How to Capture that Perfect Photo of Your Newborn

A few weeks ago, I watched the Today Show as they interviewed some highly talented newborn photographers. It was a fantastic segment, showcasing the beauty of the babies and knowledge of the photographers. So, I thought I would speak with some talented photographers I know to see if they can share some of their tips to enable you to capture your own fantastic photos of your newborn. Today’s post is written by Middletown, NJ Baby Photographer Cate Scaglione.

Thanks to vast improvements in digital photography, new parents can produce stunning photos. While one can certainly always benefit from the time, objectivity and talent of a professional photographer, it’s often a fun journey for a parent to learn some new skills and capture those impromptu everyday moments and produce high quality photographs.

A few pieces of advice:

1. STAGING – Make it original, but keep it simple. Taking a great baby photo is NOT easy. It requires good lighting, a good concept, the right moment, persistence…the list goes on. That’s why so many people turn to a professional. The core ingredient for a great image is getting the surrounding “peripheral” elements right (lighting, texture, surface) so that the baby is the main focus of your image. Nothing else should compete for attention with the baby.

One of the biggest mistakes I see in retail studios or in parents’ own images is what I call “overpropping”. In their attempt to make a cute image, some go overboard adding things that actually distract from the baby (teddy bears, toys, busy prints, elaborate outfits). As a rule of thumb, keep it simple…there is simply nothing cuter or more interesting than your baby!

2. CAMERA SETTINGS.

A. If your camera has manual settings, set it to Manual (usually the “M” feature on the dial/menu). This will give you more control over the camera to get the effect you want. Shutter speed is extremely important since the baby moves quickly. A fast shutter speed will allow you to catch the baby in motion and freeze the moment. A slow shutter speed will look like a blurred, shaky image if the baby moves.

B. Since the baby is to be the main star of the image, it’s ideal to block background distractions through a shallow depth of field. This means the baby will be in focus but the background will have that artful out of focus or blurred effect. You can achieve this by setting a high aperture (f stop)* and and very fast shutter speed.

C. If you are struggling with the manual setting or are working with a point and shoot camera, you can alternatively shoot using the portrait setting. This will help you yield the same effect, although with a little less control over shutter speed. Read your camera’s manual if you are unsure how to set any of these functions.

*An important tip about aperture: the lower the number, the higher the aperture is. Example: f5.6 is a higher aperture than f11, though counterintuitive to some!

D. Turn off the flash if you can. Flash on DLSRs and point and shoots create harsh contrast and shadows as well as an unflattering bluish hue on the baby’s skin. Professionals have all kinds of equipment that counteract this effect or render flash unecessary. BUT –If you can find the natural light, shoot with it. There’s simply nothing better than natural light. If shooting on a manual setting on your DSLR, pay attention to the camera’s internal meter (you’ll see a small ruler-like setting in the viewfinder). Once the line is centered in the middle of this meter, you’ll know you have decent image balance (not too overexposed or underexposed).

3. CONTINUOUS SHOOTING. Here’s a fact: Taking a great photograph requires a lot of patience. Babies move, cry, yawn, shift, spit up, etc! As a rule of thumb, for every 90 shots you take, you’ll get one superb image. (On every client shoot I do, I shoot 500 or more photos per hour!). For this reason, if your DSLR has continuous shooting feature, set it. Then, shoot away! Resist the urge to review every shot after you take it on your DSLR LCD screen. YES — we are all guilty of this, but as you review each “single” image, you may miss that perfect smile, yawn or even those opened blue eyes that you were hoping to capture. Shoot as much as you can, then review later after you feel you captured enough.

4. ZOOMING IN. One of the best things to do is shoot the baby’s beautiful features close up. Professionals have a variety of lenses and filters to choose from. I use a 50MM prime lens and I love it. Sometimes the lenses can be more expensive than worth it for a non-professional. So, you too can also achieve a great focal distance on the baby using your standard DSLR lens. If you’re comfortable taking your DSLR off autofocus, then shut it off and adjust your lens so it zooms in tight enough to get close to the baby’s features. Keep adjusting until your viewfinder shows a clear picture. If it’s cloudy/unfocused still, zoom in to the degree you want then turn it back to autofocus, and gently depress the shoot button. This should get you the right distance but put it in proper focus. It’s not easy and takes a lot of practice. Once you get the hang of it, it’s liberating.

With a point and shoot, your zoom options may be more limited than a DSLR but you can choose really interesting angles to make a better photo. For example, I have created some really great newborn images using a point and shoot, simply standing on a step ladder just hovering over the sleeping baby.

Thanks for the great tips, Cate. If you’d like to contact Cate directly, you can visit her website at www.catescaglione.com or email her at catescaglione@mac.com. Next week, we’ll take a look at how to overcome some particular challenges in posing your bundles of joy.