I'm being asked to shoot a newborn series in a few weeks...but I'm not sure I'm ready

[jwbryson1]

I told my friend I was going to pass on this one. She said no problem, she will try to take them for her instead. :er:

She says the lady has very little $$ to spend and was hoping to get something. I may jump back in this and shoot some photos for free....

I'm so wishy washy...

 

[CCericola]

If you do them (for free or not) here are some tips I learned.

1. Tell them they need to up the heat in the room you will be shooting in to about 80.
2. Natural light looks best on baby skin but if you use a strobe, diffuse the hell out of it.
3. you want to photograph no later than 14-15 days old for the sleepy, scrunchy photos.
4. The parent is next to the baby AT ALL TIMES.
5. Don't hang the baby from a stick. Those images are often composites. Safety FIRST.
6. Start photos after they eat and fall asleep.
7. If they have a brother or sister and they want them together. DO THOSE FIRST!
8. You can pose the baby one way and then take several photos from different angles.
9. photograph the baby naked or have a cute diaper cover. Plain diapers are UGLY.
10. If you shoot naked remember babies poop and pee at anytime. Bring extra blankets. (and an extra shirt and pants for you just in case).

 

[412 Burgh]

If you do them (for free or not) here are some tips I learned.

1. Tell them they need to up the heat in the room you will be shooting in to about 80.
2. Natural light looks best on baby skin but if you use a strobe, diffuse the hell out of it.
3. you want to photograph no later than 14-15 days old for the sleepy, scrunchy photos.
4. The parent is next to the baby AT ALL TIMES.
5. Don't hang the baby from a stick. Those images are often composites. Safety FIRST.
6. Start photos after they eat and fall asleep.
7. If they have a brother or sister and they want them together. DO THOSE FIRST!
8. You can pose the baby one way and then take several photos from different angles.
9. photograph the baby naked or have a cute diaper cover. Plain diapers are UGLY.
10. If you shoot naked remember babies poop and pee at anytime. Bring extra blankets. (and an extra shirt and pants for you just in case).

ALONG WITH THESE GREAT TIPS!!

If you have a little space heater, bring that. It keeps the baby warm and makes them sleepy! I downloaded a "white noise" app on my phone that is also suppose to make them sleepy from the noise!

IF you lay any jeweler or objects on the baby make sure those are warm as well because cold pearls could wake the baby up and make them upset.

Along with that being said make sure whoever poses/moves the baby doesn't have cold hands, it's the same idea as above. Just do it!

 

[sm4him]

In reference to the quote below: I would have offered to do memorial photos for them (that is if you would have been comfortable with that). Those pictures will be priceless.

As for newborn pictures... toOP, I think those shots above shown of your own daughter are MUCH better than most people. It is obvious to me they were taken by someone who clearly knows what they were doing.

I was planning to do a newborn shoot at the end of the month for my pastor's son and daughter-in-law, who are also good friends of mine. I just made it clear that I'd do them for free as a favor, but that should they want to make sure they have professional quality shots, they should hire someone.
They were fine with that plan. Unfortunately, that won't be happening though, as they lost the baby just last month...at 7 months pregnant, after a very healthy, problem-free pregnancy.

Just be upfront with the individual; tell them you'd be happy to do it, for the experience, but that you haven't shot any newborn photos except your own.

Yeah--I didn't want to go into a lot of detail on that, since it wasn't really the point of THIS thread. But I'm really, really close to the whole family, and I was pretty grief-stricken about the whole thing myself. We made sure that they HAD those memorial photos taken, but by a much more objective "bystander." I don't think I could have dealt with it.

I told my friend I was going to pass on this one. She said no problem, she will try to take them for her instead. :er:

She says the lady has very little $$ to spend and was hoping to get something. I may jump back in this and shoot some photos for free....

I'm so wishy washy...

If they're not really able to spend much money anyway, then why not call and offer to HELP your friend? With both of you taking some photos, they're sure to get something they'll love and it won't be that much pressure for you. It'd be good experience, and my guess is, as long as they see their beautiful little one's face, they're gonna love 'em!

If you do them (for free or not) here are some tips I learned.

1. Tell them they need to up the heat in the room you will be shooting in to about 80.
2. Natural light looks best on baby skin but if you use a strobe, diffuse the hell out of it.
3. you want to photograph no later than 14-15 days old for the sleepy, scrunchy photos.
4. The parent is next to the baby AT ALL TIMES.
5. Don't hang the baby from a stick. Those images are often composites. Safety FIRST.
6. Start photos after they eat and fall asleep.
7. If they have a brother or sister and they want them together. DO THOSE FIRST!
8. You can pose the baby one way and then take several photos from different angles.
9. photograph the baby naked or have a cute diaper cover. Plain diapers are UGLY.
10. If you shoot naked remember babies poop and pee at anytime. Bring extra blankets. (and an extra shirt and pants for you just in case).

ALONG WITH THESE GREAT TIPS!!

If you have a little space heater, bring that. It keeps the baby warm and makes them sleepy! I downloaded a "white noise" app on my phone that is also suppose to make them sleepy from the noise!

IF you lay any jeweler or objects on the baby make sure those are warm as well because cold pearls could wake the baby up and make them upset.

Along with that being said make sure whoever poses/moves the baby doesn't have cold hands, it's the same idea as above. Just do it!

Man, those are ALL some great tips. I need to start cutting and pasting some of this stuff into a TPF tips file to use in the future, when I get the chance to take these kinds of photos!

 

[412 Burgh]

Unfortunately I cannot take credit. But here is a great video I found on

 

[vintagesnaps]

I don't think that last position shown in the video in particular should be used with a newborn, at that age they need head and neck support. It's not a good idea to have a baby up on something like the pedestal where there doesn't seem to be an adult within reach.

There are a lot of techniques I've seen online that are related to baby photography that don't seem appropriate based on what I know having been an early intervention specialist; the baby's safety and well being should be the priority.

If you look up information about newborn infants it's likely going to say things like never put a baby up on something, always make sure the head and neck is supported, etc.

 

[manny212]

I told my friend I was going to pass on this one. She said no problem, she will try to take them for her instead. :er:

She says the lady has very little $$ to spend and was hoping to get something. I may jump back in this and shoot some photos for free....

I'm so wishy washy...

all I can say is you have 4000 + posts here . Your work is good . Do it !!!,darn it . Sometimes people , myself included are so scared of the outcome . You have the skills , you are planning this wayyyyy too much between your six inches from ear to ear . Get it ?

if you don't try than how do you know ? Caution is good , but not if it holds you back . .You are talented , you have the ability, now let yourself do something about it !!!

Sorry for rant , but my two cents. Man just go .






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