep them satisfied. They will not establish nipple confusion in the
short time you do your session.
Natural light is KEY!

-Use a large window when the sunlight is not too

harsh. I usually start sessions around 9 or 10 am to
avoid direct, harsh sunlight.

-Turn off all overhead, ambient light and just use the

windows as your light source.

-Lighting is the most natural when it is not coming

from too high above the subject or below it. Soft,
side light is preferred.

-Use sheer white curtains to help diffuse light, if

needed.
I usually try to place my set-up between 45 - 90
degrees (perpendicular) to the window, or light
source.

Mitt
Sheer Curtains
that you can
open and close

Your set-up perpendicular

to open window.

Beanbag, cushions, Backdrop

boppy, or whatever -
stretched
prop (basket, bowl, over stand, or
etc.) you choose to chair.
use. →
Baby positioned
adjacent to light
source
 Large

-2
window

Neutral backdrops are always a good choice

You can use high back chairs and clamps to hold your
(Or 90 degrees)
backdrop in place if you don’t have a stand.

Cushions, a firm
bean bag, and
boppy pillow are
→
great for posing
on underneath
your backdrop.
-2 yards of stretchy, jersey fabric works well as a backdrop
to pose on top of the cushions/beanbag. Make sure you
stretch out and smooth out any wrinkles to get a smooth
canvas to lay baby on. You can also use a large throw
blanket.

-If you use a bucket or basket to set baby in, roll up

receiving blankets, or small towels to stuff and line the
basket with, them cover the rolls with a nicer blanket or
wrap to conceal what’s underneath. This will help support
the baby, but will look nice.
-When shooting your baby, make sure to concentrate on
getting their eyes in focus.

-Do not position the camera so it’s shooting up the baby’s

face and exposing their nostrils. Instead you want to
position the camera so you’re looking down their face and
shoot at an angle that is slightly over the baby. An
exception to this “rule” is when you want to capture the
details of your babies face. Then it is acceptable to focus
on and shoot their nose and lips from “below”.

Camera
Camera above baby
coming. From looking
underneath
baby, so
down: r
correct!
nostrils are
exposed: not
correct!
×
-Don’t forget to take photos of the details...feet, lips, eyes
closed, hands, hair swirl, etc.

-Add a variety of angles and distances to your photos...some up

close, some pulled back shots, some side angles, and some
straight on. Don’t be afraid to mix it up.

-Safety is SO IMPORTANT. Please have an assistant (husband,

mother, friend) help you spot your baby for added security.
Babies have a jumpy reflex that can make it unsafe to pose
babies on their own without a spotter. You will be tied up with
your phone or camera, trying to nail the shot, so you won’t be
quick enough to spot your baby should they startle. On this
same note, please don’t attempt the harder poses you see on
Pinterest, like the “froggy pose”. These shots are done as a
composite, meaning that two or more photos where supporting
hands are on baby at all times are merged together in
photoshop. It is unsafe to try these poses and expect baby to
hold them on their own.
Resources for newborn related props:
Etsy, Amazon, on-line fabric stores, are great resources right now
when you can’t physically go out and get props for your session. You
can also use things you may already have lying around your house
(large porcelain bowls, vintage baskets, hat boxes, buckets, wooden
boxes, etc.)

-Some keywords to try searching: newborn photography props,

newborn backdrops, photography backdrops, newborn headbands,
newborn tie backs, stretch knit wraps, posing layers, cheesecloth
wraps, newborn knit bonnets, knit wrap, bump blanket, wool layer,
wool wrap, basket stuffer, newborn knit outfit.

-I highly recommend downloading the Lightroom app for your phone

or computer if you are unfamiliar with photoshop. There are tools
within the app where you can manually adjust your images, such as
exposure, contrast, sharpness, etc. and you can remove blemishes
with the healing tool. You can also purchase presets that are
compatible with The Lightroom mobile app to help give your images a
cohesive feel. If you search “Lightroom mobile presets”, there are a
ton of sellers to purchase from on Etsy and other websites.
These are unprecedented times and I commend you
for taking the time to read through this guide to better
your at-home photography skills. I wish you the best
of luck with your new baby and photographing all of
their cute, newborn goodness and details.

If you should have any questions, please don’t

hesitate to reach out to me.

You can find me on Facebook via Emily Peterson

Photography located out of Aurora, NE. Thank you!