10 Tips On How To Photograph Your Own Newborn Baby During Quarantine

By Hampshire Newborn & Maternity Photographer, Evie Winter

Well it looks like we have another few weeks of lockdown, but there are still babies being born everyday. It is hard to miss out on the experiences you were looking forward to enjoying with your baby, such as a newborn photoshoot. So I thought I’d take a moment to share some tips which will help you to get some nice photos of your newborn so you don’t miss out on capturing the memories of this time. It will be still well worth your while booking a baby photoshoot with a local professional photographer after the lockdown has finished, every stage matter’s in a baby’s life and you will still value high quality images of their baby days.

Remember Why You Are Taking Photos
You are not looking for perfection right now, you are looking to capture natural moments of having a newborn, not just for you to look back on but because your newborn will one day grow up and will love seeing their baby photos, this is all about capturing their story.
Newborn days are about relaxing and healing at the best of times, with the extra stress that you are under with lockdown - that is more important than ever. So only take photos as much as you are enjoying the process, as soon as you are tired or it becomes stressful… put the camera down.

Lighting and Location.
I prefer to do my photoshoots in the bedroom and living room, I usually pick which one based on which has the better lighting. The photographing parent needs to stand with their back to the window for the best light.
My camera usually takes photos too bright for my liking. If your photos are looking bright, try and make them darker as it is easier later to make a dark photo brighter than it is the other way around.
Another factor to consider is where you feel most comfortable relaxing with your baby and family.
Remove Distractions
Unless you are going for the authentic documentary look, have a quick tidy before hand to remove distractions, move any tissues, dirty cups and wrappers. If there is a cot next to the bed, you may need to move it out of the way.
Outfits
Unless colours are your thing I always suggest wearing neutral plain colours. You want to make sure all the attention in the photo is on the baby and not on logos and patterns.
NB: If big sibling refuses to take the photo in any outfit other than their Spiderman outfit, just go with the flow. It will make a fun talking point later on!
Choose a Time Baby is Happy
If baby is not in the mood, do not worry about taking photos. There is always going to be time later on.
Pick a time when baby has slept, is fed and burped and has a clean nappy.
Ensure the house is warm and you feel relaxed.
If needed you could use a white noise app or Ewan the Sheep to have comforting sounds in the background.
Move in Closer
Your photos are all about baby so ensure in most of your photos that baby is a decent size within the photo.
Look for the Details
When my daughter was a baby she had a tiny tuft of hair on her ear, and clenched fists. Observe the particular details you want to remember and make sure you include those.
Look for
- Ears
- Finger and toe nails
- Hands
- Hair
Focus
Check the baby in the photo looks sharp, it doesn’t matter if the background is blurred. If you are using your phone, I’d suggest using the normal portrait setting.
Choose Pro Mode
Auto modes always try and make the best of a situation and can result in mixed results, using pro mode will help you capture a better quality image which you can edit more easily afterwards.
Include the siblings but don’t force them
We all love that special shot of the big siblings cuddling their little baby brother or sister. But if the siblings are grumpy, it isn’t worth the hassle. Instead maybe prop the phone up for a timed selfie, settle on the bed and have one of the parents read a book. Or maybe get the big siblings to have a bit of a jump - parents and baby in the background.
These photos are all about the memories of what happened in the first few days, embrace rather than fake it. This is your story,
Take photos of baby with each person
As your baby grows she / he will have a unique relationship with each person in the family. I’d really recommend, if you can - capturing moments between your baby and the individual members of their family as well as a group photo. So you can have baby with Mum, baby with dad, baby with big brother and baby with little sister for example. These photos will be the a beautiful visual memory of the start of your baby’s journey with each person in their family.

I hope you find these tips helpful, remember they are only a guideline to help you get some good basic shots. If you are up to it, feel free to ignore them and try for some creative shots!