Remember to pack your camera

If you are expecting and packing your hospital bag or planning your home birth.  I urge you to include a camera, memory card & batteries on that list.

The moment your baby enters the world your life changes, it is amazing. I love looking back on the first photos of my precious babies.

“Oh I looked a mess” but who cares.

Hey? These photos are for my children to look back on.

They do not need to be perfect images , don’t feel you have to pose for the camera.

Look! Just capture the emotions and loveliness of your new baby , with all their new details.

Here are my top tips to photograph your newborn baby

• AVOID USING THE FLASH – if you only take away one tip let it be this one.
• Open the blinds
• Move closer to the natural light
• Use a low aperture , the ‘AV setting’ if you don’t feel comfy on manual mode aim ideally for f3.2, f4 or the lowest number you can.
• Use as much natural light as possible.
• If you are at home& its super dark you could always stick some white paper over the pop up flash to diffuse and soften the flash.
• If your partner/husband can , capture the first glance of you looking at your baby, being placed on your chest this will be priceless. You may not feel great but want a time to freeze forever.
• Wrap your baby in a plain blanket – nothing too bright to distract or cause a colour cast on baby’s face. This will help calm baby and is an opportunity for you to zoom in on their button nose, little lashes and pout.
• If you can declutter the surroundings so its not too distracting in your pictures. If you have bottles , and cups of tea etc in the background,  try and compose your shot. So you either crop this part out or move it away for a moment.
• Get up close, capture all those new details , flaky skin, wrinkles , little lashes . If at home make your bed and lay baby on it. If they are settled,  watch them and shoot them taking in their new environment or snoozing.
• Avoid shooting up his/her nose,  even if your baby is super cute there are much lovelier angles to photograph from.
• Don’t forget to swap over &  both have picture with your new baby, even if you feel totally shattered and not glam,  your baby will adore these photos !
• Ask the midwife for a quick family portrait. Try snuggling in with each other, leaving no big spaces between you both , lean/tilt your heads so they are touching to enhance the moment– your first family portrait!

I offer maternity, newborn and baby photoshoots in Norwich , Norfolk. I capture the little details, the emerging personalities of little people. In a natural and timeless way to create beautiful images.

Jess Wilkins, Newborn and family photographer based in Norwich Norfolk.

Email me on [email protected]

http://www.jesswilkinsphotography.co.uk/

https://www.facebook.com/jesswilkinsphotography/