A photographer’s first baby photoshoot can be a terrifying prospect. The pressure of dealing with a small and unpredictable human mixed with the expectation of producing high quality images can be instantly anxiety. But fear not! With a bit of help you will be well on your way to shooting your first baby photoshoot.
Props and Planning
The first piece of advice we can give you is to be prepared as best you can be. Babies are unpredictable, but the more you have thought out the photoshoot, the easier it will be to get the results you want. Firstly, think about the theme. Is this a newborn shoot? If so, then maybe you want to keep lots of whites and neutral colours, or perhaps you want a forest theme? It is best to discuss this with the parents or guardians of the baby who will probably have a good idea of what they would like. Once a theme is decided, you will need to source some props that go with the theme. All props will need to work together and create a safe environment for the baby.
What’s also important to consider is the baby’s schedule. What time do they usually sleep? What about feeding time? Build your shooting schedule around theirs to keep the baby awake and happy in the photos!
Light is Key
Another thing to think about is the light that you are going to use. The industry standard way of doing a baby photoshoot would be to use a diffused flash. This way you can have a soft light that makes your subject shine and is easy to manipulate. If you don’t have a flash however, or if you do but want to get creative, you can also use natural light. To do this you will need to be either outdoors or in a room with a window large enough that enough light gets through. When using light, always think about what the subject of the photo is and how the light interacts with the subject. For more information on how light is important, see our article here.
Keep the Baby Happy
Despite all the technical requirements to think about, perhaps the most important point is to keep the baby happy! A happy baby will keep the photos looking great, and let’s be honest, nobody enjoys hearing babies cry, especially when doing a photoshoot. So this means following the baby’s lead and taking breaks when they no longer want to sit still. Baby photoshoots will naturally take longer than adult shoots, so be patient! And don’t worry if they don’t always look directly at the camera, sometimes looking slightly off in the distance can seem more natural.
Welcome the Unexpected
Following on from this point, you need to expect the unexpected and welcome the chaos that comes with a baby shoot. Sometimes the baby just will not cooperate, and that’s okay! Some of the best candid photos come from these moments when the baby does something unexpected and funny.
