Natural Newborn Photography - Photographing with Window Light
The baby is finally here, and everyone wants pictures! But every time you try to take pictures, your beautiful baby looks like a little wrinkly old person instead of that exquisite being you see before you. Well, here are some tips to capture your newborn for the best results.
- Film or digital? It actually does not matter. But if you are using film, try to get some black & white film that is rated at least 400 ISO, preferably 800 ISO. Newborns often have skin coloring issues for several weeks and black and white removes that aspect, and besides that will always be a classic look. If you are using a digital camera, you can turn the image black & white on the computer, or online if you are using an online printing service.
- Turn off the Flash! Use window light for the best natural soft light to show off your baby. Find a window that has an abundance of good light, not direct sun light streaming in, but good indirect sunlight. Morning light is usually very good if your windows are facing the right way to take advantage of that, and newborns are often calmer in the morning.
- Make sure there is no visual clutter in your backgrounds. Use solid colored blankets or sheets under the baby. White sheets on a bed or solid colored blankets over a boppy or baby carrier can work well.
- Photograph newborns without clothing for the best, most organic results. You can keep on the diapers if they do not have a bunch of cartoons on them, or you can use a diaper cover or fabric to cover the diaper.
- Turn the baby towards the light so that their face and body are well lit by the natural light. Look through the camera and take pictures, trying to fill the frame of the camera with baby and solid colored blankets. Avoid any additional clutter or items in the background. Do not shoot with the window as the background - look at the light on the baby and take your pictures where the baby is well lit.
- While taking pictures, try to engage the baby by talking and cooing. Singing works well also, but do not try to get the baby to smile. Just keep working your way around taking pictures from different angles. The baby does not need to be looking into the camera for all of the images.
- Sleeping babies make great subjects. If the baby falls, no problem just continue shooting. Sometimes when they are sleeping it is the best time to get pictures of the feet and hands which tend to move non-stop when they are awake.
- While you are photographing, take lots and lots of pictures. The more you take, the more you are likely to find ones you will like. Take full body shots from different angles, half body shots, close ups of faces, hands, feet, wrinkly shoulders, fuzzy hair lines, etc
- When it is time to develop the images - whether on your computer or at the lab, develop your pictures and then sit down and go through them, looking with an artistic eye to choose the ones that capture the baby that you see, and this time in your life which will pass so quickly. Choose the best ones for an artistic birth announcement.
- Film or digital? It actually does not matter. But if you are using film, try to get some black & white film that is rated at least 400 ISO, preferably 800 ISO. Newborns often have skin coloring issues for several weeks and black and white removes that aspect, and besides that will always be a classic look. If you are using a digital camera, you can turn the image black & white on the computer, or online if you are using an online printing service.
- Turn off the Flash! Use window light for the best natural soft light to show off your baby. Find a window that has an abundance of good light, not direct sun light streaming in, but good indirect sunlight. Morning light is usually very good if your windows are facing the right way to take advantage of that, and newborns are often calmer in the morning.
- Make sure there is no visual clutter in your backgrounds. Use solid colored blankets or sheets under the baby. White sheets on a bed or solid colored blankets over a boppy or baby carrier can work well.
- Photograph newborns without clothing for the best, most organic results. You can keep on the diapers if they do not have a bunch of cartoons on them, or you can use a diaper cover or fabric to cover the diaper.
- Turn the baby towards the light so that their face and body are well lit by the natural light. Look through the camera and take pictures, trying to fill the frame of the camera with baby and solid colored blankets. Avoid any additional clutter or items in the background. Do not shoot with the window as the background - look at the light on the baby and take your pictures where the baby is well lit.
- While taking pictures, try to engage the baby by talking and cooing. Singing works well also, but do not try to get the baby to smile. Just keep working your way around taking pictures from different angles. The baby does not need to be looking into the camera for all of the images.
- Sleeping babies make great subjects. If the baby falls, no problem just continue shooting. Sometimes when they are sleeping it is the best time to get pictures of the feet and hands which tend to move non-stop when they are awake.
- While you are photographing, take lots and lots of pictures. The more you take, the more you are likely to find ones you will like. Take full body shots from different angles, half body shots, close ups of faces, hands, feet, wrinkly shoulders, fuzzy hair lines, etc
- When it is time to develop the images - whether on your computer or at the lab, develop your pictures and then sit down and go through them, looking with an artistic eye to choose the ones that capture the baby that you see, and this time in your life which will pass so quickly. Choose the best ones for an artistic birth announcement.
About the Author:
Anna Myers is a fine art San Francisco Portrait Photographer who specializes in Bay Area Newborn Photography.
posted by Marcondes Allen at 4:12 PM
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