How To Get Amazing Newborn Photos At Your First Session || CopperRed Photography
Congrats on booking your first Lifestyle Newborn Client! Wahoo! Use these tips to ensure a crazy successful in-home session and many more to come.
You’ve been slaying photography for years but never stepped across into the realm of newborn babies and now you are taking that leap. I am so excited for you! Lifestyle Newborn Sessions rock!
But if you’ve never ran a session quite like this then there are for sure some insights you just don’t have. I’m going to give you my top tips to help you make this first newborn session a hit. Your clients will be so impressed by your professionalism as well as your gorgeous photography.
#1 Dress For Mess
You may be used to getting all dolled up and dressed super stylish for your usual photography sessions but babies, despite being cute, come with spit up, sick, snot and a world of other fluids they share on the regular lol.
So enjoy wearing your yoga pants and favourite tee to this session. That way you’ll be laughing it off when it happens to you.
#2 Wear Socks
Or pack a pair in those summer months when we’re rocking around in flip flops.
Maybe you’re reading this one and you’re wondering why you can’t just show off your beautifully pedicured feet because that’s how you roll 24/7 365. Well other people don’t lol.
When you arrive you will pop off your shoes and slip on those socks, making your client instantly see how considerate you are. We all know how awkward it is when someone pops over and walks through your home with their shoes on. Maybe it’s just the Brit in me but I die a little inside as I ask them to take them off or worse yet I don’t say anything and inside I’m squealing lol.
With such an easy fix don’t put your clients in that predicament. I keep a pair in the side pocket of my camera bag 24/7.
#3 Wash Your Hands
Babies are precious and bugs are nasty. Unfortunately bugs are plentiful and you can prevent sharing any you don’t even know you have by washing your hands!
As soon as you’ve greeted your family, put your bag down and popped your socks on ask where you can wash your hands. To me this shows a high level of care and consideration and if for no other reason at all is just morally right. We want to keep these precious babies safe and healthy.
You can also store a hand sanitizer in your bag and whip in out during the session to top up your clean hands.
#4 Take A Tour
With in-home sessions you don’t know what space your are walking into as your backdrop until you get there. So one of the best ways to find the dream spots in their home is to ask for a tour.
Once they’ve revealed all the spots they’re happy for you to use you can cultivate a flow that works for you. If it’s a cloudy day and they have a large porch off the front of the house I’ll often leave shooting in the lounge until last when the day is even brighter.
#5 Limit The Interruptions
Babies are individuals from the get go. Some will sleep no matter what and others you’ll find to be super fussy so you have to learn to gage that quickly and work in a way that still allows for productivity.
One such way is outfit changes. Try to encourage your families ahead of time to limit outfit changes to just one and to remain open to the possibility of no changes at all if baby is super fussy.
The aim is to capture connections, emotions and beautiful photographs and the best way to do that is with a happy baby. If you have to leave baby in one outfit to keep them happy then that’s A-okay.
#6 Shoot The In-betweens
One of the most priceless benefits of Lifestyle Newborn Sessions are the pauses, the gaps and what I like to call the in-betweens. Babies poop, get fussy and need a rock or a feed and in that time whatever you do do NOT put down your camera.
I adore these times and capture some of the most treasured favourites during them. Ask mum if she would like some feeding shots or go check out Dad playing with the big brother or sister and capture their interaction. There is so much gold in these moments if you just keep that camera up
#7 Don’t Forget The Details
Fingers, toes, hair curls and thigh rolls are all must have detail shots during your session. But also remember to go around the nursery and document the tiny details the couple have loved on and poured out their time and passion into. From special books on the shelf to unique stuffies in the crib take a moment to snap a handful.
#8 Don’t Pack For A Wedding
Lifestyle Newborn Sessions are simple. You don’t need a million and one lenses or lighting rigs. I shoot 98% of my sessions on my 35mm, flash free and it’s awesome.
So yes bring your backup setup for the worst case scenario but you don’t need to go crazy during the shoot using all the gadgets and gizmos. Elegant simplicity is what you are capturing and you can manage that just fine with one great lens and one great body and your artistic talent!
#9 One Spot = One Million Shots
You honestly do not need a mansion with 10 different rooms for you to shoot in. Just one great, well lit spot and a couple that’s engaging with their baby and you have the opportunity to capture countless shots right there.
Try peeking from behind a wall paparazzi style, change your angles, shoot from above, go wide, go close up, switch up who’s holding the baby or how they’re holding them. Lay the baby on their chest or have them look face to face. Go side on with soft kisses and nose tickles.
The options are endless even in one spot. Just take a breath and allow yourself to take a moment to work it out. You’ve got it in you!
If you want some more one on one, in depth mentoring then I would love to connect with you! I offer one to one workshops and you can ask anything! Let’s get you on the road to slaying the Lifestyle Newborn Sessions!
