How to Take Newborn Pictures

Try taking some black and white or sepia images as well, for a photo with a classic feel.

The first thing many new parents want to do with their newborn is take her picture, whether it's for a birth announcement or just to start capturing how tiny and beautiful she is. Professional photographers do excellent newborn work, but sometimes the cost to hire one can be prohibitive. If you have a digital camera, you can capture your newborn's portrait and create your own amazing pictures. Wait until the baby is about one week to ten days old, when her splotchy newborn skin is clearer, before taking her pictures.

Things You'll Need

• Solid color blanket
• Natural light
• Digital camera

Instructions

1. Work around your baby's schedule. Take pictures of him shortly after he has eaten and is calm and alert. Or, take pictures right after he's fallen sleep. Professional photographers usually do both to provide a wide variety of images.

2. Dress your infant in a simple, comfortable outfit, or if you're up to the challenge, try photographing her naked -- with plenty of towels secreted underneath for when she leaks. Place your baby on a solid color blanket on the floor in an area with good natural light. A solid blanket provides a simple backdrop for your baby without being distracting. Natural light allows you to avoid using a flash on your newborn's eyes.

3. Start taking pictures from as many angles as possible. Get down on the floor next to him and play with the settings on your camera to achieve different affects, if desired. Reposition your newborn, if necessary, to make the most of the light and to avoid dark shadows on his face. Try having one parent hold him, with just the parent's hands showing on the newborn.

4. Take pictures of the little details of your newborn: the way her fingers curl around your finger, her little feet, and those soft baby ears. Close-up images of her sucking on a finger will be more interesting than full-body shots of her just lying on the blanket.

Tips & Warnings

• Make sure the batteries in your camera are fresh and that the memory card is empty before you begin. Take as many pictures as possible to you have more options to choose from.

• If your baby becomes fussy during the photo shoot, put away the camera for later when he's in a better mood again.

References

• Lilbabygaga: Common Picture Taking Mistakes With Your Newborn